Trystan Casey
Electric potential difference, commonly known as voltage, is the change in potential energy of a charge moved between two points, divided by the charge. It is measured in joules per coulomb, or volts (V). This concept is distinct from electrical potential energy, as voltage is the energy per unit charge. For example, a motorcycle battery and a car battery can both have the same voltage, but the car battery can move more charge and therefore store more energy. Electric potential difference is essential to understanding the behaviour of charges in a circuit and the resulting current.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Electric potential difference between points A and B | VB - VA |
| Unit of potential difference | Joules per coulomb |
| Name of the unit | Volt (V) |
| Common name for electric potential difference | Voltage |
| Voltage | Difference in electric potential between two points |
| Voltage | Work done to move a unit charge through two specific points |
| Electric potential | Work done to move a unit charge through two specific points |
| Relation between voltage and energy | ΔPE = qΔV |
| Relation between potential difference and electrical potential energy | ΔU = qΔV |
| Relation between accelerating voltage and particle charge | An electron accelerated through a potential difference of 1 V is given an energy of 1 eV |
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What You'll Learn
Electric potential difference vs electrical potential energy
Electric potential difference and electrical potential energy are two related but distinct concepts in physics. Electric potential difference, also known as voltage, refers to the difference in electric potential energy between two points. It is defined as the change in potential energy of a charge moved between these points, divided by the charge. The formula for the electric potential difference between points A and B is given as:
> VB − VA = ΔPE / q
Where VB is the potential at point B, VA is the potential at point A, ΔPE is the change in potential energy, and q is the charge. The units of potential difference are joules per coulomb, also known as volts (V).
On the other hand, electrical potential energy is the energy per unit charge gained or lost when a charge is moved from a reference point where the potential is defined as zero. It is calculated as the product of the charge and the electric potential difference:
> ΔPE = q * ΔV
Where ΔPE is the change in potential energy and ΔV is the electric potential difference.
To illustrate the difference, consider a motorcycle battery and a car battery, both with a voltage of 12 V. Despite having the same voltage, the car battery can move much more charge and, therefore, delivers more energy. This example demonstrates that voltage and energy are related but not the same. Voltage represents the energy per unit charge, while energy depends on the amount of charge moved.
In summary, electric potential difference or voltage quantifies the change in potential energy per unit charge between two points, while electrical potential energy refers to the actual energy gained or lost by a charge moved between these points.
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Voltage and its relation to energy
The electric potential difference between points A and B, (VA − VB), is defined as the change in potential energy of a charge (q) moved from A to B, divided by the charge. The units of potential difference are joules per coulomb, and the common name for this is voltage. Voltage is the energy per unit charge. It is the potential energy per unit charge.
Voltage is not the same as energy. A motorcycle battery and a car battery can both have the same voltage but one stores much more energy than the other. This is because voltage is dependent on the amount of charge moved. The bigger the charge to be moved, the greater the energy required. Voltage is always measured between two points, and the greater the voltage, the greater the energy gained from moving between the two points.
Voltage generates the flow of electrons (electric current) through a circuit. The source of energy that creates the voltage to make the current flow is called electromotive force. This relationship between voltage and current is given by Ohm's law.
The relationship between voltage and energy can be seen in the simple relationship between accelerating voltage and particle charges. An electron accelerated through a potential difference of 1 volt is given an energy of 1 electron volt (eV). An electron accelerated through 50 volts gains 50 eV, and so on.
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Voltage as a force to move a charge
Voltage, also known as electric potential difference, electric pressure, or electric tension, is the difference in electric potential between two points. It is the energy per unit charge, and its SI unit is the volt (V).
Voltage can be understood as the "push" or force that moves a charge. This is analogous to water flowing in a pipe, where the pressure difference between two points determines the flow of water. In an electrical circuit, voltage is the force that moves electrons or other charge carriers. The greater the voltage, the greater the flow of electrons.
