The sharing of the 12-volt potential from a car battery across six heating elements depends on their circuit connection, either in series or parallel, affecting whether they each get an equal portion (2 volts each if in series) or the full voltage (12 volts if in parallel).
The car battery generates a 12-volt potential difference, and when it comes to dividing this voltage among the six heating elements, it will depend on how these elements are connected within the circuit. If the heating elements are connected in series, each element would drop an equal part of the total voltage, meaning each would have a 2-volt potential difference across it since 12 volts divided by 6 elements equals 2 volts per element. However, if the heating elements are wired in parallel, each element would experience the full 12-volt potential from the battery.
In the case of electric energy conversion, parameters like internal resistance and current flow are crucial. The provided details from the physics book explain how to calculate the potential difference across terminals, thermal energy dissipation, and electric energy conversion into chemical energy in a car battery during the charging process. It is also described that car batteries consist of cells connected in series to produce the required voltage for automotive functions.