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Voltage is defined as the electric potential between two points in a conductor. The SI unit of voltage is volt. It is represented by the symbol ‘V’. A volt can be expressed as the electric potential in a wire when an electric current of 1 Ampere dissipates power of 1 watt. This can be written as;
V = W/A
In terms of energy, volt can be defined as the potential difference between two points in an electrical circuit that gives 1 Joule of energy per coulomb of charge. This can be expressed as;
V = Potential Energy / Charge
V = J/C
Check Also: NCERT Solutions for Class 12 Physics
MCQs on Unit of Voltage
Ques 1. In the ladder network shown, current through the resistor 3Ω is 0.25 A. The input voltage 'V' is equal to:

- 10 V
- 20 V
- 5 V
- 15/2 V
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Ans. (b). 20 V
Explanation: Current through the 3Ω resistor is 0.25 A. Total resistance of this branch is 6, same as the parallel branch since both have the same resistance so current will also be the same.
Total current from 5Ω resistance is 0.25 + 0.25 = 0.5 A
Total resistance of 5Ω branch = 5 + (6 6) / 6 + 6 = 8Ω
If current through resistor 8Ω is 0.5 A, total resistance of that branch is 8.
So, total current from 7Ω resistance is 0.5 + 0.5 = 1 A
Total resistance of the circuit = 7 + (8 8) / (8 + 8) + 9 = 20Ω
V = IR
V = 1 20
V = 20 Volts
Ques 2. If two bulbs of power 25 W and 100 W respectively each rated at 220 V are connected in series with the supply of 440 V, which bulb will fuse?
- 25 W bulb
- 40 Watts
- Both a and b
- None of these
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Ans. (a). 25 W bulb
Explanation: P1 = 25 W ; P2 = 100 W ; V = 220 V and V’ = 440 V
P = V2/R
R1 = V2/P1
R1 = (220)2/25 = 1600 Ω
R2 = V2/P2
R2 = (220)2/100 = 400 Ω
They are connected in series, so effective resistance is;
R1 = R1 / R1 + R2
R2 = R2 / R1 + R2
∴ V1 = V’ R1 / R1 + R2
V2 = V’ R2 / R1 + R2
V1 = 440 1600/2000 = 352 V
V2 = 440 440/2000 = 96.8 V
So, Voltage across 25 W is greater than the range specified and thus this bulb will fuse.
Ques 3. A charge is moved from point A to point B. The work done to move unit charge during this process is called:
- Potential at A
- Potential at B
- Potential Difference between A and B
- Current from A to B
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Ans. (c). Potential Difference between A and B
Explanation: The work done per unit charge in moving it from point A to B is called potential difference between A and B.
Ques 4. The potential difference (VA - VB) between the points A and B in the given figure is:

- 9 V
- - 3 V
- 3 V
- 6 V
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Ans. (a). 9 V
Explanation: I = 2 A
Using Kirchhoff’s laws,
VA - I(2) - 3 - I(1) - VB = 0
∴ VA - 2 2 - 3 - 2 1 - VB = 0
VA - 9 - VB = 0
VA - VB = 9 V
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Ques 5. In the below circuit, the potential difference between A and B is:

- 20 V
- 30 V
- 10 V
- 40 V
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Ans. (c). 10 V
Explanation: Let q1 and q2 be the charge flowing in the loops I and II respectively.

Applying Kirchhoff’s rule in loop I;
q1/1 + (q1 + q2 / 3) - 190 = 0
4q1 + q2 = 190 x 3
Applying Kirchhoff’s rule in loop II;
(q1 + q2 / 3) + q2/3 + q2/1 = 0
q1 = – 5q2
Now, put this value of q1 in the above equation,
4 (- 5q2) + q2 = 190 x 3
q2 = 30 μC
Thus, potential difference VAB = q2 / 3μF = 30μ C / 3μF
VAB = 10 V
Ques 6. In the given circuit, the potential difference across 3 F capacitor will be:

- 12 V
- 10 V
- 6 V
- 4 V
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Ans. (b). 10 V
Explanation: The capacitor and battery are in series, so
Veq = 20 - 4 = 16 V
Ceq = 3 x 5 / 5 + 3 = 15/8
q = Ceq Veq = 15/8 x 16
q = 30
V3 = q/c = 30/3 = 10 V
Ques 7. A current of 2 A flows in an electric circuit as shown in the figure. The potential difference (VR - Vs) in volts (VR and Vs are potentials at R and S respectively) is:

- - 4 V
- 2 V
- 4 V
- - 2 V
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Ans. (c). 4 V
Explanation: Current through R = 1 A and through S is also 1 A.
VR - Vs = (Vp - Vs) - (Vp - VR)
VR - Vs = (7 x 1) - (3 x 1)
VR - Vs = 4 V
Ques 8. In the circuit shown, the internal resistance of the battery is 1.5 Ω and Vp and VQ are potentials at P and Q respectively. What is the potential difference between points P and Q?

- Zero
- 4 V (Vp > VQ)
- 4 V (VQ > Vp)
- 2.5 V (VQ > Vp)
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Ans. (d). 2.5 V (VQ > VP)
Explanation: Req = 5/2 Ω
I = 20 / (5/2 + 1.5) = 5 A
Potential difference between X and P
VX - VP = (5/2) 3 = 7.5 V …..(i)
Potential difference between X and Q
VX - VQ = (5/2) 2 = 5 V …..(ii)
Solving (i) and (ii),
VP - VQ = - 2.5 V
Minus sign indicates that VQ > VP
Ques 9. The unit of electric potential difference is:
- J
- J/C
- JC
- C/J
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Ans. (b). J/C
Explanation: The potential difference is given by;
ΔV = Q/C
Thus, the unit of electric potential difference is joule per coulomb denoted by J/C.
Ques 10. The potential difference between the points B and A is:

- - 9.1 V
- 7.9 V
- 8.9 V
- 9.1 V
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Ans. (b). 7.9 V
Explanation: VB - VA = 5 - 1 9 - 6 - 4 - 29 + 2 - 49 - 39
VB - VA = -1 - 4 + 2 - I (1 + 2 + 4 + 3)
VB - VA = -5 + 2 - I (10)
VB - VA = -7 - 1/10
VB - VA = -7 - 0.9
VB - VA = -7.9 V
|VB - VA| = 7.9 V
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