# What's the voltage of a battery?

The definition of voltage I'm familiar with is the amount of electric potential energy per unit charge at a location. My prof defined the voltage of a battery to be the amount of potential energy difference an unit charge would have at the positive terminal vs. the negative terminal.

But from what I remember from high school, the "terminals" aren't points, their rods of metal:

Since the voltage is defined at a point, not cylinders or rods what does the voltage of a battery mean? Also, how does the definition connect to the "pushing" power of a battery?

I took a look at Electrode Potential but it was a bit over my head.

I'm looking for an intuitive explanation, not one using rigorous chemistry concepts. Thanks!

• what does the voltage of a battery mean? The difference in electrical potential between the points on the picture you posted (one on one end of the battery's positive terminal and one on the negative). Unit is V = A*Ohm = W/A = J/C = kg m² / A s³ . – Alex Feb 9 '14 at 23:10