Question

Voltage is the common word for potential difference. Which term is more descriptive, voltage or potential difference?

a) Voltage

b) Potential Difference

c) Both are equally descriptive.

d) Neither is descriptive.

Answer 1

Potential difference is more descriptive than voltage as it clearly indicates the difference in electric potential between two points. Potential difference represents the energy per unit charge required to move a charge between two points in an electric field.

Step-by-step explanation:

The term potential difference is more descriptive than the term voltage when referring to electric potential difference. The term 'potential difference' explicitly indicates that it is the difference in electric potential between two points. A voltage is understood to be the potential difference between two points, such as the two terminals on a battery. Fundamentally, the reference point for zero volts is arbitrary, similar to how we might choose sea level as the reference point for zero gravitational potential energy.

In response to the question of whether potential difference is more descriptive than voltage, the answer would be 'b) Potential Difference.' As for the relationship between potential difference and electric potential energy, potential difference corresponds to the energy per unit charge at some point in space. This means that the potential difference (voltage) indicates how much work would be required to move a unit charge between two points within an electric field.