Potential difference Definition and 701 Threads

  1. jisbon

    Potential difference in Capacitors

    Firstly, I'm given this complicated circuit as shown below. What I have to do first, is to simplify it, which I will need help in checking. One question here: It's not possible to simplify this by adding resistors in series and capacitors in series am I, right? Or is it possible in this case...
  2. F

    Where does the energy come from in the potential difference in the Hall effect?

    Where does energy come from in potential difference appearing in Hall effect?It is magnetic force causes this potential.But we know that magnetic force does not do work on motion charge particles, then where is the energy come from?It seems contradiction that magnetic forces cause the potential...
  3. Muhammad Usman

    How can a magnetic field generate a Potential Difference?

    Problem Statement: Potential difference is the difference in the quantity of charge in both potentials. How does the magnetic field creates this difference of charges ? Relevant Equations: None Hi, I was reading electricity and found that the difference in potential of both end is the...
  4. M

    Electric field in a circuit with a DC source

    So I understand that when an electric field is produced in a conductor of length L, the net electric field in the conductor will be 0 because the rearrangement of electrons in the conductor results in the production of its own electric field which cancels out the one produced initially...
  5. K

    Clarification of electric potential difference

    I have some questions regarding the sign of potential difference. For example, given the literal definition as the difference in potential between two locations it should be possible for potential difference to be negative if the final potential is less than the initial, but while reading texts...
  6. cianfa72

    Electric potential difference between a battery's + terminal and the ground

    Hi, I've a question about electricity in the following scenario: consider an accumulator (e.g. a 9V battery) and an analog/digital voltmeter having a probe connected to the accumulator + clamp and the other to the ground (for instance connecting it to a metal rod stuck in the ground). Do you...
  7. P

    Finding the change in velocity through a potential difference

    We're given the equation qB=mv/r which is simple enough. I just don't know how to find the velocity given the acceleration through a potential difference. I tried using the radial acceleration equation given to me but I end up with the square root of a negative...and that breaks math... I...
  8. fight_club_alum

    Cylinderical reigon and potential difference

    Homework Statement The charge of density 3.0 μC/m fills a long cylindrical region having a 2.0-cm radius. If point A is 1.0 cm from the symmetry-axis and point B is 2.0 cm from the symmetry-axis, what is the potential difference VA – VB? a . –25 mV b. +42 mV c. –42 mV d. +25 mV e. +20 mV <-...
  9. fight_club_alum

    Volume charge density and potential difference in sphere

    Homework Statement The charge of uniform density 50 nC/m3 is distributed throughout the inside of a long nonconducting cylindrical rod (radius = 5.0 cm). Determine the magnitude of the potential difference of point A (2.0 cm from the axis of the rod) and point B (4.0 cm from the axis). a . 2.7...
  10. fight_club_alum

    Potential difference to achieve speed

    Homework Statement Through what potential difference must an electron (starting from rest) be accelerated if it is to achieve a speed of 3.0 x 10^7 m/s? a . 5.8 kV b. 2.6 kV c. 7.1 kV d. 8.6 kV e. 5.1 kV Homework Equations me = 9.11 × 10−31 kg |qe| ≡ e = 1.6 × 10−19 C F = ma Eq = ma V = Eq/r...
  11. Zack K

    Potential difference in a 2 disk system (Capacitor)

    Homework Statement A capacitor consists of two large metal disks placed a distance ##s## apart. The radius of each disk is R ## (R \gg s)## and the thickness of each disk is ##t##. The disk on the left has a net charge of ##+Q## and the disk on the right has a net charge of ##-Q##. Calculate...
  12. Zack K

    Final potential difference of a 2 capacitor system

    Homework Statement An isolated parallel-plate capacitor of area ##A_1## with an air gap of length ##s_1## is charged up to a potential difference ##\Delta V_1## A second parallel-plate capacitor, initially uncharged, has an area ##A_2## and a gap of length ##s_2## filled with plastic whose...
  13. J

