ampere

• Nom masculin désignant l'unité de base de l'intensité du courant électrique dans le Système international d'unités (SI), ou historiquement une unité légèrement plus petite utilisée avant la norme SI.

A noun referring to the base unit of electric current in the International System of Units (SI), or historically a slightly smaller unit used before the SI standard.

1. SI unit of electric currentC1formalscientific

   The base unit of electric current in the International System of Units (SI), defined as the constant current that, when maintained in two straight parallel conductors of infinite length and negligible cross-section placed one meter apart in a vacuum, produces a force of 2 × 10⁻⁷ newtons per meter between them.

   ampère (unité de courant électrique)

   • The circuit carries a current of 5 amperes.
   • An ampere is a fundamental unit in electrical engineering.
   • The device draws 0.5 amperes of current.

   Synonymesamp

2. Historical unit of electric currentC2formalscientific

   A former, slightly smaller unit of electric current that was used before the modern SI definition was adopted.

   Ampère (unité historique)

   • The old ampere was slightly different from the modern one.
   • Historical texts often refer to the earlier definition of the ampere.
   • The difference between the old and new ampere is minimal.