what does voltage mean ?

Answer 1

In layman's terms, it is often thought of as the electrical pressure which pushes charge in a circuit. Like water pressure to a tap, the greater the pressure the more current/water flows.

By definition, voltage is properly called potential difference, is measured between two points and is equal to the work done per unit positive charge in moving some charge from one point to the other. In S.I. units the volt = one joule per coulomb.

Answer 2

Norrie is wrong lol EMF is a kind of voltage, it is the maximum voltage you can get in a circuit i.e when it is an open circuit.

Voltage can be thought of as the potential difference between 2 points e.g

5V 10V
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If the first plate hold 5V and the second 10V then the total voltage (potential difference) across the plates is 10 - 5 = 5V.


If you look at the equation V=E/Q

Voltage can be described as the amount of energy given to one coulomb of charge to move it round a circuit.

Answer 3

Voltage is the difference of electrical potential between two points of an electrical or electronic circuit, expressed in volts. It measures the potential energy of an electric field to cause an electric current in an electrical conductor. Depending on the difference of electrical potential it is called extra low voltage, low voltage, high voltage or extra high voltage.

For more details on this u can go to:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voltage

Answer 4

Voltage is a difference in electrical potential between two points in a circuit. Think of it was the water pressure at your house. If the water pressure (voltage) is low, then the water flows (equivalent to electrical current) out of your garden hose slower. If the water pressure (voltage) is high then the water flows (current) out of the hose faster.

Answer 5

Electromotive force or potential difference is measured in volts and it is the pressure that drives electrons around a electrical circuit. And now days referred to as Voltage.

Answer 6

Its like a pressure in water, only its the pressure of electrons in a wire. The higher the pressure the higher the Voltage.

Answer 7

Actually Voltage means the amout of energy stored in an electron... the higher the amount of energy the higher would be the voltage ..that should clear you up...

Answer 8

Voltage is a 'Force' called the "Electro-Motive Force" (EMF).

It is similar to the Pressure Difference (Delta 'P') in a pipeline causing flow of fluid.
EMF or Voltage across a circuit giving (Delta 'V'), causes the flow of electricity (current) in a circuit, and depending on the resistance (Ohms) in the circuit, the current becomes 'Amperes' (Amps).

Answer 9

It's a measure of the potential energy carried by the charge in a circuit.

Doug

Answer 10

Simplistically:

It is potential difference/energy used for electrical calculations.