Final answer:
Voltage is the electric potential difference between two points, akin to gravitational potential in physics, and is the force behind the movement of electric charges, leading to current. Current, on the other hand, is the flow of electric charges, dependent on the voltage and resistance as described by Ohm's Law. Voltage sources like batteries create the electric field necessary for current to flow.
Step-by-step explanation:
Voltage, in basic terms, can be understood as the electric potential difference between two points. It's an expression of the potential energy per charge that could be released if an electric current flows between these points. This concept is similar to the gravitational potential energy in physics, which depends on the height of an object above a certain reference level. The term 'voltage' is often used interchangeably with 'electric potential difference,' highlighting that it is not a measure of the flow of electric charge, but rather the driving force behind it.
Why is voltage not the same as current? The answer lies in their definitions: voltage is the cause, while current is the effect. A voltage source, such as a battery or a generator, creates an electric field when connected to a conductor. This field then exerts a force on free charges within the conductor, leading to the flow of electric current. The amount of current that flows is regulated by Ohm's Law, stating that the current is directly proportional to voltage and inversely proportional to resistance.
Therefore, voltage is the potential that drives electric charges to move, manifesting as current. It's important to note that two sources can have the same voltage but may differ significantly in their capacity to maintain the flow of current, e.g., a motorcycle and a car battery.