BeginnerTopic 3 of 106Electrical Engineering
Voltage
Energy per unit charge between two points; the push that drives current.
In depth
Voltage (potential difference) is the energy per unit charge between two points: V=W/Q. It drives current through a circuit. A voltmeter is connected in parallel. Voltage is always relative to a reference such as ground.
Key points
- 1 V = 1 J/C
- Sources raise potential, loads drop it
- EMF vs terminal voltage
ExampleA 12 V battery gives 12 J to every coulomb passing through.
What is Voltage?
Energy per unit charge between two points; the push that drives current.
Why is it important to understand voltage?
Voltage is the energy each unit of charge gains or loses, so it determines how much work a circuit can do and how much insulation is needed.
Is voltage something that flows?
No. Voltage is a potential difference between two points. It drives current when a path exists, but it does not flow itself.
What is the ground reference?
It is a chosen zero-volt point against which other voltages are measured. Any point can serve as the reference, but it must be consistent.
How is Voltage used in practice?
Typical applications include checking that a battery matches a 12 V motor, choosing the voltage rating of a capacitor for a power supply and estimating the insulation needed for a 400 V distribution line.
What should I learn before Voltage?
Study "Current" first (topic 2 of 106 in Electrical Engineering). It covers the groundwork this topic builds on.
What are the key points of Voltage?
1 V = 1 J/C. Sources raise potential, loads drop it. EMF vs terminal voltage.
Can you give an example of Voltage?
A 12 V battery gives 12 J to every coulomb passing through.
What comes after Voltage?
The next topic is "Resistance", which builds directly on this one.
How difficult is Voltage?
It is classed as Beginner in Electrical Engineering (topic 3 of 106). It is an entry-level topic. It relies only on basic school mathematics and the ideas introduced earlier in this discipline.