The difference in energy between two parts of a circuit is called what?

The difference in energy between two parts of a circuit is called what?

• A. Resistance
• B. Capacitance
• C. Electromotive force
• D. Potential difference

Answer: (D)

Potential difference, or voltage, is the energy difference per unit charge between two points in a circuit. It tells you how much energy a charge would gain or lose moving from one point to the other, and is what a voltmeter measures. This is different from electromotive force, which is the energy per unit charge provided by a source to push current around the whole circuit; the actual potential difference between two points can be affected by drops across components. Resistance is the opposition to current, not an energy difference, and capacitance is the ability to store charge, not the energy difference between two circuit points.

Potential difference, or voltage, is the energy difference per unit charge between two points in a circuit. It tells you how much energy a charge would gain or lose moving from one point to the other, and is what a voltmeter measures. This is different from electromotive force, which is the energy per unit charge provided by a source to push current around the whole circuit; the actual potential difference between two points can be affected by drops across components. Resistance is the opposition to current, not an energy difference, and capacitance is the ability to store charge, not the energy difference between two circuit points.