What describes voltage in an electrical circuit?

Voltage in an electrical circuit is defined as the potential energy difference between two points. This potential energy difference is what drives electric charge to move through a circuit when a conductive path is provided. It can be thought of as the "pressure" that pushes charges through a conductor, and is measured in volts.

This concept is vital in understanding how electrical energy is transferred through a circuit. The greater the voltage, the more work can be done to move charges through the circuit. This is why voltage is often described as a measure of the energy available to be converted into other forms of energy, such as light or heat, when the charges flow through resistive components.

In contrast, current flow refers to the actual movement of electric charge through a circuit, resistance describes how much the flow of current is impeded, and while all these factors are related, they represent different aspects of an electrical circuit. Understanding voltage as a potential energy difference lays the foundation for grasping the other electrical concepts, as it is a crucial factor in how circuits operate.