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difference</span></li> <span class="pull-right" style="color: #555" title="Suggested study time: 5 minutes"><i class="fa fa-clock-o"></i> 5'</span> </ol> <article id="main-article"> <p>Potential difference (also known as<img alt="" src="../../electricity/5-chairlift-sm.jpg" style="float: left; width: 250px; height: 167px;"> voltage) is the amount of energy converted to heat per unit charge passing between two points in the circuit. It is possible to add together potential differences due to conservation of energy.</p> <hr class="hidden-separator"> <div class="panel panel-has-colored-body panel-purple"> <div class="panel-heading"><a class="expander" href="#"><span class="fa fa-plus"></span></a> <div> <p>Summary</p> </div> </div> <div class="panel-body"> <div> <p>A battery creates a potential difference across a resistor. This means that work is done when a charge is moved through the resistor.</p> <p>Alternatively we could state that energy (e.g. thermal) is released when a charge passes through the resistor.</p> <div class="video-embed vimeo"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" mozallowfullscreen="" webkitallowfullscreen="" height="420" width="100%" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/158804893"></iframe></div> </div> </div> <div class="panel-footer"> <div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="panel panel-has-colored-body panel-green"> <div class="panel-heading"><a class="expander" href="#"><span class="fa fa-plus"></span></a> <div> <p>Test Yourself</p> </div> </div> <div class="panel-body"> <div> <p><i>Use quizzes to practise application of theory.</i> </p> <br><a class="btn btn-primary btn-block text-center" data-toggle="modal" href="#c6c19541"><i class="fa fa-play"></i> START QUIZ!</a><div class="modal fade modal-slide-quiz" id="c6c19541"> <div class="modal-dialog" style="width: 95vw; max-width: 960px"> <div class="modal-content"> <div class="modal-header slide-quiz-title"> <h4 class="modal-title" style="width: 100%;"> Potential difference <strong class="q-number pull-right"> <span class="counter">1</span>/<span class="total">1</span> </strong> </h4> </div> <div class="modal-body p-xs-3"> <div class="slide-quiz" data-stats="6-15-185" style="opacity: 0"> <div class="exercise shadow-bottom"><div class="q-question"><p>The diagram represents a simple circuit (zero internal resistance)</p><p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" src="../../images/cct1.png" style="width: 276px; height: 221px;"></p><p>What is the PD between A and B</p></div><div class="q-answer"><p><label class="radio"><input type="radio"> 100 V</label></p><p><label class="radio"><input class="c" type="radio"> 12 V</label></p><p><label class="radio"><input type="radio"> 0.12 V</label></p><p><label class="radio"><input type="radio"> 120 V</label></p></div><div class="q-explanation"><p>Since no internal resistance the terminal PD is the same as EMF</p></div><div class="slide-q-actions"><button class="btn btn-default btn-sm btn-xs-block text-xs-center check"><i class="fa fa-check-square-o"></i> Check</button></div></div><div class="exercise shadow-bottom"><div class="q-question"><p>The diagram represents a simple circuit (zero internal resistance)</p><p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" src="../../images/cct1.png" style="width: 276px; height: 221px;"></p><p>What is the PD from A to D</p></div><div class="q-answer"><p><label class="radio"><input class="c" type="radio"> 0V</label></p><p><label class="radio"><input type="radio"> 12 V</label></p><p><label class="radio"><input type="radio"> -6 V</label></p><p><label class="radio"><input type="radio"> 6 V</label></p></div><div class="q-explanation"><p>No PD across ideal wires since they have no resistance.</p></div><div class="slide-q-actions"><button class="btn btn-default btn-sm btn-xs-block text-xs-center check"><i class="fa fa-check-square-o"></i> Check</button></div></div><div class="exercise shadow-bottom"><div class="q-question"><p>The diagram represents a simple circuit (zero internal resistance)</p><p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" src="../../images/cct1.png" style="width: 276px; height: 221px;"></p><p>What is the PD from D to C</p></div><div class="q-answer"><p><label class="radio"><input type="radio"> 0.12 V</label></p><p><label class="radio"><input type="radio"> 120 V</label></p><p><label class="radio"><input class="c" type="radio"> 12 V</label></p><p><label class="radio"><input type="radio"> 0 V</label></p></div><div class="q-explanation"><p>All potential is dropped across the resistor.