Question
Question: What do you mean by a potential difference \(1V\) ?...
What do you mean by a potential difference 1V ?
Solution
Hint : To solve this question, we will start by understanding the concept of potential difference. We will use the definition of potential difference and formulate an equation for potential differences and proceed to find an answer to the question.
Complete step by step answer
The potential difference is defined as the amount of external energy required to bring a unit charge across a conductor against the lower to higher potential difference measured. The units of potential difference is the same as potential which is volt, V . According to the equation, the potential difference is given by
⇒V=qE
Here, V represents the potential difference between the conductor, q represents the unit charge, and E represents the energy or the work required to move the charge against the potential gradient. So, 1V will have a value
⇒1V=1C1J
Hence the value of one-volt potential difference will be one joule per Coulomb. So, one-volt is the potential difference across the conductor when one joule of energy is supplied to move a charge of one Coulomb from lower to a higher potential.
Additional Information
Voltage can also be defined so that the negatively charged particles are pulled towards the higher potential and the positively charged particles are pulled towards the lower or negative potential.
Note
While defining any quantities, be careful to use SI units. For example, in the above question, the unit of external work done to move the charge of the external energy, must be joules. Other examples include using the meter as the standard unit for distance, using seconds as the standard unit for time, and so on.