The volt is a _____ causing the electrons or current to flow.

• A. Charge
• B. Power
• C. Force
• D. Voltage

Answer: (C)

Voltage is the driving potential difference that pushes electrons to move in a circuit. A volt represents energy per unit charge: moving one coulomb through a potential difference of one volt requires one joule of energy. That energy difference creates an electric field inside the conductor, which applies a force on the charge carriers. As a result, charges drift, producing current. The volt isn’t a force itself; it’s the measure of the potential that creates the field and the resulting force on charges. The actual push on the charges comes from that electric field, and how much current flows depends on the circuit’s resistance (I = V/R). So, voltage best fits the idea of what causes current to flow.