How is voltage defined in electrical terms?

Voltage is defined as electric potential difference. It represents the difference in electric potential energy per unit charge between two points in an electric circuit. This potential difference is what causes electric charges to flow, resulting in an electric current. When there is a higher potential at one point compared to another, it creates the driving force that pushes the charges through the circuit.

Understanding voltage as electric potential difference is crucial in electrical engineering and physics because it directly relates to how circuits operate. For example, a higher voltage means that more energy is available to move charges, which is essential for powering devices.

The other choices reflect various concepts in electricity but do not define voltage. Electric current flow refers to the movement of charges; electric resistance describes how much a material opposes this flow; and electric power consumption measures the rate of energy use in a circuit. These concepts are interconnected, but only electric potential difference specifically defines voltage.