What determines the potential difference that moves electrons in a conductor?

The movement of electrons in a conductor is determined by voltage, which is often referred to as the potential difference. Voltage is the measure of electric potential energy per unit charge, and it creates the electric field necessary for electrons to move through the conductor. When a potential difference is applied across a conductor, it causes the free electrons within the material to shift, resulting in an electric current.

In the context of electrical circuits, voltage serves as the driving force that propels charges through the conductive pathway. Without voltage, there would be no movement of electrons, and thus, no current. This relationship is fundamental to the principles of electricity and is critical for understanding how electrical devices operate.

Other factors, such as amperage, resistance, and power, interact with voltage but do not directly determine its role in creating electron movement. Amperage represents the amount of current flowing in a circuit, resistance quantifies how much a conductor opposes the flow of current, and power refers to the rate at which energy is consumed or produced in an electrical circuit. Each plays an important role in electric circuits, but it is the voltage that fundamentally drives the movement of electrons.