Potential Difference.

Potential difference can be defined as the difference between the electric potential between two location (Let it be location A and B) when a work is done on a charge to change its potential energy.

It can also be said as the amount of energy that a charge carries between two points.

So, what is Electric Potential of a location?

This depends on the amount of potential energy per unit charge at a specified location. A charge may have a higher electric potential if it has a large amount of potential energy at a particular point and vice versa.

Consider a particle moving from point A to B along a uniform electric field. When moving from A to B work will have to be done on the charge using an external force.

This work on the charge gives rice to the change in its potential energy. Due to this change in potential energy there is a difference in the electric potential in points A and B this is said to be the electric potential difference between two locations. This potential difference is denoted by the notation ΔV.

ΔV=Work(J)/Charge (Coulomb)

The metric unit for measuring the potential difference is Volts(V). The name is derived in honor of Alessandro Volta.

1 Volt is equivalent to one joule per coulomb.

V=Joule/Coulomb

If the potential difference between locations A and B points is 1V, that means that a coulomb charge will gain one 1 Joule when moving from A to B.

A voltmeter is used to measure the potential difference between two points, and it also can be derived by multiplying the resistance with the current applied.

Potential difference=Current x Resistance

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