What is the potential difference in a circuit?

The potential difference between two points in an electric circuit is the work done when a coulomb of charge passes between the points. You can calculate the size of a potential difference using this equation: V = W ÷ Q. V is the potential difference in volts, V. W is the work done (energy transferred) in joules, J. read more

The electric potential difference or voltage of a battery is the potential energy difference across its terminals for every Coulomb of charge. A high voltage battery maximizes this ratio of energy/charge by doing a lot of work on each charge it encounters. read more

Calculating potential difference. The potential difference between two points in an electric circuit is the work done when a coulomb of charge passes between the points. read more

The potential difference between any two points in a circuit is the energy transferred to, or from, a given amount of charge as it passes between those points. In the circuit above, the charges gain energy in the cell, and then transfer that same amount of energy into light and heat in the lamp. read more