Voltage, electric potential difference, electromotive force emf, electric pressure
or electric tension is the difference in electric potential between two points,
which (in a static electric field) is defined as the work needed per unit of charge to
move a test charge between the two points. In the International System of Units,
the derived unit for voltage (potential difference) is named volt.[1]:166 In SI units,
work per unit charge is expressed as joules per coulomb, where 1 volt = 1 joule (of
work) per 1 coulomb (of charge). The old SI definition for volt used power and
current; starting in 1990, the quantum Hall and Josephson effect were used, and
recently (2019) fundamental physical constants have been introduced for the
definition of all SI units and derived units.[1]:177f, 197f Voltage or electric
potential difference is denoted symbolically by ∆V, simplified V,[2] or U,[3] for
instance in the context of Ohm's or Kirchhoff's circuit laws.
Electric potential differences between points can be caused physically by electric
charge build up or imbalance (eg. well known "static" and electronic capacitor)
also by electric current through a magnetic field, and by time-varying magnetic
fields (eg. dynamo or generator), or some combination of these three.[4][5]
Additionally on a macroscopic scale potential difference can be caused by
electrochemical processes (cells and batteries) and pressure induced piezoelectric
effect and heat induced emf across metal junctions. These latter processes at
microscopic level have the physical origins previously mentioned. A voltmeter can
be used to measure the voltage (or potential difference) between two points in a
system; often a common reference potential such as the ground of the system is
used as one of the points. A voltage may represent either a source of energy
(electromotive force) or lost, used, or stored energy (potential drop).
In circuit analysis and electrical engineering, the voltage across an inductor is not
considered to be zero or undefined, as the standard definition would suggest. This
is because electrical engineers use a lumped element model to represent and
analyze circuits.
When using a lumped element model, it is assumed that there are no magnetic
fields in the region surrounding the circuit and that the effects of these are
contained in 'lumped elements', which are idealized and self-contained circuit
elements used to model physical components.[7] If the assumption of negligible
leaked fields is too inaccurate, their effects can be modelled by parasitic
components.
In the case of a physical inductor though, the ideal lumped representation is often
accurate. This is because the leaked fields of the inductor are generally negligible,
especially if the inductor is a toroid. If leaked fields are negligible, we find that
