Voltage and current
Voltage is the push. Current is how many electrons get pushed.
Read first: What is electricity?
Imagine a tall water tank. The higher the tank, the more pressure on the water at the bottom. That pressure is what makes water shoot out of the tap when you open it.
Voltage works the same way for electrons. A 9-volt battery has more electrical pressure than a 1.5-volt AA. More voltage = more push.
And current?
Current is how many electrons actually flow past a point each second. It is measured in amps. More voltage usually means more current — like more pressure makes water flow faster out of the tap.
9-volt battery
Strong push, like a tall tank. Good for powering things that need a lot of energy.
1.5-volt AA
Gentler push, like a short tank. Plenty for small things like a clock or a remote.
You raise the water tank higher (more voltage). What happens to the flow?
Now you understand…
- Voltage = push (measured in volts).
- Current = how many electrons flow per second (measured in amps).
- Bigger push usually means bigger flow.
Sometimes you want to slow electrons down on purpose. Meet resistance.