Electric current metal (ideal) resistor (or other ohmic device): where formula_6 is the current, measured in amperes; formula_26 is the potential difference, measured in volts; and formula_27 is the resistance, measured in ohms. For alternating currents, especially at higher frequencies, skin effect causes the current to spread unevenly across the conductor cross-section, with higher density near the surface, thus increasing the apparent resistance. The mobile charged particles within a conductor move constantly in random directions, like the particles of a gas. (More accurately, a Fermi gas.) To create a net flow of charge, the particles must also move together with an average
Inductance rate of change of current in circuit formula_7. This is the principle behind a "transformer". The sections below will describe self-inductance, the effect of inductance in a single conductor or circuit. Mutual inductance, inductance between circuits, is described in the section at the end. If the current through a conductor with inductance is increasing, a voltage formula_20 will be induced across the conductor with a polarity which opposes the current, as described above (this is in addition to any voltage drop caused by the conductor's resistance). The charges flowing through the circuit lose potential energy moving from the higher voltage