The correct spelling of "milliampere" is often misspelled as "milliampère" or "milliampere". The word is pronounced as /ˈmɪliˌæmpɪər/ according to the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA). The first syllable is pronounced as "milli" with the vowel sound /ɪ/ followed by the consonant sound /l/. The second syllable is pronounced as "amp" with the vowel sound /æ/ followed by the consonant sound /mp/. The final syllable is pronounced as "ere" with the vowel sound /ɪər/. Remembering the correct spelling and pronunciation of technical words like "milliampere" is an important aspect of effective communication in any scientific or engineering field.
A milliampere is a unit of electrical current commonly abbreviated as mA. It is equal to one thousandth of an ampere (A), which is the standard unit for measuring electric current in the International System of Units (SI). The milliampere is typically used to measure small electrical currents, especially in electronics and biomedical applications.
One milliampere (1 mA) is equivalent to 0.001 amperes or 1/1000th of an ampere. It represents a relatively low current flow, making it suitable for measuring and regulating small-scale electrical devices. The milliampere is used to gauge the strength of current in circuits or to determine the energy consumption of electronic devices.
Milliamperes are frequently employed in medical equipment such as electrocardiograms (ECGs) and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) devices. In these applications, milliampere measurements are crucial for determining the intensity of electrical signals or the amount of current being delivered to the body.
Additionally, the milliampere is used in electrical engineering to quantify the current passing through circuit components like resistors, capacitors, or transistors. By accurately measuring milliamperes, engineers can assess and manage electrical performance, ensuring the proper functioning and safety of electronic systems.
In summary, a milliampere is a unit of measurement for electrical current that is equal to one thousandth of an ampere. It is widely used in various fields to quantify smaller current flows, ranging from electronics to medical applications.
An electrical unit of currentstrength, the thousandth of an ampere; abbr. ma.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
The word "milliampere" is derived from two components: "milli-" and "ampere".
1. "Milli-" is a prefix that denotes one thousandth (1/1000) of a unit in the metric system. It comes from the Latin word "mille", meaning "thousand".
2. "Ampere" is the unit of electric current, named after the French physicist and mathematician André-Marie Ampère (1775–1836). Ampère made significant contributions to the understanding of electromagnetism.
By combining "milli-" and "ampere", we get "milliampere", which represents one thousandth of an ampere and is used to measure small electric currents.