How did the electrical term “ampere” originate?
The ampere was named for Andre Marie Ampere (1775-1836), the physicist (a scientist specializing in the interaction between matter and energy) who formulated the basic laws of electrodynamics (electrodynamics is the branch of physics that deals with the interaction of electric, mechanical, and magnetic occurrences). The ampere (symbol A), often abbreviated as “amp,” is the base unit of the rate of electric current, according to the metric system. For example, the amount of current flowing through a 100-watt light bulb is 1 amp; through a toaster, 10 amps; a TV set, 3 amps; and a working car battery, 50 amps. Sources: Daintith, John. Facts On File Dictionary of Physics, pp. 5, 136; Great Engineers and Pioneers in Technology, vol. 1, p. 378; Trefil, James. 1001 Things Everyone Should Know About Science, pp. 133-34.
