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What is Voltage? Formula and Units

Joao Amadeu, Kip Ingram, Christianlly Cena
Learn the voltage definition and meaning. Gain an understanding of voltage units. See how
AC and DC works in electric circuits with examples and figures. Updated: 11/08/2021

Table of Contents

Voltage Meaning
Voltage Definition in Electricity
Voltage Formula And Ohm's Law
Voltage in Parallel Circuits
Voltage in Series Circuits
Voltage Measurement
Lesson Summary

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Voltage Meaning

In physics, voltage is the cause of the movement that makes electricity to start. It can be
also described as the difference in electrostatic potential (for static electric fields)
between two points. A well-known analogy to explain the voltage meaning includes the
potential energy of waterfalls.

Figure 1: Waterfall

In the case of a waterfall, the energy (capacity of doing work measured in Joules) in
question is mechanical. The higher the structure, greater the capacity of potential energy to
be transformed into kinetic energy. This makes the water to fall to the bottom of the
structure, where the potential energy is lower (or null). Transferring it to electric energy, one
can say that two points of a circuit play the roles of the top and the bottom of a waterfall.
The electric current will then behave like the water, which will be pushed from the point
with more potential to the point with less potential.
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Voltage Definition in Electricity

It is important to understand that voltage does not move through a circuit. The organized
movement of electrons between two points of a circuit is called electric current. In a closed
circuit, the voltage creates the current.

Voltage has different names that can often be used interchangeably. Some of them are:

Electromotive force (EMF)

Difference in potential
Electric pressure
Volt drop

Regardless of what voltage is called, the fundamental unit of measurement for voltage
(what voltage is measured in) is the volt (V). The name comes from Italian scientist
Alessandro Volta (1745-1827). One volt is equivalent to an energy consumption of one
joule per coulomb of an electric charge. In an electric circuit scheme, the voltage source
can be represented in different ways, like the ones showed in figure 2.

Figure 2: Voltage symbol in a

circuit.

In an electric circuit:

Zero voltage means absence of difference in potential.

Negative voltage means excess of electrons (it is more negative in polarity than the ground
of the circuit).
Positive voltage means that there is a deficiency in the number of electrons that will move
to create current.

Types of Voltage

There are two types of voltage:

AC stands for alternating current, which is characterized by a change in direction of the

produced current (generator).
DC stands for direct current, the voltage that creates DC induces a current between two
points. The value of the voltage remains constant (cell or battery).
Figure 3: Voltage X Current graph
for alternating current.

Figure 4: Voltage X Current graph

for direct current

A different analogy can be used to exemplify alternating and direct current. To establish a
current, the electrons need to begin an orderly movement. Imagining that the electrons are
a big box that simply needs to be moved, it does not matter if one is moving the box to the
right all the way (analogy for DC), or if they keep moving the box to the right and to the left,
alternating positions (analogy to AC).

Voltage Formula And Ohm's Law

It is important to clarify the concepts of current and resistance to proceed with the lesson.

Current is simply the orderly movement of electrons in a conductor.

Resistance is a feature of the conductor that creates opposition to the movement of the
electric current.

The first Ohms' Law introduces the relationship between voltage, current, and resistance
through the following formula:

V =R∗i

Where V is the voltage measured in volts (V), R is resistance measured in ohms (Ω), and i is
current measured in amperes (A) in the International System of Units. Each ampere flowing
per second will transfer one coulomb of charge in a circuit.

Circuit Example

If an electric circuit is composed of a battery with 9 volts and a resistance of 0.5 ohms,
what is the value of the current that runs through this circuit?

V =R∗i

9 = 0.5 ∗ i
 9
i= 0.5
= 18A

The graph (Figure 5) shows that, according to the Ohm's Law, current and voltage are
directly proportional. In other words, the value of one grows with the growth of the value of
the other.

Figure 5: Graph for Ohms Law.

The straight inclined line in the graph shows that resistance remains constant with the
changes of values for current and voltage. However, the property is only valid for
resistances that come from ohmic resistors.

Resistors are the simplest electric components added to circuits to create a needed
resistance. In some cases, resistors are combined in a circuit to produce an overall
resistance. There are two main ways to associate resistors:

Parallel
Series

Voltage in Parallel Circuits

When resistors are connected in parallel circuits, the original current is separated through
different paths, while the voltage value remains intact. It looks like the circuit in figure 6.

Figure 6: Parallel association of

resistors

In the circuit from the image, the current leaves the battery (voltage) and gets divided in
three to pass through the three resistors. In this type of circuit, the overall resistance (Ro) is
calculated by:

1 1 1 1
= R1
+ R2
+ R3
Ro

The value for voltage for each resistor is the same as the one from the battery.

Voltage in Parallel Circuits Example

Consider the components of a parallel circuit with the following values:

 Vbattery = 32 volts
R1 = 4 ohms
R2 = 8 ohms
R3 = 8 ohms

Calculate the overall resistance, the overall current, the current for each resistor, and the
voltage for each resistor.

Solution:

For overall resistance:

1 1 1 1
= 4
+ 8
+ 8
= 2Ohms
Ro

For overall current:

V = Ro ∗ i

32V
i= = 16A
2Ohms

Current for each resistor:

V = R1 ∗ i1

i1 = 8A

V = R2 ∗ i2

i2 = 4A

V = R3 ∗ i3

i3 = 4A

The voltage for each resistor is 32 volts since the voltage is not divided in parallel circuits.

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Activities
FAQs

Voltage True or False Activity

In this activity, you will check your knowledge regarding the definition and units of voltage,
as presented in the lesson.

Directions

Determine whether the following statements are true or false. To do this, print or copy this
page on a blank paper and underline or circle the answer.

1. Amp is the base unit of electric current in the International System of Units.

True | False

2. One volt flowing for one second will transfer one coulomb of charge.
True | False

3. Energy is a quantity that denotes the ability to do work and is measured in Joules.

True | False

4. Negative voltage in a circuit is a voltage that is more negative in polarity than the ground
of the circuit.

True | False

5. It is not probable for many parts within a circuit to have the same voltage.

True | False

6. Volts is the derived unit for voltage, which is equivalent to Joule per coulomb.

True | False

7. Charges in the circuit flow from the higher potential to the lower potential.

True | False

8. The difference in electrostatic potential between two points in a circuit is known as

voltage.

True | False

9. Without current, there would be no flow of voltage.

True | False

10. A volt is measured as the amount of electric charge carried by a current of 1 ampere
flowing for 1 second.

True | False

Answer Key

1. True
2. False, because the correct statement is, One ampere flowing for one second will transfer one
coulomb of charge.
3. True
4. True
5. False, because the correct statement is, It is probable for many parts within a circuit to have
the same voltage.
6. True
7. True
8. True
9. False, because the correct statement is, Without voltage, there would be no flow of current.
10. False, because the correct statement is, A coulomb is measured as the amount of electric
charge carried by a current of 1 ampere flowing for 1 second.

What is the simple definition of voltage?

Voltage is the difference in potential that creates a push for electrons to move in a
organized way, creating electric current. This current is characterized by the orderly
movement of electrons in a conductor.

What is voltage and current?

Voltage is the push responsible to create current. Current is the organized movement of
electrons through a conductor. This movement allows electricity to exist.

Is voltage a Joule per Coulomb?

Yes. When a voltmeter measures voltage in Volts, it is giving the energy consumption in
Joules to each Coulomb of an electric charge.

What does one volt mean?

The volt is the fundamental unit that measures voltage. A measure of one volts means that
an electric charge of 1 Coulomb consumes an energy equivalent to 1 Joule.

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What is Voltage? | Voltage Formula & Units

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