The electric potential difference between points A and B, VB - VA, is defined as the change in potential energy of a charge Q moved from A to B, divided by the charge. Mathematically, this can be expressed as:
\\[ 1 \, \mathrm{V} = 1 \, \mathrm{J}/\mathrm{C} \\]
Where J is the joule, the unit of energy, and C is the coulomb, the unit of charge.
In a static electric field, voltage corresponds to the work needed per unit of charge to move a positive test charge from one point to another. This work is done against the electric field, without causing any acceleration. In an electrical circuit, this force is called electromotive force (EMF) and is the force that makes electrons move in a certain direction within a conductor.
To summarise, voltage is the force that moves a charge, analogous to pressure difference in a water circuit. It is defined as the electric potential difference between two points and is measured in volts.
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Voltage as the difference in water pressure
The electric potential difference, commonly known as voltage, is the energy per unit charge. It is measured in volts (V).
Voltage is often referred to as electrical pressure, and analogies are often used to explain it using pipes or hoses. One such analogy is that of water pressure and flow in a hose.
Imagine a tank of water with a hose attached. The water in the tank represents the charge, and the pressure at the end of the hose represents the voltage. If the tank has more water, there is a higher charge, and the pressure at the hose end increases. As the tank drains, the voltage decreases, similar to how a flashlight dims as batteries run out. There is also a decrease in the amount of water flowing through the hose. Less pressure means less water is flowing, which is analogous to current.
The hose diameter represents the current, which is the amount of water flowing through the hose. The wider the hose, the more water can flow. This is similar to electrical current, where a lower-resistance wire allows more current to flow.
The water volume (or power) is analogous to the electrical power, which is the product of voltage and current. If you hold your thumb partially over the hose end, the water volume remains the same, but the pressure increases as the diameter decreases. This is similar to how transformers work for overhead power lines, allowing electricity to travel farther with fewer losses.
In summary, voltage is like the water pressure in a hose, pushing water through it. It is one of the fundamental components of electricity, along with current and resistance.
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Voltage as the height difference between two points
The electric potential difference, or voltage, between two points is a fundamental concept in physics, particularly in the study of electricity and circuits. It is defined as the change in potential energy of a charge moved between these points, divided by the charge itself. This relationship is expressed as:
> Voltage = Change in Potential Energy / Charge
The unit of potential difference is the volt (V), named after Alessandro Volta. One volt is equivalent to one joule per coulomb (1 V = 1 J/C).
Now, let's delve into the analogy of voltage as the height difference between two points:
Imagine two mountains, Mountain A and Mountain B, with heights of 5 kilometres and 2 kilometres, respectively. This height difference of 3 kilometres is analogous to the electric potential difference between two points. Just as the voltage between points A and B represents the change in potential energy per unit charge, the height difference between the mountains represents the change in elevation from one point to another.
Consider yourself standing on Mountain A. If you were to descend to Mountain B, you would be moving from a higher point to a lower one, akin to the movement of a charge from a higher voltage point to a lower voltage point in an electrical circuit. The work done by gravity during your descent is comparable to the work done on a charge as it moves between voltage points.
Furthermore, the concept of voltage as height difference helps us understand the flow of current. Just as a height difference between two mountains is necessary for water to flow downhill, a potential difference is required for electric current to flow. The greater the height difference, the faster the water will flow downhill, similar to how a larger voltage difference results in a higher current flow.
It is important to remember that voltage, like height, is always relative. When we say a point has a voltage of 5V, we imply that there is a 5V difference between that point and a reference point, often considered as ground or zero volts. Similarly, when we talk about the height of a mountain as 5 kilometres, we are referencing it against sea level or another chosen baseline.
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Frequently asked questions
Electric potential difference, also known as voltage, refers to the change in potential energy of a charge moved between two points, divided by the charge. It is measured in joules per coulomb, or volts (V).
Voltage is not the same as energy. Voltage is the energy per unit charge. For example, a motorcycle battery and a car battery can have the same voltage but differ in the amount of energy they can store and the amount of charge they can move.
Electric potential difference can be calculated using the formula V = W/Q, where V is the voltage, W is the work done, and Q is the charge. It can also be calculated as the change in potential energy of a charge moved between two points.
