Summary
Highlights
The video starts by recalling that amperage is the quantity of electrons flowing in a second, similar to counting liters of water in a river. Voltage, on the other hand, is defined as a 'difference in potential'.
To explain potential difference, the video uses the example of a lake where water is still. If the lake is tilted, the water begins to flow, creating a current. This tilt is analogous to a 'slope' or 'gradient', which represents a difference in gravitational potential. Water flows from a high potential point to a low potential point.
Similarly in electricity, to make electrons move, a 'difference in electrical potential' is created. Electrons flow from a point of high electrical potential to one of lower electrical potential.
These differences in potential are called so because they have the 'potential' to do work. This work capacity is expressed in joules per coulomb, with one joule per coulomb being equivalent to one volt. Therefore, voltage expresses the amount of work a charge can perform in a circuit.
The video uses a water hose analogy to explain voltage, where voltage is compared to pressure. Higher pressure (voltage) allows more water (electrons) to flow, resulting in higher amperage.