In an electrical circuit, what does voltage represent?

Voltage represents the difference in electric potential energy between two points in an electrical circuit. It indicates how much potential energy is available to move electric charges from one point to another. This difference in potential energy is what drives the flow of current in the circuit, allowing energy to be transferred and utilized by components like resistors, capacitors, and other devices.

Understanding voltage as a measure of potential energy difference is fundamental to analyzing how circuits function. It shows that electricity is not just about the movement of charge, but also about the energy that drives that movement. Whenever there is a voltage across a component, it suggests that energy is being supplied or consumed, depending on the direction of current flow.

This concept is crucial for grasping how various components in a circuit interact and how energy is converted from one form to another, which ultimately leads to the operation of electrical devices.