Wiktor Wise
Voltage, also known as electrical potential difference, electric pressure, or electric tension, is the change in electrical difference between two points. It is the difference in electric potential between two points in a static electric field and corresponds to the work needed per unit of charge to move a positive test charge from one point to another. The SI unit for voltage is the volt (V). The potential difference is what creates the flow of electrons and produces electricity.
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What You'll Learn
Electric potential difference
Voltage is the energy per unit charge. It is the difference in electric potential between two points in a static electric field, corresponding to the work needed per unit of charge to move a positive test charge from one point to another. The potential difference is the same as voltage and is caused by the build-up of electric charge or from an electromotive force.
The concept of electric potential difference can be understood through the hydraulic analogy. In a hydraulic system, the work done to move water is equal to the "pressure drop" multiplied by the volume of water moved. Similarly, in an electrical circuit, the work done to move electrons or other charge carriers is equal to the "electrical pressure difference" multiplied by the quantity of electrical charges moved. The larger the pressure difference between two points, the greater the flow between them.
The potential difference between two points in an electric circuit corresponds to the pressure difference between two points in a water circuit. If a pump creates a pressure difference between two points, water flowing from one point to the other will be able to do work, such as driving a turbine. Similarly, work can be done by an electric current driven by the potential difference provided by a battery. For example, the voltage provided by a sufficiently charged automobile battery can push a large current through the windings of an automobile's starter motor.
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Electric pressure difference
Voltage, also known as electrical potential difference, electric pressure, or electric tension, is the change in electrical potential between two points. It is a scalar quantity that corresponds to the work needed per unit of charge to move a positive test charge from one point to another in a static electric field.
The electric potential difference can be caused by the build-up of electric charge, such as in a capacitor, or by an electromotive force, such as electromagnetic induction in a generator. In an electric circuit, the voltage drop across a device, such as a resistor, can be understood as the difference in potential between the two terminals of the device.
The concept of electric pressure difference can be understood using the hydraulic analogy. In a hydraulic system, the work done to move water is equal to the pressure drop multiplied by the volume of water moved. Similarly, in an electrical circuit, the work done to move electrons or other charge carriers is equal to the electrical pressure difference multiplied by the quantity of electrical charges moved.
The larger the electric pressure difference between two points, the greater the electric current flowing between them. This relationship is analogous to the flow of water in a pipe, where a larger pressure difference between two points results in a greater water flow. A voltmeter can be used to measure the voltage or electric pressure difference between two points in a circuit.
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Alternating current (AC)
The interval of time between two successive cycles is called the period, and the number of cycles or periods per second is referred to as the frequency. The maximum value in either direction is called the amplitude of the alternating current. Low frequencies, typically 50 to 60 cycles per second (Hertz), are used for domestic and commercial power supply. Higher frequencies, such as those used in radio antennas, carry information like sound (audio) or images (video).
The use of AC voltage allows for efficient power transmission over long distances. AC voltage can be easily increased or decreased using transformers, which helps transmit power through power lines at high voltages and then transform it to a lower voltage for safe use. This high-voltage transmission significantly reduces energy loss due to wire resistance, making it more efficient than low-voltage DC power grids.
AC is also advantageous in electric generators and motors, as it allows for simpler and more efficient designs compared to their DC counterparts. The basic principle of an AC generator involves rotating a magnetic field around a set of stationary wire coils, producing AC voltage across the coils as the shaft rotates, following Faraday's Law of electromagnetic induction. This phenomenon is known as mutual induction, where the changing magnetic field created by one coil induces a voltage in another coil.
In terms of voltage, there is a distinction between instantaneous voltage and average voltage in AC circuits. Additionally, AC circuits with time-varying magnetic fields do not have a well-defined voltage between nodes due to the non-conservative nature of the electric force in such cases.
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Direct current (DC)
DC is commonly found in household electronics and devices that use batteries, such as laptops, cell phones, and other rechargeable devices. It is also used in telephone exchange communication equipment, which typically uses a standard −48 V DC power supply. Thomas Edison's incandescent bulb-based electric "utility" in 1882 popularized the use of low-voltage direct current for indoor lighting in homes and businesses.
DC circuits consist of constant voltage sources, constant current sources, and resistors. The circuit voltages and currents are independent of time and are not dependent on the past values of the circuit. Adding a capacitor or inductor to a DC circuit technically makes it an AC circuit, as these components can lead to a phase difference. However, most such circuits have a DC solution, where the voltages and currents are constant.
High-voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission systems are used for the bulk transmission of electrical power over long distances, especially in undersea cables. HVDC transmission can be more efficient than AC for very long distances, despite being generally more expensive and challenging to implement due to the continuous voltage sustaining electrical arcs when a circuit is broken.
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Electric circuit
An electric circuit is a closed loop or path, in which a continuous flow of electricity or current is established. It is an interconnection of electrical components that facilitates the flow of current in a specific direction. The source is the starting point from which the current starts, and the return is where it ends.
The concept of an electric circuit was first introduced by Alessandro Volta in 1800. He discovered that by connecting bowls of salt solution with metal strips, he could create a continuous flow of electricity. Later, he created his "voltaic pile" out of alternating discs of copper, zinc, and salt-soaked cardboard. By connecting a wire from top to bottom, he demonstrated the flow of electric current across the circuit.
There are two main types of electric circuits: open circuits and closed circuits. An open circuit is when the switch is open, and current does not flow. A closed circuit, on the other hand, is when the switch is closed, allowing the current to flow through the circuit. A short circuit occurs when the current follows a shorter path rather than its usual path, which can lead to electrical fires.
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Frequently asked questions
Electrical difference is another term for voltage, or electric tension, and refers to the difference in electric potential between two points.
Voltage is the difference in electric potential energy between two points. It is caused by the build-up of electric charge or an electromotive force.
Electric potential is the work done per unit charge to bring that charge from infinity to a point in an electrostatic field.
Voltage is measured using a voltmeter.
The unit of measurement for voltage is the volt (V).
