volts

The volt is named after Alessandro Volta (1745-1827), the Italian scientist who built the first battery. Voltage measures the force or "oomph" with which electrical charges are pushed through a material. Some common voltages are as follows: 1.5 volts for a flashlight battery; 12 volts for a car battery; 115 volts for ordinary household devices; and 230 volts for a heavy-duty household appliance.