Question about the mathematical definition of the Coloumb

[seriously disabled]

The definition of the Coloumb is the amount of electric charge transported in one second by a steady current of one ampere. Mathematically it's written as:

 

[math]1 \mathrm{C} = 1 \mathrm{A} \cdot 1 \mathrm{s}[/math] or [math]1 \tfrac C s \cdot 1\mathrm{s}[/math]

 

The defintion of Ampere is one coulomb of charge going past a given point per second: [math]\rm 1 A=1\tfrac Cs[/math]

 

My question is: Why is the defintion of the Coloumb not written as [math]1 \mathrm{C} = \frac{1\mathrm{A}}{\mathrm{s}}[/math]

Edited December 8, 2009 by Uri

[GenerationE]

Because amps equal C/sec so your definition would yeild C = C/s^2 which is wrong for obvious reasons.

 

You probably meant why is it not defined as C = A * sec

 

Well for starters you can't include the unit you are defining in your definition, and amperes have coulombs in them. And for historical reasons, Coulombs came before amps, in discovery and naming anyways.