Which statement defines volts?

Which statement defines volts?

• A. A measure of current
• B. A measure of resistance
• C. A measure of energy stored per unit charge
• D. Joules per coulomb

Answer: (D)

Voltage is the energy per unit charge that would be transferred as a charge moves between two points in an electric field. The SI unit for this is joules per coulomb, so one volt equals one joule per coulomb. This captures the idea that voltage tells you how much energy a small charge would gain or lose when moving between points. The other descriptions reflect different ideas: current is about how much charge flows per second, and resistance is how much a material resists that flow. Saying energy stored per unit charge is close in spirit, but voltage specifically refers to the energy per charge associated with moving between points, not necessarily energy stored in a device.

Voltage is the energy per unit charge that would be transferred as a charge moves between two points in an electric field. The SI unit for this is joules per coulomb, so one volt equals one joule per coulomb. This captures the idea that voltage tells you how much energy a small charge would gain or lose when moving between points.

The other descriptions reflect different ideas: current is about how much charge flows per second, and resistance is how much a material resists that flow. Saying energy stored per unit charge is close in spirit, but voltage specifically refers to the energy per charge associated with moving between points, not necessarily energy stored in a device.