TOPICS

Voltage
Resistance
Energy

VOLTAGE
Aka. Potential difference.
Definition: Energy per unit charge.
Unit used: volt (V).
Alternative unit (refer to definition): Joules per
Coulomb.
Thus, 1V = 1 JC-1

W
Q
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VOLTAGE
A volt is defined as a difference of
potential causing one coulomb of current
to do one joule of work.

W
Q

VOLTAGE & ENERGY

Work done = Energy Transferred
V = W/Q
Potential Difference = Work done / Charge
Potential Difference = Energy Transferred / Charge

Potential Difference occurs when the charge

is losing energy.
A voltage where the charge is gaining energy
is an electromotive force, emf.
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RESISTANCE
Resistance of a regular shaped conductor
of length l, cross section area A and
material resistivity

VOLTAGE & ENERGY

12V

1C

20 Ohm

10 Ohm

V = 8V

V = 4V

1C

+12J

1C

20 Ohm

10 Ohm

-8J

-4J

1C

Energy is transferred to the charge by the power supply (e.g. battery cell).

The charge needs energy to move.

A 12V power supply gives 12J of energy to each coulomb of charge.
Each coulomb of charge is pushed by 12J of energy round the circuit.
E.g.: A 230V power supply (mains) transfers 230J of energy to each coulomb of
charge.

As the charge flows round the circuit, it transfers some of its energy to the
1st resistor, and the rest to the 2nd resistor.
The charge loses energy as flowing through resistors.
E.g.: As 1 C of charge moves through a potential difference of 8V, it transfers
(loses) 8J of energy.
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VOLTAGE DROP OR POTENTIAL

DROP
Voltage = Potential
Potential Difference is the difference of
potential/voltage of one point at a circuit with
reference to the other point at the same circuit.
Potential Drop is thus the difference of potential
between two immediate points where the first point
possesses a higher potential than the second point.
Based on Ohms Law, Potential Drop or Voltage Drop
occurs when current flows through a resistor:
V = IR
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DISCUSSION 1
How much energy is transferred to 1C of
charge
a) By a 6V battery?
b) By a 5kV high-voltage supply?

DISCUSSION 2
A 12V battery drives a current of 2A round
a circuit for one minute.
a) How much charge flows around the circuit in
this time?
b) How much energy is transferred to the charge?
c) How much energy does the charge transfer to
the components in the circuit.

EXERCISES
1. What do you think an electron is?
2. Can you show that 1 electron carries a
charge of 1.6x10-19C?
3. Try to convert the followings:
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)

1 microamp (1A) = ? A
1 milliamp (1 mA) = ?A
1C=?C
1 cm = ? m
1 mm2 = ? m2
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EXERCISES CONTD
4. A charge of 1.24 C flows in a period of 0.63s. What is
the current?
5. 1 hour = ? seconds
6. 1 second = ? hour
7. 1 minute = ? hour
8. A cordless drill operates using a 14.4 V battery pack.
The battery is rated at 2 amp-hours which means that
it can deliver a current of 2 amps for a period of 1
hour. How much energy is held by the battery?

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