ELECTRIC POTENTIAL DIFFERENCE
ELECTRIC POTENTIAL ENERGY
Electric Potential Energy
results from the separation of electrons which are
negatively charged so they repel each other
to overcome this force and push the electrons closer
together, energy must be transferred to the electrons
increasing their electric potential energy
the closer electrons are pushed together, the greater the
electric potential energy
movement of electrons therefore requires a change in
energy
ELECTRIC POTENTIAL
Electric Potential
measurement of the electric potential energy associated
with charges (electrons)
the amount of energy needed to move a quantity of
electrons closer to one another
measures both the electrical energy and quantity of
electrons
unit is the joule per coulomb ( J/C)
J is the measurement of electric potential energy
C is a measurement of the number of electrons or
amount of charge
1 J/C = 1 volt (V)
ELECTRIC POTENTIAL DIFFERENCE
Electric Potential Difference
measures difference in electric potential between 2
different points in a circuit
this difference exists because energy is transformed in
an electric circuit
is the difference in electric potential energy associated
with a coulomb of charge at 2 different points in a circuit
also referred to as voltage (V)
voltage gain = positive potential difference
voltage drop = negative electric potential difference
EQUATION
E is change in electric potential energy (joules)
Q is the amount of charge (electrons) (coulombs)
V is the electric potential difference (joules per
coulomb or volts)
V
E
Q
PG. 511 PRACTICE #1
E
A
120 J
Given
=
Q
V
Required
Analyst
steps
52C
=
?
=
v=b¥
v=
Rg÷JK
2.3
=
V
.
2.3
V
MEASURING ELECTRIC POTENTIAL
DIFFERENCE
Voltmeter
an instrument used to measure electric potential
difference in circuits
Series Circuits
circuits that have only one complete path
Parallel Circuits
circuits that have more than one complete path
Voltmeters only work accurately if they are
connected in parallel in the circuit
SERIES CIRCUIT
Th
PARALLEL CIRCUIT
CLASSWORK / HOMEWORK
Pg. 513 # 1 – 6
Read 11.5 pgs. 516 – 518
Read 11.6 pgs. 519 - 522