Electric Circuits Name:
Electric Potential Difference
Read from Lesson 1 of the Current Electricity chapter at The Physics Classroom:
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MOP Connection: Electric Circuits: sublevels 2 and parts of 3
Review:
1. Electric field is defined as the aura about the space surrounding a charged object that exerts an
electrical influence upon other charged objects in that space. The direction of the electric field
vector is defined as the direction that a positive test charge would be accelerated. Potential energy
is the energy stored in an object due to the position of that object.
A Gravitational Analogy:
2. Two diagrams are shown at the right.
In diagram A, a mass is held at an
elevated position. When let go of, the
mass falls from point A to point B.
In diagram B, the mass is originally at
point A and a person moves it back up
to point B.
For each diagram, indicate if work is
done by a non-conservative force in
moving the object from its initial
position (point A) to its position at point
B. Finally, indicate the position of
greatest gravitational potential energy.
Wnc done on mass: Wnc done on mass:
Circle the answers in the space below
the diagrams. No No
Highest PE: A Highest PE: B
3. The following diagrams show an electric field and two points - labeled A and B - located within the
electric field. A positive test charge is shown at point A. For each diagram, indicate whether work
must be done upon the charge to move it from point A to point B. Finally, indicate the point (A or B)
with the greatest electric potential energy and the greatest electric potential (PE/charge).
Work done on test charge? No Work done on test charge? Yes
Potential energy is greatest at: A Potential energy is greatest at: B
Electric potential is greatest at: A Electric potential is greatest at: B
Work done on test charge? No Work done on test charge? Yes
Potential energy is greatest at: A Potential energy is greatest at: B
Electric potential is greatest at: A Electric potential is greatest at: B
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Electric Circuits
3. When work is done on a positive test charge to move it from one location to
another, potential energy ___increases___ (increases, decreases) and electric
potential ___increases___ (increases, decreases).
When a positive test charge naturally moves from one location to another
(without the exertion of a non-conservative force), potential energy
__decreases__ (increases, decreases) and electric potential __decreases__
(increases, decreases).
4. The diagram at the right shows a light bulb connected to a 12-V car
battery. The + and - terminals are shown.
a. As a + charge moves through the battery from D to A, it __gains__
(gains, loses) potential energy and __gains__ (gains, loses) electric
potential. The point of highest energy within a battery is the __+__ (+,
- ) terminal.
b. As a + charge moves through the external circuit from A to D, it
__loses__ (gains, loses) potential energy and __loses__ (gains, loses)
electric potential. The point of highest energy within the external
circuit is closest to the __+__ ( +, - ) terminal.
c. Use >, <, and = signs to compare the electric potential (V) at the four
points of the circuit.
VA = VB > VC = VD
5. The role of a battery in an electrical circuit can be described in three different ways. First, it is the
energy supply. Second, the energy supplied by the battery is required to do work upon the charge
to move it against the electric field from the negative terminal to the positive terminal. And third, by
moving the charge against the field from negative to positive terminal, the battery establishes an
electric potential difference across the two ends of the external circuit.
Without a potential difference between two locations, charge will not move. When there is an
electric potential between two locations, charge will move
from the location of high potential to the location of low
potential. The amount of potential difference (DV) between
two locations is related to the work done in moving an
amount of charge (Q) from the low potential to the high
potential location.
DV = Vhigh - Vlow =
a. It takes _1.5_ J of work to move 1.0 C of charge from the - to the + terminal of a 1.5-volt battery.
b. It takes _24_ J of work to move 2.0 C of charge from the - to the + terminal of a 12-volt battery.
c. It takes 18 J of work to move _1.5_ C of charge from the - to the + terminal of a 12-volt battery.
d. It takes 12 J of work to move 2.0 C of charge from the - to the + terminal of a _6.0_-volt battery.
e. It takes _12_ J of work to move _1.0_ C of charge from the - to the + terminal of a 12-volt battery.
(For part e, answers will vary; the Joules per Coulomb ratio must be equal to 12.)
6. In the battery, energy is supplied to the charge to move it
from low potential (- terminal) to high potential (+ A, B
terminal). Once at the + terminal, the charge
spontaneously moves through the external circuit, losing
energy as it passes through each electrical device. The C, D
electric potential that is gained by the charge when it
passes through the battery is lost by the charge as it
moves through the external circuit. These gains and
losses in electric potential are often represented using an E, F
electric potential diagram. For the circuit at the right,
complete the electric potential diagram, showing the
relative potential of locations A, B, C, D, E, and F.
© The Physics Classroom, 2020 Page 2
