What is the definition of voltage?

• A. It is the strength of an electric current.
• B. It is the potential to do work expressed in volts.
• C. It is the unit of electrical resistance.
• D. It is a measure of electrical power consumed by a device.

Answer: (B)

Voltage is defined as the electric potential difference between two points in a circuit, which indicates the potential to do work. It is measured in volts and represents the force that pushes electric charges through a conductor. In this context, the term "potential to do work" means that voltage is responsible for moving electrons, enabling the flow of current and the performance of useful tasks, such as lighting a bulb or powering a device.

Understanding this concept is crucial in electrical mechanics because it forms the basis for analyzing circuits and understanding how electrical components interact. The other options focus on different electrical characteristics: the strength of an electric current refers to current (measured in amperes), electrical resistance is quantified in ohms, and electrical power is expressed in watts. These concepts are related to voltage but do not accurately define what voltage itself is.