What is voltage?

What is voltage?

• A. Electrical pressure in a circuit
• B. Electrical resistance
• C. Electrical current
• D. Electrical power

Answer: (A)

Voltage is the electrical pressure, or potential difference, that pushes electric charges through a circuit. It represents the energy per unit charge available to move electrons and is measured in volts. For example, a car battery provides about 12 volts of potential difference between its terminals, which drives current when a path is completed. The stronger the voltage, the greater the driving force for current, assuming resistance stays the same, as described by V = I R. This is why voltage is not resistance (which opposes current), not current (the flow of charges), and not power (the rate of doing work). A voltmeter measures this potential difference across two points in a circuit.

Voltage is the electrical pressure, or potential difference, that pushes electric charges through a circuit. It represents the energy per unit charge available to move electrons and is measured in volts. For example, a car battery provides about 12 volts of potential difference between its terminals, which drives current when a path is completed. The stronger the voltage, the greater the driving force for current, assuming resistance stays the same, as described by V = I R. This is why voltage is not resistance (which opposes current), not current (the flow of charges), and not power (the rate of doing work). A voltmeter measures this potential difference across two points in a circuit.