Voltage is the pressure from an electrical source that pushes electrons through a conductor to create current. It is measured in volts and represented by the letter V or E. The standard unit for voltage is the Volt (symbol: V and a symbol: E). Voltage can be either Direct Current (DC) or Alternating Current (AC).
A battery produces a DC voltage, while home outlets produce an AC voltage. The most common household voltage in North America is 120 volts AC, while in Europe, it is 240 volts AC. Voltage can be increased or decreased with a transformer.
Voltage is crucial in daily life as it powers electronic devices such as computers, cell phones, and TVs. It also has many industrial applications where it helps run machinery smoothly and efficiently.