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Potential difference

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	Topics Potential difference Topic Home In physicsPhysics Physics , the most fundamental physical science, is concerned with the underlying principles of the natural world.... , the potential difference or p.d. between two points is the amount of workWork (thermodynamics) In thermodynamics, thermodynamic work is the quantity of energy transferred from one system to another.... that would need to be done on a unit electric chargeElectric charge Electric charge is a fundamental conserved property of some subatomic particles, which determines their electromagnetic inte... to move it from one point to the other against an electric fieldElectric field In physics, the properties of space that surrounds an electric charge can be described using an electric field or E-field... . P.d. is synonymous with voltageVoltage Voltage is the difference of electrical potential between two points of an electrical network, expressed in volts .... and is measured in voltVolt The volt is the SI derived unit of electric potential difference or electromotive force .... s. Theory Potential difference is the line integral of the electric field strength between two points. Also, if v is the p.d. in volts, w is the work in jouleJoule The joule is the SI unit of energy, which is defined as the potential to do work.... s (J), and q is the charge in coulombCoulomb The coulomb is the SI unit of electric charge. It is named after Charles-Augustin de Coulomb . ... s (C), then: In a more general sense, potential difference is the difference in some quantity between two points in a conservativeConservation law In physics, a conservation law states that a particular measurable property of an isolated physical system does not change a... vector fieldVector field Overview In mathematics a vector field is a construction in vector calculus which associates a vector to every point in a Euclidean s... of that quantity. Potential difference is therefore the amount of work needed to move one coulomb of electrons from one place to another. Other types of potential difference Other types of potential difference, related to the amount of energyEnergy In general, the concept of energy refers to "the potential for causing changes." The word is used in several different conte... required to move an object from one place to another against various types of forceForce In physics, force is that which changes or tends to change the state of rest or motion of a body.... s, are also defined in physics. In mechanicsFacts About Mechanics Mechanics is the branch of physics concerned with the behaviour of physical bodies when subjected to forces or displacement... , the gravitational potential difference between two points on Earth is related to the energy that would be required to move a unit massMass Mass is a property of a physical object that quantifies the amount of matter and energy it is equivalent to.... from one point to the other against the Earth's gravitational field. Units: joules per kilogram. In fluid systems the potential difference is the difference in pressurePressure Pressure is the force per unit area applied on a surface in a direction perpendicular to that surface.... . Units: pascalPascal (unit) The pascal is the SI derived unit of pressure or stress .... s. In thermal systems the potential difference is the difference in temperatureTemperature In thermodynamics, temperature is a measure of the tendency of an object or system to spontaneously give up energy.... . Units: kelvinKelvin The Kelvin scale is a temperature scale where absolute zero—the coldest possible temperature where there is no heat en... s. In some engineering fields, "potential" is sometimes described as the 'across variable', whereas fluxFlux In the various subfields of physics, there exist two common usages of the term flux, both with rigorous mathematical framewo... is the 'through variable'. The product of the flux and the potential difference is the powerPower (physics) Overview In physics, power is the rate at which work is performed.... , which is the time rate of change of energyFacts About Energy In general, the concept of energy refers to "the potential for causing changes." The word is used in several different conte... .