Molly Ayala
The volt, with the symbol V, is the unit of measurement for electric potential, electric potential difference (voltage), and electromotive force. It is named after Alessandro Volta, an Italian physicist who invented the voltaic pile, possibly the first chemical battery. The volt is defined as the electric potential between two points of a conducting wire when an electric current of one ampere dissipates one watt of power between those points. It is a fundamental concept in electricity and electronics, helping us understand how voltage, current, and power are related and how they power everyday objects.
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What You'll Learn
The volt as a unit of measurement
The volt, with the symbol V, is the SI derived unit for electric potential, voltage, and electromotive force. The volt is named after the Italian physicist Alessandro Volta (1745–1827), who invented the voltaic pile, possibly the first chemical battery.
In 1800, as the result of a professional disagreement over the galvanic response advocated by Luigi Galvani, Volta developed the so-called Voltaic pile, a forerunner of the battery, which produced a steady electric current. By 1873, the British Association for the Advancement of Science had defined the volt, ohm, and farad. In 1881, the International Electrical Congress, now the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), approved the volt as the unit for electromotive force.
A volt is defined as the electric potential between two points of a conducting wire when an electric current of one ampere dissipates one watt of power between those points. It can be expressed in terms of SI base units (m, kg, s, and A) as:
> {\displaystyle {\text{V}}={\frac {\text{power}}{\text{electric current}}}={\frac {\text{W}}{\text{A}}}={\frac {{\text{kg}}{\cdot }{\text{m}}^{2}{\cdot }{\text{s}}^{-3}}{\text{A}}}={\text{kg}}{\cdot }{\text{m}}^{2}{\cdot }{\text{s}}^{-3}{\cdot }{{\text{A}}^{-1}}.}
Equivalently, it is the potential difference between two points that will impart one joule of energy per coulomb of charge that passes through it. In other words, voltage can be described as the total work required to move a unit of charge between two points in a static electric field.
The relationship between voltage and current is defined (in ohmic devices like resistors) by Ohm's law. Ohm's Law is analogous to the Hagen–Poiseuille equation, as both are linear models relating flux and potential in their respective systems. The voltage produced by each electrochemical cell in a battery is determined by the chemistry of that cell. Cells can be combined in series for multiples of that voltage, or additional circuitry can be added to adjust the voltage to a different level.
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How to measure voltage
The volt (symbol: V) is the unit of measurement of electric potential, electric potential difference (voltage), and electromotive force. It is named after Alessandro Volta, an Italian physicist who invented the voltaic pile, possibly the first chemical battery.
To measure voltage, a voltmeter or multimeter is typically used. Here are the steps to measure voltage using a multimeter:
- Set the multimeter to measure voltage, ensuring it is not set to measure amps or ohms.
- Choose the range of the voltage you plan to test. Most digital multimeters are autoranging, but you may need to adjust the range yourself. Set the range to one level above the voltage you plan to measure.
- Plug the red lead into the slot marked with a V on the multimeter, and plug the black lead into the slot marked COM. Ensure that you do not reverse the wires, as this could damage the multimeter.
- Select the mode for DC or AC voltage. DC is generally used in batteries and small electronics, while AC is used in household electronics and outlets.
- Test the multimeter on a battery by placing the red lead on the positive terminal and the black lead on the negative terminal.
- Read the display to find the voltage measurement, and make adjustments if needed.
If you do not have access to a multimeter, there are some unconventional methods to measure voltage. For example, you can use a 9V battery and touch your tongue to it, then touch your tongue to the terminals you want to measure and compare the "tingliness". Alternatively, you can use plain wires, a glass of saltwater, and a 9V battery. Place the wires in the saltwater, connect them in series with the voltage to measure and the battery, and the bubbles in the saltwater may indicate whether the voltage is less or more than 9V.
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The history of the volt
The volt, the unit of measurement of electric potential, electric potential difference (voltage), and electromotive force, has a long and fascinating history. The volt is named after the 18th–19th-century Italian physicist Alessandro Volta, who invented the voltaic pile, possibly the first chemical battery, in 1800.
