What term describes the potential energy in the configuration of electric charges?

The potential energy in the configuration of electric charges is best described by the term "voltage." Voltage represents the electric potential difference between two points in a circuit, and it reflects the work done per unit charge in moving a positive charge from one point to another within an electric field. Essentially, voltage is a measure of how much potential energy is available to drive charge through an electric circuit, thereby influencing the flow of electric current.

In a broader context, voltage can be understood as the stored energy per charge due to the spatial arrangement of electric charges. When there is a difference in voltage between two points, it establishes an electric field that drives the movement of charges, which in turn results in the flow of current through conductors.

The other terms relate to different aspects of electricity. Electric field describes the force per unit charge experienced by a test charge placed in the vicinity of other charges, while capacitance defines the ability of a system (like a capacitor) to store charge per unit voltage. Current specifically refers to the flow of electric charge over time, which is dependent on the presence of voltage that drives that flow.