Which of the following is the basic unit of electrical current in the metric system?

The basic unit of electrical current in the metric system is the ampere, often abbreviated as "A." An ampere measures the flow of electric charge and is defined as one coulomb of charge passing through a point in a circuit in one second. This fundamental unit is crucial for understanding electrical circuits and the relationships between current, voltage (measured in volts), and resistance (measured in ohms).

The term "ampere" is named after the French physicist André-Marie Ampère, who was one of the founders of the science of classical electromagnetism. In practical applications, the measurement of current is essential for determining how much electric power a device consumes or generates, as current is a key component in the calculation of electric power alongside voltage and resistance.

Understanding the roles of volts, watts, and ohms provides context, but they refer to different electrical properties: volts measure electrical potential, watts measure power (which is the product of voltage and current), and ohms measure resistance. Therefore, while these units are interconnected in electrical systems, the direct measure of current itself is specifically designated as amperes.