NEIEP Mechanics Practice Exam

What term describes the difference of electrical potential between two points?

1. Current

2. Resistance

3. Voltage

4. Power

The correct answer is: Voltage

The term that describes the difference of electrical potential between two points is voltage. Voltage is a measure of the electric potential difference and indicates how much potential energy exists to move electric charges from one point to another in a circuit. It is fundamental in understanding how electrical systems function, as it drives the flow of current through components in the circuit. In a practical sense, if you think of electrical potential as similar to water pressure in a pipe, voltage represents the pressure that pushes the water (or electrical charge) through the system. This difference in potential ultimately enables electrical devices to operate when connected to a power source. Current refers to the flow of electric charge and is dependent on the voltage applied and the resistance of the circuit. Resistance is a measure of how much a material opposes the flow of electric current. Power combines both voltage and current to describe the rate at which energy is consumed or converted, but does not directly define the electric potential difference itself. Therefore, voltage accurately captures the essence of electrical potential difference in this context.