NCEA Level 2 Physics Practice Exam

The unit of electric potential is the volt. Electric potential, often referred to as voltage, measures the work done per unit charge in moving a charge between two points in an electric field. Specifically, one volt is defined as the amount of electric potential that will do one joule of work on one coulomb of charge. This relationship illustrates how voltage relates to energy and charge.

In practical terms, when a voltage is applied across a component in an electric circuit, it indicates how much energy per unit charge is available to drive current through that component. This understanding is crucial when analyzing electric circuits as it helps in determining how components will interact based on their voltage ratings.