Question

Cell generates a _____________ across the terminals.
A) Charge
B) Capacitance
C) Resistance
D) Potential difference

Answer 1

To solve this question we should know the meaning of all the terms given in the options. Charge is the property of a material by which one can determine the number of electrons being more or less than that of the protons. If the number of electrons are more than that of the protons then the material is negatively charged and if the number of electrons are less than that of the protons then the material is positively charged. Capacitance is the amount of charge stored by a capacitor. Resistance is the opposition to the flow of charge in an electric circuit. Potential difference is the difference between the potentials of the two halves of a cell.

Complete step by step solution:
Charge:
Charge or electric charge is the basic physical property of any matter that causes it to experience a force when it is kept in an electric or magnetic field. An electric charge can be positive or negative. The charge of a body can generate an electric field or magnetic field for that body.

Capacitance
The capacitance of a capacitor is the capacity of it to store charge. It can also be defined as the ratio of charge to the voltage. It is given by the formulae
$C = \dfrac{q}{v}$
Here $C$is the capacitance of the capacitor, $q$ is the charge and $v$ is the voltage.

Resistance
Resistance or electric resistance of a wire or any object is its opposition to the flow of electric current. It is given by
$R = \dfrac{V}{I}$
Here $R$ is the resistance, $V$ is the potential difference and $I$ is the current flowing through the object.

Potential difference
Potential difference of a cell is difference in potential between two halves of a cell. It is the deciding factor for the flow of electrons from one side of the cell to another.

Clearly option (D) is the answer.

Note: Most of us get confused when it comes to EMF and potential difference. Both are different from each other. EMF is the difference between electrode potentials of two electrodes of an electrochemical cell when no current is flowing whereas potential difference is the difference between the electrode potential of two electrodes when the cell is flowing.