    The potential difference of a proton

    1. Homework Statement A proton is released from rest at point B, where the potential is 0 V. Afterward, the proton: a. Remains at rest at B. b. Moves toward A with a steady speed. c. Moves toward A with an increasing speed. d. Moves toward C with a steady speed. e. Moves toward C with an...
  14. C

    Floating potential of a conductor in an electrical field

    I'm interested in the following general question: Assume x,y,z is an axes system, and that the y-z plane is occupied by a conductive plate at a known potential V with respect to the earth. Now, a conductive material M of neutral global electrical charge is placed at some distance of the plate...
  15. K

    Conceptual Issue RE: electric potential difference

    Homework Statement My main conceptual issue here surrounds positives and negatives as they apply to electric potential difference. I will post two questions that illustrate my confusion, if that's ok. 1) The electrons in an old TV picture tube are accelerated through a potential difference of...
  16. physics girl phd

    Solving Electric Potential Difference in a Linearly Varying Field

    Homework Statement I'm trying to do a problem two ways, and things aren't consistent, finding the electric potential difference in a linearly varying field. The electric potential difference between two points is often summarized in texts as ΔV = Vf - Vi = - ∫ E⋅ds where the lower bound of...
  17. cookiemnstr510510

    Electron brought to rest by the E-field, potential difference question

    Homework Statement An Electron with an initial speed of 500,000m/s is brought to rest by an electric field a)did the electron move into a region of higher or lower potential? I b) what was the potential difference that stopped the electron? Homework Equations ΔV=ΔU/q ΔU=-W The Attempt at a...
  18. cookiemnstr510510

    Speed of a proton through potential difference

    Homework Statement What is the speed of a proton that has been accelerated from rest through a potential difference of -1000V? Homework Equations ΔV=potential difference V=U/q Conservataion of energy U=qEd (d is distance the proton is moving...i think) The Attempt at a Solution Here is my...
  19. cookiemnstr510510

    Understand Electric Potential Energy, Difference & Potential

    Homework Statement My textbook is no help, my teacher is no help, so I've found myself here. I am having a difficult time understanding the differences in 1.Electric Potential energy 2. Potential Difference 3. Electric potential Im sure this question has been asked tons of times but I need...
  20. Nikhil Rajagopalan

    Potential Difference & Faraday's Law: Exploring the Relationship

    The potential difference between two points is given ans the negative of integral of E(vector) <dot product> dl(vector) from initial to final points. Therefore, integral integral of E(vector) <dot product> dl(vector) from initial to final point should give the negative of potential difference...
  21. Pratik Saha

    Gravitational Potential Reference Point

    Can someone please show that calculation of gravitational potential energy at a point R+h from the centre of the Earth by choosing the centre of the Earth to be at zero potential. Here R is the radius of the Earth and h is not very small wrt to R
  22. Krushnaraj Pandya

    Potential difference across capacitors

    Homework Statement The figure shows part of a complete circuit. The potential at point A is greater than that of B by 19 volts what is the potential difference in volts across the three microfarad capacitor? Homework Equations All relevant to electric circuits The Attempt at a Solution From...
  23. R

    Potential difference between charged parallel plates

    So we know that the E-field between two parallel plates is constant and that the potential difference between the plates is just the E-field times the distance between the plates. Let's say we're moving a positive charge from a negatively charged plate to a positively charge plate ( or near)...
  24. Krushnaraj Pandya

    Potential difference in uniform electric field

    Homework Statement There is a uniform electric field=100 V/m inclined at 45 degrees with the x axis. My doubt boils to which is greater? V(0,0) or V(10√2,0) (since my answer has the wrong sign) Homework Equations All electrostatics formulas The Attempt at a Solution The work done to move a...
  25. M

    A copper wire and an iron wire - Potential difference

    Homework Statement A copper wire and an iron wire of equal length l and diameter d are joined, and a potential difference V is applied between the ends of the composite wire. Calculate the potential difference (in volts) across the iron wire. Assume that l = 2.00 m., d = 0.30 mm., and V = 156...
  26. N

    Electric Potential Difference Problem

    Homework Statement Two charges, A (-3 C) and B (+4 C), are placed 2.40 m apart. Point X is 30 cm from A, and Point Y is 30 cm from B. What is the electrical potential difference going from X to Y? Homework Equations W = △Vq The Attempt at a Solution Teacher gave answer as 6.9 x 10^4 V I am...
  27. A

    How Is Electric Potential Difference Measured Without Specific Distances?