In 1861, Latimer Clark and Sir Charles Bright coined the name "volt" for the unit of resistance. By 1873, the British Association for the Advancement of Science had formally defined the volt, along with the ohm and farad. The International Electrical Congress, now the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), approved the volt as the unit for electromotive force in 1881. They defined the volt as equal to 108 cgs units of voltage, as the cgs unit was inconveniently small. This definition was abandoned in 1908 in favour of one based on the international ohm and ampere.
In 1893, the "international volt" was defined as 1⁄1.434 of the emf of a Clark cell. Following the 2019 revision of the SI, the Josephson constant, used to define the volt, was updated to KJ = 483597.84841698... GHz/V. This replaced the previous conventional value of KJ-90.
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The relationship between voltage and current
The volt (symbol: V) is the unit of measurement of electric potential, electric potential difference (voltage), and electromotive force. It is named after the Italian physicist Alessandro Volta, who invented the voltaic pile, possibly the first chemical battery. One volt is defined as the electric potential between two points of a conducting wire when an electric current of one ampere dissipates one watt of power between those points.
Voltage and current are two fundamental quantities in electricity. Voltage is the cause, and current is the effect. The voltage between two points is equal to the electrical potential difference between those points. It is the electromotive force (EMF), responsible for the movement of electrons (electric current) through a circuit. A flow of electrons forced into motion by voltage is current. Voltage represents the potential for each coulomb of electric charge to do work.
Current is the rate at which electric charge flows past a point in a circuit. It is measured in amps and is calculated by measuring the amount of charge that flows through one point in a circuit. Current can also be calculated using Ohm's law, where I = V/R, with I being the current, V being the voltage, and R being the resistance.
In conclusion, voltage and current are two fundamental quantities in electricity, with voltage being the cause and current being the effect. The relationship between them is defined by Ohm's law, which states that voltage is equal to current multiplied by resistance.
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How voltage works in an electric circuit
The volt (symbol: V) is the unit of measurement of electric potential, electric potential difference (voltage), and electromotive force. It is named after Alessandro Volta, an Italian physicist who invented the voltaic pile, possibly the first chemical battery.
Voltage is the force that makes electrons flow in a circuit. It is the difference in potential energy between two different points in a circuit. The voltmeter is used to measure the voltage between two points in a system. Voltage can be generated by chemical reactions, radiant energy, and the influence of magnetism on conductors. Examples of these voltage sources are batteries, solar cells, and generators.
A simple analogy for an electric circuit is water flowing in a closed circuit of pipework, driven by a mechanical pump. The potential difference between two points corresponds to the pressure difference between two points. If the pump creates a pressure difference between two points, then water flowing from one point to the other will be able to do work, such as driving a turbine. Similarly, work can be done by an electric current driven by the potential difference provided by a battery.
The relationship between voltage and current is defined by Ohm's law. The equation for Ohm's law is I = V/R, where I is the current, V is the voltage, and R is the resistance. This equation can be used to calculate the resistance of a circuit or the voltage of a circuit if the other factors are known.
An electric circuit is a pathway used to transmit electric currents and move electricity. There are three main parts of a circuit: the power source, wires to conduct the electricity, and a device at the other end to use the electricity. The power source can be a battery or a wall outlet connected to a power grid. The wires are made of metal because it is a good conductor of electricity and are wrapped in plastic to insulate the flowing electricity.
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Frequently asked questions
The volt (symbol: V) is the unit of measurement of electric potential, electric potential difference (voltage), and electromotive force in the International System of Units (SI). It is named after Alessandro Volta, an Italian physicist who invented the voltaic pile, possibly the first chemical battery.
A voltmeter can be used to measure the voltage between two points in a system. The voltmeter measures the difference in the electrochemical potential of electrons, commonly referred to as the voltage difference.
Voltage is the force that makes electrons flow. Current is the rate of the flow of electrons and is measured in amps. The power used in a circuit is calculated by multiplying the voltage by the current.
