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You can compare 'potential' with height, and 'potential difference' with the difference in height.

The height of an object depends upon from where you measure it. For example an object three-quarters of the way up a 1000 m mountain is +750 m from the base of the mountain, but -250 m from the top of the mountain. Note how we apply a positive or a negative sign to indicate whether we are measuring upwards or downwards.

The same applies to potential. It's value depends upon from where it is measured. For example, two charged objects could have a potential of , say, +5 V with respect to earth (ground) and a potential of -15 V with respect to earth. But the potential difference between them will be +5 - (-15) = 20 V.

Notice how, in the above example, we always show a positive or negative sign when we talk about potential, but we don't use these signs when we talk about a potential difference. Furthermore, it is important that we must ALWAYS specify the reference point when we describe potential -e.g. "What is the potential at point A, with respect to (say) earth?"

Taking this further. It's important to know that the term 'voltage' means 'potential difference', and not'potential'! It would be quite wrong to say that the 'voltage of an object is (say) -200 V with respect to earth'. The correct expression would be the 'potential of an object is -200 V with respect to earth'.

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What is voltage what is another name for votage?

What is voltage what is another name for voltage? That is potential difference. In physics, the potential difference or p.d. between two points is the amount of work that would need to be done on a unit electric charge to move it from one point to the other against an electric field. P.d. is synonymous with voltage and is measured in volts. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Potential_difference http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voltage Cheers ebs


What is potential drop?

There is no difference between potential difference and potential drop. Both terms refer to the difference in voltage (i.e. potential) across a component. Depending on how you look at it, both terms can refer to positive or negative differences, i.e. drop, for instance, can be negative, implying a rise.


What is the difference between freezing and boiling points on a Fahrenheit scale?

The difference between the freezing and boiling points vary from substance to substance.


What is the difference between emf pd?

The terminology E.M.F is the voltage output of a power source e.g a transformer bank, generator. As relates to potential difference it's a linear electrical field strenght between 2 points. E.g the charged plates of a capacitor.


What is the unit of potential difference between two points?

The unit of potential difference in a circuit is the volt.Electrical charge is measured in coulombs (1 coulomb = 6.241x1018 e, electron charges) and a volt is equal to 1 newton per coulomb at a distance of 1 meter.

Related Questions

What is the relationship between voltage and electric potential energy difference?

Voltage is a measure of the electric potential energy difference between two points in an electric field. The greater the voltage, the greater the electric potential energy difference between the two points.


What is the definition of potential defference?

Potential difference is the difference in electric potential between two points in an electric field. It is measured in volts and represents the work done per unit charge in moving a test charge between the two points.


What Electric potential or potential difference?

Electric potential (also known as voltage) is the amount of electric potential energy per unit of charge at a specific point in an electric field. It is measured in volts (V) and determines the ability of a charge to do work. Potential difference is the difference in electric potential between two points in an electric field and is responsible for the flow of electric current between those points.


Why is voltage always measured between two points?

Voltage is always measured between two points because it represents the difference in electric potential between those two points. This difference in potential is what drives the flow of electric current in a circuit.


Why are voltages always measured between two points?

Voltages are always measured between two points because voltage is a measure of the difference in electric potential between those two points. This difference in potential is what drives the flow of electric current in a circuit.


What is the relationship between voltage (e), electric potential difference (v), and distance (d) in an electric field?

In an electric field, the relationship between voltage (e), electric potential difference (v), and distance (d) is described by the equation v e d. This means that the electric potential difference (v) between two points in an electric field is equal to the product of the electric field strength (e) and the distance (d) between the points.


What 3 terms are used to describe electric pressure?

Voltage: This measures the electric potential energy between two points in a circuit. Electromotive force (EMF): It represents the push that drives the electric current in a circuit. Potential difference: This is the difference in electric potential between two points in a circuit, causing the flow of current.


What is the dimension of potential difference?

The dimension of potential difference is voltage, which is measured in volts (V). Voltage represents the difference in electric potential energy per unit charge between two points in an electric circuit.


What is the difference between voltage and electric potential, and how do they relate to each other in an electrical circuit?

Voltage is the measure of the electric potential difference between two points in an electrical circuit, typically measured in volts. Electric potential, on the other hand, refers to the electric potential energy per unit charge at a specific point in the circuit. In simpler terms, voltage is the potential difference between two points, while electric potential is the potential energy at a single point. In an electrical circuit, voltage is used to describe the potential energy difference that drives the flow of electric current from one point to another.


What is the potential difference between two points in an electric circuit?

The potential difference between two points in an electric circuit is the measure of how much energy is needed to move a charge from one point to the other. It is also known as voltage and is measured in volts.


In an electric field 0.90 J of work is required to bring 0.45 C of charge from point A to point B. What is the electric potential difference between points A and B?

The electric potential difference between points A and B is given by the formula V = W/q, where V is the potential difference, W is the work done, and q is the charge. Plugging in the values, we get V = 0.90 J / 0.45 C = 2 V. Therefore, the electric potential difference between points A and B is 2 volts.


What is the difference in electric potential between two points?

The electric potential difference between two points is the work done per unit charge in moving a charge from one point to the other. It is measured in volts (V) and represents how much energy is needed to move a charged particle in an electric field. The greater the potential difference, the greater the force that would be exerted on a charged particle moved between the points.