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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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13y ago
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7y ago

That is called voltage. The SI unit for voltage is the volt.

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11y ago

Voltage

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12y ago

"voltage"

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Q: The unit of electric potential difference between two points is?
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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 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 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 definition of potential defference?

The difference, measured in volts, in electric potential between two points.


What is the difference between electrical potential and electromotive force?

electric potential is potential difference between two points in closed circuit. but electromotive force is potential difference in any open circuit.


What is volt of electricity?

Voltage or electric potential tension measured in units of electric potential: volts, or joules per coulomb) is the electric energy charge difference of electric potential energy transported between two points.


Uses of voltmeter?

A voltmeter is used to measure the difference in electric potential ("voltage") between two points, usually but not necessarily in an electrical circuit..


What causes the flow of electric current?

Electromotive force (potential difference, voltage) between two points of a conductor.


What is the definition of voltage?

Difference in potential between two points. Like the voltage of an energizer AA battery is 1.5 volts BETWEEN its terminals. If you place two AA batteries in a flashlight, the voltage of the series combination of AA batteries from one tip to the other is now 3 volts.


What is th potential difference that causes charges to move in a circuit?

The answer is voltage, resistance, electric discharge, and current. It is caused by a difference in energy stability between two points that favors a charge to move down a potential difference.


What is a use of a voltmeter?

A voltmeter is used to measure the difference in electric potential ("voltage") between two points, usually but not necessarily in an electrical circuit..


What is the use of voltmeters?

A voltmeter is used to measure the difference in electric potential ("voltage") between two points, usually but not necessarily in an electrical circuit..


The movement of electrons between two points is called voltage?

No. "Voltage" is the difference of electric potential between two points ... the 'pressure' that electrons would feel to move from one point to another if there's a conducting path. The actual flow of electrons between two points is electric "current".


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?

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Which meter measures the potential difference in the circuit?

A voltmeter measures the potential difference between two points,whether or not the two points are in the same circuit.