Potential difference
How the definition of the potential difference (voltage) of an electric field looks.
The same in English
The definition of the potential difference is given in different ways. I suggest this one:
«If the potential difference between two points in space is 1 V, then to do
1 J of work it is enough to move a charge of 1 C between them»
«A field with a potential difference of 1 V between two points will spend
1 J of energy moving a charge of 1 C»
«A field with a potential difference of 2 V between two points will spend
2 J of energy moving a charge of 1 C»
If we draw an analogy with gravity, a change from 1 V to 2 V is as if g
from 9.8 m s-2 grew to 19.6 m s-2. To lift the same mass in such a
field you have to do twice as much work.
«
The more work a charge of 1 C does moving between two points in space, the
higher the potential difference between them.
»
Let me explain the analogy with gravity. The potential energy is given by the formula E = mgh,
that is the more mass moved to the height h the more energy. Or the greater the
height to which a certain mass is moved, the higher the energy.
The mass here is the analogue of the charge. Consider the formula
Such a potential difference is measured in J / kg
As we have understood, the greater the value of the product
gl between two points, the more work has to be done to move the mass between them.
gl in a gravitational field has no special name, so its dimension
is simply joule divided by kilogram.
In an electric field the charge plays the role of the mass, so joule has to be divided
by coulomb. The resulting quantity has a special dimension, the volt
| Semiconductors |
| Superconductivity |
| Applied optics |
| Microelectronics |
| Optoelectronics |
| Materials science |
| Optical spectroscopy |
| Antennas |
Article author: Andrei Olegovich
