Which statement is true about the volt?

Which statement is true about the volt?

• A. The volt is the unit of energy
• B. The volt is the unit of charge
• C. It is the unit of electric potential difference
• D. It is the unit of power

Answer: (C)

Voltage tells you how much energy per unit charge is available to move charges between two points in a circuit. The volt is the unit that measures that potential difference. In practice, if a charge of one coulomb moves across a potential difference of one volt, about one joule of energy is transferred. So the volt isn't a unit of energy, nor of charge, nor of power; energy is joules, charge is coulombs, and power is watts. The idea is captured by W = V × q, so higher voltage means more energy per charge for the same amount of charge moved, driving current through the circuit.

Voltage tells you how much energy per unit charge is available to move charges between two points in a circuit. The volt is the unit that measures that potential difference. In practice, if a charge of one coulomb moves across a potential difference of one volt, about one joule of energy is transferred. So the volt isn't a unit of energy, nor of charge, nor of power; energy is joules, charge is coulombs, and power is watts. The idea is captured by W = V × q, so higher voltage means more energy per charge for the same amount of charge moved, driving current through the circuit.