⚡ Basic Electricity - What is voltage?

Voltage acts as the pushing force that drives electrons through a circuit to create current. Demonstrations with an electric motor show that increasing voltage increases the flow of current, which provides more energy to the device.

Voltage is defined as the difference in electrical potential energy per unit of charge between two points. Potential energy represents the capacity to do work, while a coulomb is used as the standard unit of charge.

Voltage is measured in joules per coulomb. This means a 1.5-volt battery transfers 1.5 joules of energy for every coulomb of charge that passes through a circuit, converting chemical potential energy into electrical energy.

Voltage is always measured as a difference between two points, which is why it is often called 'potential difference.' Whether it is a battery or a USB port, the voltage rating refers to the potential difference between two specific terminals.