ALL meanings of potential difference
po·ten·tial dif·fer·ence
P p - abbreviation Technical meaning of POTENTIAL DIFFERENCE voltage 3
- noun Definition of potential difference in Technology (electronics) (Or "potential difference", "electro-motive force" (EMF)) A quantity measured as a signed difference between two points in an electrical circuit which, when divided by the resistance in Ohms between those points, gives the current flowing between those points in Amperes, according to Ohm's Law. Voltage is expressed as a signed number of Volts (V). The voltage gradient in Volts per metre is proportional to the force on a charge. Voltages are often given relative to "earth" or "ground" which is taken to be at zero Volts. A circuit's earth may or may not be electrically connected to the actual earth. The voltage between two points is also given by the charge present between those points in Coulombs divided by the capacitance in Farads. The capacitance in turn depends on the dielectric constant of the insulators present. Yet another law gives the voltage across a piece of circuit as its inductance in Henries multiplied by the rate of change of current flow through it in Amperes per second. A simple analogy likens voltage to the pressure of water in a pipe. Current is likened to the amount of water (charge) flowing per unit time. 1
- noun potential difference the difference between the potentials of two points in an electric field. 1
- noun potential difference the difference in electric potential between two points in an electric field; the work that has to be done in transferring unit positive charge from one point to the other, measured in volts 0
- noun potential difference Potential difference is the work done in moving a unit of positive electric charge from one point to another. 0
- noun potential difference The symbol for potential difference is V. 0