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Voltage V (Or Potential Difference)

1) An electrical potential difference, like a water level difference, is needed to cause current to flow in a circuit. Just as water only flows when there is a height difference between two tanks, electrons only flow when there is a voltage difference between two points in a circuit. 2) The voltage difference is produced by the electromotive force (EMF) of the voltage source and represents the amount of energy (work) required to move electrons between the two points, as defined by the equation Voltage = Work/Charge. 3) For example, if 1 Joule of energy is used to move a 1 Coulomb charge between two points, there is a 1 Volt potential difference between those points

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37 views

Voltage V (Or Potential Difference)

1) An electrical potential difference, like a water level difference, is needed to cause current to flow in a circuit. Just as water only flows when there is a height difference between two tanks, electrons only flow when there is a voltage difference between two points in a circuit. 2) The voltage difference is produced by the electromotive force (EMF) of the voltage source and represents the amount of energy (work) required to move electrons between the two points, as defined by the equation Voltage = Work/Charge. 3) For example, if 1 Joule of energy is used to move a 1 Coulomb charge between two points, there is a 1 Volt potential difference between those points

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12 Understandable electric circuits

Common sense tells us that water flows to the lower end, so water will only
flow when there is a water-level difference. It is the water-level difference that
produces the potential energy for tank A, and work is done when water flows
from tank A to B.
This concept can also be used in the electric circuit. As water will flow
between two places in a water circuit only when there is a water-level differ-
ence, current will flow between two points in an electric circuit only when there
is an electrical potential difference.
For instance, if a light bulb is continuously kept on, i.e. to maintain con-
tinuous movement of electrons in the circuit, the two terminals of the lamp
need to have an electrical potential difference. This potential difference or
voltage is produced by the EMF of the voltage source, and it is the amount of
energy or work that would be required to move electrons between two points.
Work is represented by W and measured in joules (J). The formula may be
expressed as:

Work W
Voltage or V
Charge Q

If you have learned calculus, voltage can also be expressed by the derivative
v dw/dq.

Voltage V (or potential difference)


V is the amount of energy or work required to move electrons between
two points: V W/Q.

Quantity Quantity symbol Unit Unit symbol


Voltage V Volt V
Work (energy) W Joule J
Charge Q Coulomb C

For example, if 1 J of energy is used to move a 1 C charge from point a to


b, it will have a 1 V potential difference or voltage across two points, as shown
in Figure 1.8.

W = 1J
Q = 1C
a b

V = 1V

Figure 1.8 Potential difference or voltage

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