What does voltage refer to in an electrical system?

Voltage refers to the potential difference in an electrical system, which is expressed in volts. It is a measure of the electric potential energy per unit charge available to drive current through a circuit. Essentially, voltage can be thought of as the force that pushes electric charges to move through a conductor, enabling the flow of current.

This difference in electric potential is what causes electrons to flow from one point to another within the circuit, facilitating the operation of electrical devices. Understanding voltage is crucial in electrical systems because it helps in determining how much power can be delivered to a load and how various components of a circuit will behave when connected.