Certified Facility Manager (CFM) Practice Exam

A measure of the electrical potential provided by an electric utility is termed:

1. current

2. voltage

3. resistance

4. power

The correct answer is: voltage

The term that refers to the electrical potential provided by an electric utility is voltage. Voltage is the measure of the electric potential difference between two points in an electrical circuit. It essentially represents the force that pushes electric charges through a conductor, such as a wire. In the context of utility services, voltage is crucial because it determines how much electrical energy can be supplied to various electrical devices and systems. Current refers to the flow of electric charge, while resistance quantifies how much a material opposes the flow of that charge. Power, on the other hand, is the rate at which electrical energy is consumed or generated, and it is calculated using both voltage and current. Thus, understanding voltage is foundational for managing and utilizing electrical systems effectively in a facility management context.