Home Inspection Electrical Practice Test

What does voltage measure in electrical systems?

1. Resistance

2. Pressure

3. Flow

4. Power

The correct answer is: Pressure

Voltage measures the electric potential difference between two points in an electrical system, which can be likened to the pressure in a hydraulic system. It represents the driving force that pushes electric charge through a circuit. Higher voltage indicates a greater push, which can lead to a stronger flow of current (the movement of electric charge). This is why understanding voltage is essential for evaluating how effectively electricity can move through a circuit and power electrical devices. Other concepts like resistance, flow, and power are related but distinct from voltage. Resistance refers to the opposition to the flow of current, flow itself refers to the movement of electrical charge (measured in amperes), and power is the rate at which electrical energy is consumed or produced (measured in watts), which depends on both voltage and current. Thus, voltage specifically and uniquely represents the potential energy that drives current through the system.