Volt

Volt is a unit of electric measurement in the metric system. Its symbol is V. One volt is the potential difference (difference in the electrical state) between two points if 1 joule of work is done in moving a charge of 1 coulomb between the points. A volt can also be defined as the difference in electric potential between two points on a wire that is carrying 1 ampere of current and producing 1 watt of power (see Coulomb; Joule; Watt).

Differences in potential, often called voltage, are related to the electrical forces that "push" charges through a conductor. One volt of potential difference across a resistance of 1 ohm produces a current of 1 ampere. Most batteries and other sources of electromotive force are labeled according to their voltage. For example, many flashlights use two 11/2-volt batteries. The most common instrument used to measure voltage is the voltmeter. The volt was named for the Italian scientist Alessandro Volta.

Contributor: Robert B. Prigo, Ph.D., Prof. of Physics, Middlebury College.

Volt

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