    Hello, I'm struggling to understand how the electric potential difference is measure especially when a distance is not given. For instance in Serway, on the explanation of the Van de Graaff Generator the authora write, "Van de Graaff generators can produce potential differences as large as 20...
  28. axer

    Calculating Potential difference (X Ray tube)

    Homework Statement If the electrons hit the tungsten target with an energy of 75 keV, find the potential difference. Homework EquationsThe Attempt at a Solution I tried this: (W=eV) V=W/Q V=eV/Q V=75,000/1.6*10-19 V= 4.6*1023 V, This seems wrong because all examples in my...
  29. J

    Which way do I measure the potential difference

    Homework Statement All the bulbs in the circuits are identical, as are all the batteries. Rank the magnitude of the potential difference between points M and N. Homework Equations V=IR The Attempt at a Solution My most fundamental question is actually which way do I know to take the...
  30. Sunanda

    What is the potential of plate B with respect to infinity?

    I have two isolated plates A and B, kept parallel to each other. Now I give charge +Q to the plate A, it will redistribute itself as +Q/2 on the outer plate A and + Q/2 on the inner plate A. Right? Now this will induce charge -Q/2 on the inner plate B and +Q/2 charge on the outer plate B...
  31. P

    Potential difference across a resistor

    Homework Statement Two cells of same emf E and different internal resistance r1 and r2 are connected in series to an external resistance R.The value of R for which the potential difference across the first cell is zero is given by (A) R=r1/r2 (B)R=r1+r2 (C)R=r1-r2 (D)R=r1r2 Homework Equations...
  32. F

    The value of potential difference between two points

    Homework Statement Homework Equations ##ΔV=Ed## The Attempt at a Solution ##V_A=E l## ##V_b=0## , because point B is perpendicular to the electric field ##ΔV = V_a + V_b## = El Is my answer correct ?
  33. W

    Understanding Electric Potential and Field in a Ring of Charge

    Homework Statement A potentially silly question that I have put off too long to ask, any assistance is greatly appreciated! The electric field evaluated along the Z axis of a ring of charge centered on the origin and lying on the XY plane is only a function of ##z## and points only along...
  34. F

    Find the potential difference between A and B

    Homework Statement Homework Equations V = kq / r The Attempt at a Solution VA = k q / rA VB = k q / rB rB = √((√8 * R)2 + R2) = 3 R VB = k q / 3R ΔV = | VA - VB | = | kq / R - Kq / 3R | = 2 kq / 3 R Can somebody check my answer please ?
  35. T

    Potential Difference Problem - setting up the integral

    Homework Statement Homework Equations V=kq/x The Attempt at a Solution I know the correct solution. It's... On my first attempt, rather than use (d+x) in the denominator and integrate from 0 to L, I instead used (x) and integrated from (d) to (L+d). This produces the wrong answer...
  36. J

    Potential difference between two points in a loop

    Homework Statement Homework EquationsThe Attempt at a Solution If we consider the bigger semicircular arc BD alone then potential difference between B and D will be 4BvR . If we consider smaller semicircular arc AC alone then potential difference between A and C will be 2BvR . If we...
  37. Const@ntine

    Potential Difference/Voltage-Graph Help Needed (Long)

    Homework Statement Alright, this is a Lab Exercise, so it's light on an actual introduction and data, but I'll do my best to put into words the whole thing. The gist of it is that we have a Vat with water, a millimetre paper at the bottom, and we put two Equipotential surfaces inside. We charge...
  38. Tomi Kolawole

