Voltage

SNC1D

Voltage
Potential difference, or voltage, is the
energy charges gain or lose travelling
through different components of a circuit.

Voltage
Charges gain energy from a source (like a
battery) and lose energy to loads (like
motors and lightbulbs).

Waterfall Analogy

Waterfall Analogy
At the top of the waterfall, the water has
lots of energy.
Before entering a load, the charges have
lots of energy.

Waterfall Analogy
At the bottom of the waterfall, the water
has lost its energy.
After passing through a load, the charges
have lost their energy.

Waterfall Analogy
The lost energy is used to turn the
waterwheel.
The lost energy is used to run the motor.
(or light the
bulb or etc.)

Voltmeters
For a voltmeter to measure the change in
the energy of the charges, before and
after, it must be placed in parallel with the
component.

voltmeter

Points to Note
There will be no change in energy across
circuit components that arent sources or
loads.

Points to Note
Loads will consume the same energy
provided by the source not more or less.

Points to Note
When loads are placed in series (one after
the other), they have to share the energy
of the charges.

Points to Note
When loads are placed in
parallel (side by side),
different charges, each
with their full energy,
travel each path.