Understanding Voltage
Voltage, also known as electric potential difference, is the pressure from an electrical circuit's power source that pushes charged electrons (current) through a conducting loop. It is the work needed per unit of charge to move a test charge between two points.
Introduction & History
The concept and the unit of voltage are named after Alessandro Volta, who invented the voltaic pile, the first chemical battery, in 1800. This invention provided the first source of a steady electric current and was crucial for the development of electrochemistry and electromagnetism.
Key Units
Volt (V)
The SI unit of voltage.
Millivolt (mV)
One-thousandth of a volt, used in sensitive electronics and biomedical signals.
Kilovolt (kV)
Equal to 1,000 volts, used in high-voltage power transmission.
Practical Applications
Electronics and Circuit Design
Power Transmission
Batteries and Power Sources
Neuroscience (measuring nerve impulses)
Key Formula
Ohm's Law
A fundamental law in electronics that describes the relationship between voltage, current, and resistance in a circuit.