Definition

The maximum amount of electrical current that a wire or device can safely carry without overheating, measured in amperes.

Example

The ampacity of the wire must be considered to prevent overheating during operation.

Conversation

I was reading about electrical systems, and I came across the term ampacity.

Oh really? What does that mean exactly?

It refers to how much electrical current a wire can safely carry.

That makes sense; I didn't know there was a specific term for that!

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Ampacity is formed from "ampere" (from the name of André-Marie Ampère, a French physicist, meaning a unit of electric current) and "-city" (from Latin "citas", meaning capacity). The word refers to the capacity of a conductor to carry electric current, measured in amperes.

Memory Tip

Think of 'ampere' as a unit of electric current and '-city' as capacity, which helps you remember that 'ampacity' refers to the capacity to carry electric current.

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