Potential Difference

Potential difference across an electrical device is defined as the amount of electrical energy converted to other forms per unit charge passing through it.

S.I Unit: joules per coulomb (JC^{-1}) or volts (V)

Formula:

potential \space difference = \frac{work done}{charge}

• Electrical energy is being converted to other forms of energy

Measurement

Series

• e.m.f of cell equals to p.d across the whole circuit ignoring internal resistance of the cell.

Parallel

• Potential difference across each branch is the same