What does voltage represent in an electrical circuit?

Voltage represents the electrical pressure available to cause a flow of current in an electrical circuit. It is essentially the force that pushes electric charges through a conducting medium, thereby enabling the flow of current. This concept is fundamental to understanding how electrical circuits operate, as voltage creates the potential difference necessary for current to flow from one point to another.

In practical terms, you can think of voltage as being similar to water pressure in a plumbing system. Just as higher water pressure can push water through pipes more forcefully, higher voltage can move electrons through a circuit more efficiently. The measurement of voltage is typically expressed in volts (V), and it serves as a critical parameter in circuit design and analysis.

Understanding voltage helps in grasping other electrical concepts, such as current and resistance, as defined by Ohm's Law, which states that current (I) equals voltage (V) divided by resistance (R).