Volts are a measurement of what?

Volts measure electromotive force, which is often considered the electrical potential difference between two points in a circuit. This potential difference is what drives electric current through a conductor. When a voltage (measured in volts) is applied across a circuit, it generates an electric field that influences the movement of charge carriers (such as electrons), prompting current flow.

Understanding the role of voltage is central to electrical principles. It allows for a distinction between the capacity that drives electrical charges and the actual flow of those charges, which is measured in amperes. The measurement of voltage is crucial in various applications, including determining how much energy is delivered to electrical devices, signaling when a circuit is active, and troubleshooting electrical systems. Other options like current flow, resistance, and power consumption relate to different aspects of electrical systems but do not measure the potential difference itself.