    The potential difference between a sphere shell and a point

    I am to use this formula: https://d2vlcm61l7u1fs.cloudfront.net/media/fee/fee798ea-5480-47af-9904-35c76ac35e25/phpSzecLa.png I tried using intergral of (E*dr) as in the equation to integrate over the distance of V(2A)-V(0) But when i am to plug in zero into my integrate it would give a math...
  39. radiant_june

    Parallel plate electric fields -- # of electrons transferred

    Homework Statement An oil droplet is suspended between two horizontal parallel plates with a separation of 0.4 cm. If the potential difference of 320V is applied to the plates, determine the number of electrons transferred to/from the droplet. Given/Known Values mdroplet = 5.2×10-6 kg d = 0.4...
  40. TheBigDig

    Time-dependent potential difference between two ends of a loop

    Homework Statement A straight copper wire that carries a sinusoidal current with an alternating frequency of 50 Hz and a maximum amplitude of 0.5 A passes through the centre of a circular ring of a second copper wire, with the two wires orientated perpendicularly to each other. The radius of...
  41. Physics345

    How Is Electric Potential Difference Calculated in a TV Tube?

    Homework Statement In a TV tube, an electric potential difference accelerates electrons from a rest position towards a screen. Just before striking the screen, the electrons have a wavelength of 10×〖10〗^(-11) m. Find the electric potential difference. Homework Equations ∆E_K=q∆V λ=h/mv The...
  42. T

    Charged capacitors connected together, find the final potential difference

    Homework Statement Homework Equations C = Q/V The Attempt at a Solution Q1 = Q2 C1*V1 = C2*V2 2*V1 = 5*V2 V2 = 2/5*V1 V1+V2 =100 7/5*V1 = 100 V1 = 71.4 V Can someone verify my working? Thanks!
  43. T

    Confirming my logic on potential difference

    Homework Statement You’ve decided to protect your house by placing a 5.0 m tall iron lightning rod next to the house. The top is sharpened to a point and the bottom is in good contact with the ground. From your research, you’ve learned that lightning bolts can carry up to 50 kA of current and...
  44. J

    Potential difference and charge across a capacitor

    Homework Statement Homework EquationsThe Attempt at a Solution Apologies for the question image not being very clear . I will refer capacitors by numerical value of their capacitance . The 6 , 4 , 8 capacitors are in parallel . 9 , 9 , 7 are shorted out .So , we can remove them from the...
  45. A

    Why is there confusion about capacitors and potential difference between plates?

    So I understand that a capacitor consists of 2 plates separated by a distance which creates a potential difference between the plates. But I was confused, when watching this physics video it seemed to be saying that once the capacitor was fully charged, the plate closest to the positive terminal...
  46. A

    What is the relationship between voltage and charge in a battery?

    I'm trying to understand what exactly it means in terms of the voltage of a battery. I know that the voltage in a battery is just the potential difference between the two terminals. But, is the negative terminal used as a relative point and seen as 0? If that's the case does 12V mean that the...
  47. IonizingJai

    Potential Difference b/w concentric shells -- confusion

    Homework Statement :[/B] This is isn't exactly a problem,but actually something i don't understand in the book i was following, so there this art. about 'Principle of a Generator', whose description is given as, " A generator is an instrument for producing high voltages in the MeV range. Its...
  48. F

    What potential difference actually means

    Does potential difference only indicate how much energy each coulomb have, or make current flow, or do both?
  49. Kaneki123

    A Question about potential difference in Wire

    Okay...I got a question. Charges move in a wire due to an electric field across its ends. Now, positive test charge in an electric field would have higher electric potential nearer to the positive plate than anywhere else. Now in case of a circuit, like the one I have drawn, the electric...
  50. S

    Potential difference in between positive and negative charge

    Homework Statement Two point charges Q1= +5.00 nC and Q2 = -3.00 nC are separated by 35.0cm. What is the electric potential at a point midway between the charges? Homework Equations V = Ke(q/r), PE = Vq[/B] The Attempt at a Solution This question is from Serway textbook. The answer is...
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