In this post, we list and explain the difference between voltage and amperage. Voltage is the power differential between two points in an electric field. The amperage, on the other hand, measures the intensity of the electric current in amps.
Voltage is the pressure that a source of electrical energy can exert on electrons in an electrical circuit, thus establishing the flow of electrical current. The voltage is, then, the potential difference between two points of an electric field or a closed circuit.
The greater the potential difference that a source of electricity can exert, the greater the voltage in the closed circuit. This potential difference is measured in a unit known as Volts.
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The voltage between two points in an electric field is equal to the work that the positive charge unit must perform to move between them. The voltage is independent of the path; the load must travel and only depends on the potential between the two points.
When a conductor is placed between two points that have a potential difference, the flow of electric current will be given, always from the area with the greatest potential to the area with the least potential. If there is an absence of a source that generates electricity, the flow of current will stop when both points equal their potential.
It is the intensity of electric current expressed in the unit known as amps. The current intensity is no more than the number of electrons that can flow through a conductor in a given time.
For the SI or International System of Units, the intensity is measured in amps, the letter A being its symbol.
You should keep in mind that one amp is equal to one coulomb or coulomb per second, that is, more or less the flow of 6,241 x 10 18 electrons per second.
Electrical equipment is classified according to its amperage, that is, according to the energy they demand from the grid when they are in operation.
When a person is electrocuted, the amount of electricity that passes through their body will determine the severity of the accident, and this is determined by the amperage and not the voltage. A small flow of 0.1 to 0.2 A can kill due to its devastating effects on the heart. Some people have survived major discharges because their muscle contractions acted as a shield to protect the heart.
Difference between voltage and amperage
- Voltage is the unit that measures the potential difference between two points in a closed electrical circuit.
- Amperage is the amount of electricity that flows between two points in a closed electrical circuit.
- The potential difference between two points is what allows the flow of electric current in a conductor.
- The current intensity is no more than the number of electrons flowing per unit of time in a conductor.