Blog 1.1 Note: Electrical Potential

Diagram: Voltmeter (parallel circuit)

• Work (energy required) must be done to increase potential energy. (i.e. work done by power supply to increase the electrical potentical energy from low -> high)
  
  
• As the charge flows through the load, its energy decreases.
  
  
• Energy delivered to load depends on energy per charge (see energy transferred by charge flow)
  
  
• Potential difference btw. any 2 pts. can be measured by a voltmeter (see diagram) and must be connected in parallel with a load.
  
  
• The voltmeter must be less than the load (in terms of conducting).

VOCABULARY4KIDS

electric potential difference (V): V = E/Q

where E is energy req. to increase the electric potential of a charge, Q.

(V)oltage = potential difference.

energy transferred by charge flow: E = VIt

where E = energy in joules, V = potential difference in volts, I = current in (A), t = time in sec.