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If you take two different nodes in a network and if you find the difference in voltage for those nodes then it is known as potential or voltage difference. Here the reference is not taken. But if you find potential difference between a node and its respective ground it is known as voltage at that node here reference is ground potential i.e zero.

Answer

'Voltage' is synonymous with 'potential difference'; they both mean the same thing. And it is important that these terms are not confused with 'potential'. So, it is incorrect to say 'voltage difference' (which would mean 'potential difference difference'!), or to describe a voltage as existing 'at' a particular point, or 'with reference to', for example, earth or ground.

In very simple terms, if two points are at different potentials, then there is a potential difference (or 'voltage') between them. A potential exists when work is done moving a charge to a particular point; the greater the work, the higher the potential. 'Potential' is roughly equivalent to the potential energy gained by an object when it is lifted against the force of gravity.

Think of it this way: 'potential' is equivalent to 'height', whereas 'potential difference' (voltage) is equivalent to the difference between points at different heights.

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Related Questions

What is the potential voltage?

Unless you are using 'potential' in the general sense (i.e. "What is the possible voltage?"), there is no such engineering term as 'potential voltage'. Voltage is a synonym for 'potential difference', so your expression would then mean "What is the potential potential difference?"Do not mix up 'potential' with 'potential difference' (voltage); they are two different things.


What is a synonym for voltage difference?

Potential difference is a synonym for voltage difference.


Are potential difference and voltage always the same?

Voltage is simply another word for potential difference.


What are the differences between voltage and potential difference?

Voltage is the potential difference to the ground. By convention, ground potential is zero volt.The above answer is incorrect. 'Voltage', by definition, is potential difference. It has nothing to do with being measured with respect to ground -in fact potential difference (voltage) cannot be measured with respect to anything.


How can you get the largest voltage difference?

There is no such thing as a 'voltage difference'! 'Voltage' means 'potential difference', so what you appear to be asking is "How do you get the largest potential difference difference?'! Potential difference is caused by the separation of charges between two points. The greater the amount of charge separation, the greater the potential difference.


Another name for potential difference?

Voltage Voltage


What is voltage difference?

Voltage at a point is defined as the work done by a unit positive charge carrying it from infinity to that point. while volage diffrance between two points is the work done bye unit positive charge from one point to the other point.work may be positive or negative depend upon the nature of charge that's why the potential will be negative or positive .CommentBy definition, voltage means potential difference. For this reason, you cannot have 'a voltage at a point' because potential difference, or voltage, exists between two points. You can, however, have a potential at a point.


Another term for potential difference is?

voltage


What does not provide a voltage difference in a circuit?

Wires do not provide a voltage differenceAnswerAs 'voltage' is synonymous with 'potential difference', you appear to be asking "What does not provide a potential difference difference in a circuit?", which does not make any sense!


What does not provide a voltage a difference in a circuit?

Wires do not provide a voltage differenceAnswerAs 'voltage' is synonymous with 'potential difference', you appear to be asking "What does not provide a potential difference difference in a circuit?", which does not make any sense!


Is voltage measured in volts?

Voltage, along with electric pressure, electric tension, and electrical potential difference is measured in units of electric potential. This can be joules per coulomb or volts.AnswerFirst of all, there is no such thing as a 'voltage difference'. Voltage is already a 'difference', as it is an alternative name for 'potential difference'! 'Voltage difference', therefore, would mean 'potential difference difference', which makes no sense!The unit for potential and potential difference (voltage) is the volt, which is equivalent to a coulomb per second.


What is the relationship between voltage and potential difference in an electrical circuit?

Voltage and potential difference are essentially the same thing in an electrical circuit. Voltage is the measure of potential difference between two points in a circuit. In other words, voltage is the force that pushes electric charges through a circuit, and potential difference is the measure of this force.