Define the potential difference between two points.

Education Journalist | Study Abroad Lead

Potential difference, also known as voltage, is a measure of the electrical potential energy difference between two points in an electric circuit. It represents the amount of energy required to move a unit charge from one point to another in the circuit.

The potential difference between any two points is defined as the amount of work done to move a unit of positive charge without acceleration from one point to another between the two points.
It is denoted by dV.

dv = $dw \over dq$

The potential difference between two points in a circuit can be thought of as the electrical equivalent of the height difference between two points in a gravitational field.
Just as the height difference determines the amount of potential energy that an object possesses, the potential difference between two points in a circuit determines the amount of energy that is available to be transferred to the circuit's components.
Potential difference is usually measured in volts (V), which is a unit of electrical potential.

potential difference

Therefore, the potential difference between two points in a circuit is a measure of the electrical potential energy difference between those two points and represents the amount of energy that is available to be transferred to the circuit's components.

The potential difference between baby two points A and B is the shift in the potential energy of a charge q, divided by the charge when it’s shifted from A to B.

Vb – Va = ${U_b - U_a \over q} = {W_{ab}\over q} = dV$

Read More:

Related Topics
Relation between kva and kw	Difference between AC and DC	Internal resistance formula
Wheatstone Bridge	Differences Between Acceleration and Velocity	Combination of Resistors
Potentiometer	Cells, emf, Internal Resistance	Unit of Specific Resistance
Static Electricity	Difference between kva and kw	Resistor Colour Codes

CBSE CLASS XII Related Questions

1.
With the help of a labelled diagram, explain the principle, construction and working of an a.c. generator.

View Solution

2.
Read the following paragraph and answer the questions that follow.
A p-type or n-type semiconductor can be converted into a p-n junction by doping it with suitable impurity. The motion of majority charge carriers causes diffusion current across the junction while the barrier electric field causes motion of minority carriers for drift current. In case of unbiased diode, the diffusion and drift currents are equal. This equilibrium is disturbed by the biasing batteries. Diodes, therefore, allow currents in one direction. This property of diode is used in making rectifiers.

3.
Read the following paragraph and answer the questions that follow.
In an experiment with convex lens of focal length f, the screen is fixed at a distance D from the object. A student slowly moves the lens away from the object towards the screen and finds that she is able to form sharp image of the object for two positions of the lens. The distance between these two positions of the lens is d.

4.
Derive an expression for the capacitance of a parallel plate capacitor of plate area A and plate separation d with air present between the plates.

View Solution

5.
Capacitors are manufactured with certain standard capacitances and working voltages. However, these standard values may not be the ones that are actually needed in a particular application. Two or more capacitors can be grouped in series or in parallel to achieve desired capacitance and voltage. When connected in series, the total capacitance decreases while the voltage rating increases, whereas in parallel connections, the total capacitance increases and maintains the same voltage rating. A capacitor stores energy in the electric field between its plates and stored energy is proportional to the square of the voltage and capacitance $U = \frac{1}{2}CV^2$, where symbols have their usual meanings.
Two capacitors, one of $3 \ \mu$F and the other of $6 \ \mu$F, are connected in series in the circuit as shown in the figure, for a long time. }

6.
An astronomical telescope consists of two converging lenses. One of them of large aperture and large focal length is called objective lens and the other one, of smaller focal length and smaller aperture is called the eyepiece. It is used to see distant objects which are not seen clearly with naked eyes. The image formed by the objective lens acts as an object for the eyepiece and the final image produced by the eyepiece is magnified.

Define the potential difference between two points.

CBSE CLASS XII Related Questions

1.
With the help of a labelled diagram, explain the principle, construction and working of an a.c. generator.

4.
Derive an expression for the capacitance of a parallel plate capacitor of plate area A and plate separation d with air present between the plates.

Comments

SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWS LETTER

Define the potential difference between two points.

CBSE CLASS XII Related Questions

1.With the help of a labelled diagram, explain the principle, construction and working of an a.c. generator.

4.Derive an expression for the capacitance of a parallel plate capacitor of plate area A and plate separation d with air present between the plates.

Comments

SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWS LETTER

1.
With the help of a labelled diagram, explain the principle, construction and working of an a.c. generator.

4.
Derive an expression for the capacitance of a parallel plate capacitor of plate area A and plate separation d with air present between the plates.