How is voltage defined in terms of energy?

Voltage is defined as energy per unit charge, which reflects the relationship between electric potential energy and the charge within an electric field. When work is done to move a charge through an electric field, the amount of energy used in that process is measured in joules, while the charge being moved is measured in coulombs. Thus, voltage essentially captures how much energy (in joules) is associated with moving each coulomb of charge.

This definition signifies that if you have a higher voltage, it indicates that more energy per charge is available to do work, such as moving electrons through a circuit, powering devices, or creating electric fields. The concept of energy per unit charge is fundamental in understanding electric circuits and various electrical phenomena, making it critical for applications such as power distribution and electronic device operation.