All of the explanations above are technically accurate, but here's a very simple way for those not versed in science or engineering to think of current vs. voltage.
Imagine a river. The amount of water that is moving downstream is analogous to the voltage -- i.e., it's a measure of the size or quantity of the flow (say, 2500 cubic feet per minute). The current, or force, behind the water (usually due to gravity) is the other measure of actual or potential energy.
A river or stream with little current does not yield much energy (or force). Similarly, you can also have a relatively wide river that is very slow moving, and it does not exert much force. (If you have ever waded a river, you know from experience that it's a lot easier to cross a very slow moving flow than one moving rapidly.)
Conversely, you can have a narrow stream of water moving at very high current, and it will produce quite a bit of energy. To carry this analogy to an extreme, think of the cutting tool known as the "Water Knife" -- it forces a very small stream of water (with an abrasive added) at high pressure (up to 50,000 psi) through a small nozzle, and the stream is capable of cutting through a variety of very hard materials (such as steel).
So, to stretch this analogy, there are two ways for an amp to drive a speaker load: high current (the force), or high voltage (the amount of electricity).
Yes, yes, I know this is a rather unsophisticated explanation from an engineering standpoint, but it has the virtue of being conceptually simple for those who didn't take physics or EE courses in school.
Imagine a river. The amount of water that is moving downstream is analogous to the voltage -- i.e., it's a measure of the size or quantity of the flow (say, 2500 cubic feet per minute). The current, or force, behind the water (usually due to gravity) is the other measure of actual or potential energy.
A river or stream with little current does not yield much energy (or force). Similarly, you can also have a relatively wide river that is very slow moving, and it does not exert much force. (If you have ever waded a river, you know from experience that it's a lot easier to cross a very slow moving flow than one moving rapidly.)
Conversely, you can have a narrow stream of water moving at very high current, and it will produce quite a bit of energy. To carry this analogy to an extreme, think of the cutting tool known as the "Water Knife" -- it forces a very small stream of water (with an abrasive added) at high pressure (up to 50,000 psi) through a small nozzle, and the stream is capable of cutting through a variety of very hard materials (such as steel).
So, to stretch this analogy, there are two ways for an amp to drive a speaker load: high current (the force), or high voltage (the amount of electricity).
Yes, yes, I know this is a rather unsophisticated explanation from an engineering standpoint, but it has the virtue of being conceptually simple for those who didn't take physics or EE courses in school.