Question

Electric current is a scalar quantity but it possesses magnitude and direction. Why?

Answer 1

Electric current:

1. The rate of flow of electrons in a conductor is called an electric current.
2. Electric current is denoted by the alphabet “I”.
3. The SI unit of electric current is the $\mathrm{Ampere}$.
4. Whenever two currents meet at a junction in the terms of electrical current, the resultant current is an algebraic sum rather than the vector sum. As a result, although having magnitude and direction, an electric current is a scalar quantity.
5. It reflects the orientation of positive charge passage, but it is handled as a scalar number since current obeys scalar addition laws rather than vector additions laws, and the relationship seen between wires' current-carrying conductor has no effect on the overall current in the circuit.

Therefore, electric current is a scalar quantity but it possesses magnitude and direction.