POTENTIAL DIFFERENCE

Potential difference is actually the difference between the electric potentials at the two terminal of a circuit element.

  Potential refers to the possibility of doing work.

  Any charge has the potential to do the work of moving another charge, by either attraction or repulsion.

  When we consider two unlike charges, they have a difference of potential.

  A charge is the result of work done in separating electrons and protons.

  The work of producing the charge causes a condition of stress in protons, which try to attract the electrons and return to the neutral condition and vice versa.

POTENTIAL BETWEEN DIFFERENT CHARGES

     For instance, consider a positive charge of 3 C, shown in fig below.

The work to be done in moving some  electrons, as illustrated. Assume a charge of 1C can move three electrons. In Fig a Then the charge of  +3C can attract 9 electrons toward right.  However, a charge of +1 C at the opposite side can attract 3 electrons towards left. The net result , then is that 6 electrons can be moved toward the right to the more positive charge.

In Fig b , one charge is 2C ,while the other charge is neutral with 0C.For the difference of 2C ,again 2*3 or 6 electrons can be attracted to the positive side.

POTENTIAL DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TERMINAL

l  A voltage can exist between the terminals of a battery even a current is flowing or not.

l  An automobile battery, for example, have 12 volts of voltage across its terminals if nothing whatsoever is connected to the terminals.

VOLTAGE CONVENTIONS

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