What is voltage? Voltage is the 'driving force' that makes electricity flow in wires and electrical devices.

Voltage

A bulb showing its voltage.

Voltage in a circuit.

A current of electricity is pushed round a circuit by a battery or the mains. The pushing force is measured in volts.

The voltage of a battery is written on its casing. It is a number followed by the letter V which stands for volts. For example, you may see a small battery with 1.5V on its side. This means the battery has a voltage of 1.5 volts. Other batteries have a higher voltage which means that they push the current with greater force than a 1.5V battery. Some batteries for use in the home have a voltage of 9 volts.

The voltage of a car battery is 12 volts and the voltage of the mains in the United Kingdom is 240 volts.

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