</p></div><div class="slide-q-actions"><button class="btn btn-default btn-sm btn-xs-block text-xs-center check"><i class="fa fa-check-square-o"></i> Check</button></div></div><div class="exercise shadow-bottom"><div class="q-question"><p>The diagram represents a not so simple circuit (batteries have zero internal resistance)</p><p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" src="../../images/cct2.png" style="width: 286px; height: 280px;"></p><p>What is the potential at A?</p></div><div class="q-answer"><p><label class="radio"><input type="radio"> 0 V</label></p><p><label class="radio"><input type="radio"> 24 V</label></p><p><label class="radio"><input class="c" type="radio"> 12 V</label></p><p><label class="radio"><input type="radio"> - 12 V</label></p></div><div class="q-explanation"><p>From the earth connection to A there is a 12 V battery.</p></div><div class="slide-q-actions"><button class="btn btn-default btn-sm btn-xs-block text-xs-center check"><i class="fa fa-check-square-o"></i> Check</button></div></div><div class="exercise shadow-bottom"><div class="q-question"><p>The diagram represents a not so simple circuit (batteries have zero internal resistance)</p><p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" src="../../images/cct2.png" style="width: 286px; height: 280px;"></p><p>What is the potential at B?</p></div><div class="q-answer"><p><label class="radio"><input type="radio"> 24 V</label></p><p><label class="radio"><input class="c" type="radio"> O V</label></p><p><label class="radio"><input type="radio"> 12 V</label></p><p><label class="radio"><input type="radio"> -12 V</label></p></div><div class="q-explanation"><p>No PD from the Earth connection to B</p></div><div class="slide-q-actions"><button class="btn btn-default btn-sm btn-xs-block text-xs-center check"><i class="fa fa-check-square-o"></i> Check</button></div></div><div class="exercise shadow-bottom"><div class="q-question"><p>The diagram shows a network of resistors and batteries</p><p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" src="../../images/cctpd1.png" style="width: 286px; height: 280px;"></p><p>What is the potential at C</p></div><div class="q-answer"><p><label class="radio"><input type="radio"> 0 V</label></p><p><label class="radio"><input type="radio"> 6 V</label></p><p><label class="radio"><input class="c" type="radio"> 24 V</label></p><p><label class="radio"><input type="radio"> 12 V</label></p></div><div class="q-explanation"><p>From 0V must go up 12 V twice.</p></div><div class="slide-q-actions"><button class="btn btn-default btn-sm btn-xs-block text-xs-center check"><i class="fa fa-check-square-o"></i> Check</button></div></div><div class="exercise shadow-bottom"><div class="q-question"><p>The diagram shows a network of resistors and batteries.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" src="../../images/cctpd2.png" style="width: 286px; height: 280px;"></p><p>The potential at D is</p></div><div class="q-answer"><p><label class="radio"><input type="radio"> 24 V</label></p><p><label class="radio"><input type="radio"> 6 V</label></p><p><label class="radio"><input class="c" type="radio"> 12 V</label></p><p><label class="radio"><input type="radio"> 0 V</label></p></div><div class="q-explanation"><p>There must be an equal pd across each of the two series resistors. One side is at 24 V the other 0 V so the middle is 12 V.</p></div><div class="slide-q-actions"><button class="btn btn-default btn-sm btn-xs-block text-xs-center check"><i class="fa fa-check-square-o"></i> Check</button></div></div> </div> </div> <div class="modal-footer slide-quiz-actions"> <div class=""> <div class="pull-left pull-xs-none mb-xs-3"> <button class="btn btn-default d-xs-none btn-prev"> <i class="fa fa-arrow-left"></i> Prev </button> </div> <div class="pull-right pull-xs-none"> <button class="btn btn-success btn-xs-block text-xs-center btn-results" style="display: none"> <i class="fa fa-bar-chart"></i> Check Results </button> <button class="btn btn-default d-xs-none btn-next"> Next <i class="fa fa-arrow-right"></i> </button> <button class="btn btn-default btn-xs-block text-xs-center btn-close" data-dismiss="modal" style="display: none"> Close </button> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div></div> </div> </div> <div class="panel-footer"> <div> </div> </div> </div> <div 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