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Potential Difference

The document discusses potential difference or voltage in electrical circuits. It uses an analogy of water circuits to explain concepts, where voltage is defined as the difference in electrical energy between two points in a circuit. A voltmeter is used to measure potential difference and must be connected in parallel across two points.

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Mohammad Jubran
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50 views11 pages

Potential Difference

The document discusses potential difference or voltage in electrical circuits. It uses an analogy of water circuits to explain concepts, where voltage is defined as the difference in electrical energy between two points in a circuit. A voltmeter is used to measure potential difference and must be connected in parallel across two points.

Uploaded by

Mohammad Jubran
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Potential Difference (aka Voltage)

Consider the following:


The circulating water causes the water wheel to rotate. The pump exerts a force on the water, doing work to raise it to a higher level. The water now has GPE. The water falls turning the GPE into KE of the wheel.

Consider the following:


In the electrical circuit, the source corresponds to the water pump. The source does work on electrons, giving them electrical energy (Like GPE) The electrical energy is converted by loads (Like KE in the water wheel)

We will often use the simple relationship between an electrical circuit and a water circuit to illustrate concepts in this unit.

Potential Difference (or Voltage) is the difference in electrical energy that each coulomb of charge has in two different points in a circuit.

By definition,
Using 1 J of energy to move 1 C of charge yields an electric potential difference of 1 V

1J 1V = 1C

Consider:
What is the difference in GPE between the two points indicated? P2 P1

Consider:
What is the difference in GPE between the two points indicated? P1

P2

Consider:
What is the difference in Electric Potential Difference between the two points indicated?
P1 P2

Consider:
What is the difference in Electric Potential Difference between the two points indicated?
P1 P2

The instrument to measure Potential Difference (volts) is called a Voltmeter. A voltmeter must be connected in parallel because it is a comparison of two different points in the circuit.

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