What is Voltage?

Voltage, also known as electrical potential difference, is a measure of the potential energy of an electric charge. It is the force that drives the flow of electric current in a circuit. The voltage between two points in a circuit is a measure of the energy which is required to move a unit of electric charge from one point to the other.

Voltage is typically measured in volts (V) and is defined as the work required to move a unit of electric charge across a potential difference of one volt. For example, if it takes 1 joule of energy to move a unit of electric charge across a potential difference of 1 volt, then the voltage between the two points is 1 volt.

An essential idea in electricity is voltage, which is used to define a system’s electrical potential. It is intimately related to current—the movement of electric charge—and resistance—the force that opposes that movement. Ohm’s law, which asserts that the current in a circuit which is directly proportional to the voltage and inversely proportional to the resistance, describes the relationship between voltage, current, and resistance.

The potential of one point is higher than that of the other points. Voltage or potential difference refers to the difference in charge between higher and lower potentials.

The force that propels electrons through the circuit is provided by the voltage or potential difference.

More electrons will flow through the circuit as a result of increased voltage and greater force. Electrons would move arbitrarily in open space in the absence of voltage or potential difference.