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.
Draw the plot of potential energy of a pair of nucleons as a function of their separation. Write two important conclusions that can be drawn from this plot.

View Solution

2.
A wire of length $L$ is bent round into (i) a square coil having $N$ turns and (ii) a circular coil having $N$ turns. The coil in both cases is free to turn about a vertical axis coinciding with the plane of the coil, in a uniform, horizontal magnetic field and carry the same currents. Find the ratio of the maximum value of the torque acting on the square coil to that on the circular coil.

View Solution

3.
A rectangular loop of size 5 cm $\times$ 8 cm is lying in the $x$-$y$ plane in a uniform magnetic field $\vec{B} = (2.0\ \text{T})\hat{k}$. The total magnetic flux linked with the loop is:

80 Wb
16 Wb
$8 \times 10^{-2}$ Wb
$8 \times 10^{-3}$ Wb

View Solution

4.
A circular coil of 100 turns and radius $\left(\frac{10}{\sqrt{\pi}}\right)$ cm carrying current of $5.0\,\text{A}$ is suspended vertically in a uniform horizontal magnetic field of $2.0\,\text{T}$. The field makes an angle $30^\circ$ with the normal to the coil. Calculate:
(I) the magnetic dipole moment of the coil, and
(II) the magnitude of the counter torque that must be applied to prevent the coil from turning.

View Solution

5.
A ray of light MN is incident normally on the face corresponding with side AB of a prism with an isosceles right-angled triangular base ABC. Trace the path of the ray as it passes through the prism when the refractive index of the prism material is (i) $\sqrt{2}$, and (ii) $\sqrt{3}$.

View Solution

6.
The resistance of a metal wire at $20^\circ\text{C}$ is $1.05\,\Omega$ and at $100^\circ\text{C}$ is $1.38\,\Omega$. Determine the temperature coefficient of resistivity of this metal.

View Solution

Define the potential difference between two points.

CBSE CLASS XII Related Questions

1.
Draw the plot of potential energy of a pair of nucleons as a function of their separation. Write two important conclusions that can be drawn from this plot.

3.
A rectangular loop of size 5 cm $\times$ 8 cm is lying in the $x$-$y$ plane in a uniform magnetic field $\vec{B} = (2.0\ \text{T})\hat{k}$. The total magnetic flux linked with the loop is:

5.
A ray of light MN is incident normally on the face corresponding with side AB of a prism with an isosceles right-angled triangular base ABC. Trace the path of the ray as it passes through the prism when the refractive index of the prism material is (i) $\sqrt{2}$, and (ii) $\sqrt{3}$.

6.
The resistance of a metal wire at \(20^\circ\text{C}\) is \(1.05\,\Omega\) and at \(100^\circ\text{C}\) is \(1.38\,\Omega\). Determine the temperature coefficient of resistivity of this metal.

Comments

SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWS LETTER

Define the potential difference between two points.

CBSE CLASS XII Related Questions

1.Draw the plot of potential energy of a pair of nucleons as a function of their separation. Write two important conclusions that can be drawn from this plot.

3.A rectangular loop of size 5 cm $\times$ 8 cm is lying in the $x$-$y$ plane in a uniform magnetic field $\vec{B} = (2.0\ \text{T})\hat{k}$. The total magnetic flux linked with the loop is:

5.A ray of light MN is incident normally on the face corresponding with side AB of a prism with an isosceles right-angled triangular base ABC. Trace the path of the ray as it passes through the prism when the refractive index of the prism material is (i) $\sqrt{2}$, and (ii) $\sqrt{3}$.

6.The resistance of a metal wire at \(20^\circ\text{C}\) is \(1.05\,\Omega\) and at \(100^\circ\text{C}\) is \(1.38\,\Omega\). Determine the temperature coefficient of resistivity of this metal.

Comments

SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWS LETTER

1.
Draw the plot of potential energy of a pair of nucleons as a function of their separation. Write two important conclusions that can be drawn from this plot.

3.
A rectangular loop of size 5 cm $\times$ 8 cm is lying in the $x$-$y$ plane in a uniform magnetic field $\vec{B} = (2.0\ \text{T})\hat{k}$. The total magnetic flux linked with the loop is:

5.
A ray of light MN is incident normally on the face corresponding with side AB of a prism with an isosceles right-angled triangular base ABC. Trace the path of the ray as it passes through the prism when the refractive index of the prism material is (i) $\sqrt{2}$, and (ii) $\sqrt{3}$.

6.
The resistance of a metal wire at \(20^\circ\text{C}\) is \(1.05\,\Omega\) and at \(100^\circ\text{C}\) is \(1.38\,\Omega\). Determine the temperature coefficient of resistivity of this metal.