ELECTRICITY
ELECTRIC
POTENTIAL AND POTENTIAL DIFFERENCE
Electric charges do not flow in a metallic conductor (e.g. copper wire) by themselves. Here, gravity has no role.
Electrons move only if there is a difference of electric pressure in conductor. It is called potential difference.
Potential difference can be
produced by a battery. The chemical action within a cell generates the
potential difference across the terminals of the cell, even when no current is
drawn from it.
When the cell is connected to a
conducting circuit, the potential difference sets the charges in motion and
produces an electric current. To maintain this current, the cell has to expend
chemical energy stored in it.
The potential difference between
two points in an electric circuit is the work done to move a unit charge from
one point to the other.
Potential
difference (V)
between two points = Work done (W)/Charge
(Q).
V = W/Q or W = VQ
SI unit of electric potential
difference is volt (V), named after Alessandro Volta (Italy, 1745–1827).
One volt
is the potential difference between two points in a current carrying conductor
when 1 joule of work is done to move 1 coulomb charge from one point to other.
Voltmeter:
Instrument to measure potential difference. It is always connected in parallel
across points between which the potential difference is to be measured.
Problem: How
much work is done in moving a charge of 2 C across two points having a
potential difference 12 V?
Solution:
Amount of charge Q = 2 C.
Potential difference V = 12 V.
Amount of work W = VQ.
= 12
V × 2 C =
24 J.
CIRCUIT
DIAGRAM
Conventional
symbols of some commonly used components in circuit diagrams
