The major difference between watt and volt is that watts measure power, while volts measure electrical potential or voltage. Watts represent the rate of energy transfer or power consumption in a circuit, while volts quantify the electrical potential difference or the force that drives the current.
What Is Watt?
A watt is the unit of power, measuring the rate at which energy is transferred or used. It’s commonly used to quantify the amount of electricity consumed by an appliance or the rate of energy transfer in an electrical system. For instance, if a light bulb consumes 60 watts of power, it means it consumes energy at a rate of 60 joules per second, creating light and heat.
What Is Volt?
Volts measure electrical potential or voltage, representing the force that drives electric current in a circuit. It’s essentially the ‘pressure’ pushing the flow of electrical charge. For example, household electrical outlets commonly supply around 120 volts in the United States.
Watt Vs Volt
The basic difference between watt and volt is given below:
Property | Watts | Volt |
Definition | Measures power or rate of energy transfer | Measures electrical potential or voltage |
Symbol | W | V |
Represents | Energy consumption or generation | Electrical force or pressure |
Formula | P=V×I | V= I×R |
Example | Light bulb consuming 60 watts | Household outlet supplying 120 volts |