What does the term 'Volt' measure in an electrical circuit?

The term 'Volt' measures electrical pressure in a circuit, which is why it is often referred to as electric potential difference or electromotive force. In the context of an electrical circuit, volts indicate how much potential energy is available to push electric charges through a conductor.

This 'pressure' is crucial because it impacts how much current flows for a given resistance in the circuit, following Ohm's Law. When there's a higher voltage, more energy is available to move electrons, which can increase the current, provided the resistance remains constant. Understanding voltage is foundational in interpreting how electrical systems operate and interact with other components, such as resistors and power sources.

The other concepts—current, power, and resistance—though related to electrical circuits, are fundamentally different. Current is the flow of electric charge, power represents the rate of energy transfer, and resistance refers to the opposition to current flow. All these come together in the relationship dictated by voltage, but it is the volt that specifically reflects the 'pressure' that drives the current through the circuit.