Question

Explain the statement "Potential difference between two points is 1 volt".

Hint:

The potential difference of 1 volt means 1 joule of work is needed to move 1 coulomb of charge between two points. It represents the energy per unit charge in an electric circuit.

Answer 1

The potential difference (also called voltage) between two points in an electric circuit is a measure of the work required to move a charge from one point to another in an electric field. The unit of potential difference is the volt (V), and it is defined as follows: \[ 1 \, \text{Volt} = \frac{1 \, \text{Joule}}{1 \, \text{Coulomb}}. \] This means that 1 volt is the potential difference that requires 1 joule of work to move 1 coulomb of charge from one point to another. Step-by-Step Explanation:
1. Electric Field and Work Done: In an electric field, a charged particle experiences a force. The amount of energy required to move a charge within this electric field is the work done. If we move a positive charge against the electric field, work is done on the charge. 2. Relationship between Work and Charge: The potential difference between two points in an electric field is defined as the work done per unit charge to move a charge from one point to the other. 3. Mathematical Expression: The potential difference \( V \) between two points can be expressed mathematically as: \[ V = \frac{W}{Q} \] where:
- \( V \) is the potential difference (measured in volts),
- \( W \) is the work done (measured in joules),
- \( Q \) is the charge (measured in coulombs).
4. Example: If we move a charge of 1 coulomb and the work done in this process is 1 joule, the potential difference is 1 volt. This means that 1 volt is the potential difference between two points if 1 joule of energy is needed to move 1 coulomb of charge between those two points. Thus, the statement "Potential difference between two points is 1 volt" means that 1 joule of work is required to move 1 coulomb of charge between two points.