1 Answer
The **SI unit for volts** is the **volt**, symbolized by **V**.
To understand it better, let's break it down:
---
### What is a Volt?
A **volt** is the **unit of electric potential difference**, **electric potential**, or **electromotive force**. In simpler terms, it's a measure of how much electrical potential energy exists between two points in a circuit. If you imagine electricity as water flowing through a pipe, voltage is like the pressure pushing the water through the pipe.
---
### Formal Definition of a Volt:
In the International System of Units (**SI**), **1 volt (1 V)** is defined as:
> **The potential difference across a conductor when a current of one ampere dissipates one watt of power.**
This can be written mathematically as:
$$
\text{1 V} = \frac{1 \text{ watt}}{1 \text{ ampere}} = \frac{1 \text{ W}}{1 \text{ A}}
$$
---
### Derived SI Units of the Volt:
Since watts and amperes are also derived units, we can further break down the **volt** in terms of base SI units:
* A **watt (W)** is a unit of power and is defined as:
$$
1 \text{ W} = 1 \text{ joule/second} = 1 \text{ J/s}
$$
* A **joule (J)**, the unit of energy, is defined as:
$$
1 \text{ J} = 1 \text{ kg·m}^2/\text{s}^2
$$
* An **ampere (A)** is a base SI unit representing electric current.
So, plugging everything in:
$$
1 \text{ V} = \frac{1 \text{ W}}{1 \text{ A}} = \frac{1 \text{ J/s}}{1 \text{ A}} = \frac{1 \text{ kg·m}^2/\text{s}^3}{1 \text{ A}} = 1 \text{ kg·m}^2/\text{s}^3·\text{A}
$$
Thus, the **SI base unit expression for a volt** is:
$$
\boxed{1\ \text{V} = 1\ \text{kg·m}^2/\text{s}^3·\text{A}}
$$
---
### Summary
* **Name of the SI unit:** volt
* **Symbol:** V
* **Defined as:** 1 joule per coulomb (1 J/C) or 1 watt per ampere (1 W/A)
* **In SI base units:**
$$
\text{V} = \frac{\text{kg·m}^2}{\text{s}^3·\text{A}}
$$
---
Let me know if you'd like a diagram showing how volts, amps, and watts are related!
To understand it better, let's break it down:
---
### What is a Volt?
A **volt** is the **unit of electric potential difference**, **electric potential**, or **electromotive force**. In simpler terms, it's a measure of how much electrical potential energy exists between two points in a circuit. If you imagine electricity as water flowing through a pipe, voltage is like the pressure pushing the water through the pipe.
---
### Formal Definition of a Volt:
In the International System of Units (**SI**), **1 volt (1 V)** is defined as:
> **The potential difference across a conductor when a current of one ampere dissipates one watt of power.**
This can be written mathematically as:
$$
\text{1 V} = \frac{1 \text{ watt}}{1 \text{ ampere}} = \frac{1 \text{ W}}{1 \text{ A}}
$$
---
### Derived SI Units of the Volt:
Since watts and amperes are also derived units, we can further break down the **volt** in terms of base SI units:
* A **watt (W)** is a unit of power and is defined as:
$$
1 \text{ W} = 1 \text{ joule/second} = 1 \text{ J/s}
$$
* A **joule (J)**, the unit of energy, is defined as:
$$
1 \text{ J} = 1 \text{ kg·m}^2/\text{s}^2
$$
* An **ampere (A)** is a base SI unit representing electric current.
So, plugging everything in:
$$
1 \text{ V} = \frac{1 \text{ W}}{1 \text{ A}} = \frac{1 \text{ J/s}}{1 \text{ A}} = \frac{1 \text{ kg·m}^2/\text{s}^3}{1 \text{ A}} = 1 \text{ kg·m}^2/\text{s}^3·\text{A}
$$
Thus, the **SI base unit expression for a volt** is:
$$
\boxed{1\ \text{V} = 1\ \text{kg·m}^2/\text{s}^3·\text{A}}
$$
---
### Summary
* **Name of the SI unit:** volt
* **Symbol:** V
* **Defined as:** 1 joule per coulomb (1 J/C) or 1 watt per ampere (1 W/A)
* **In SI base units:**
$$
\text{V} = \frac{\text{kg·m}^2}{\text{s}^3·\text{A}}
$$
---
Let me know if you'd like a diagram showing how volts, amps, and watts are related!