BRAINCAKEPotential Difference Rules
The potential difference rules come from the conservation of energy. The energy given to each coulomb of charge by the source must equal the energy it transfers to the components as it goes around the circuit.
For any complete loop of a circuit, the sum of the emfs equals the sum of the potential differences around the loop. For a single cell connected to two components in series, ε = V1 + V2.
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Key terms in this lesson
- Potential difference
- The energy transferred per unit charge as charge moves between two points in a circuit.
More in Direct Current Circuits
- Current Rules
- Resistors in Series
- Resistors in Parallel
- Resistance Heating
- Internal Resistance
- Power
- Measuring Internal Resistance
- Cells in Series
All 15 lessons in Direct Current Circuits · All AQA AS-level Physics topics