Diferences b/w emf & voltage,Resistance & resistivity

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the differences between electromotive force (emf) and voltage, as well as resistance and resistivity. Participants explore theoretical definitions and applications of these concepts in electrical circuits.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants suggest that emf and voltage are often used interchangeably, but distinctions exist depending on the context, such as in circuit theory.
  • One participant proposes that emf specifically refers to the potential generated by energy sourcing devices like batteries or generators, while voltage refers to potential drops across passive elements.
  • Another participant explains that emf measures the energy gained per unit charge in a device, whereas potential difference measures energy lost per unit charge across circuit points.
  • A different viewpoint introduces the idea that emf can be defined as the negative line integral of the electric field, while potential difference is related to the potential function of the electric field.
  • One participant notes that in certain cases, such as with non-conservative electric fields, emf can exist even when the voltage around a closed loop is zero.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express varying interpretations of emf and voltage, indicating that no consensus has been reached on their definitions and distinctions. Some agree on certain aspects, but multiple competing views remain.

Contextual Notes

Participants highlight that definitions may depend on specific contexts or fields, and some concepts may not apply universally, such as the existence of potential functions for electric fields.

Who May Find This Useful

This discussion may be of interest to students and practitioners in physics and electrical engineering, particularly those seeking clarification on fundamental electrical concepts.

hafiz16
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hi I am new member of this forum..Plz tell me how to use this forum & how to ask Question from other members...Plz tell me differences b/w emf & voltage,Resistance & resistivity..
 
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Welcome to PF!

Hi hafiz16! Welcome to PF! :smile:

emf ("electromotive force") means different things in different books.

usually, it means the same as voltage

See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electromotive_force#Terminology"
It is common in some fields, such as circuit theory, to refer to the voltage created by the emf as the emf. Some authors do not distinguish between the emf and the voltage it creates. Some use emf to refer to the open-circuit voltage and voltage to the potential difference when current is drawn
… etc etc etc

Resistivity of a material is resistance times cross-section area per length … see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Resistivity#Definitions" :wink:
 
Last edited by a moderator:
I believe that "emf" usually refers to a potential due to an energy sourcing device, like a battery, or a generator. This emf is indeed a voltage, as well as being a potential. But, if an energy dissipating device, i.e. passive element, incurs a voltage drop when carrying current, this is a drop in potential, or voltage, but the term "emf" is not used here.

Thus, potential, and voltage are general terms. The term emf is included, as emf is a voltage and potential. But emf is used specifically to describe a voltage/potential generated by an energy sourcing device. The term "drop" denotes dissipation. The emf and the drop are both measured in volts. One indicates energy being sourced, the other indicates dissipation.

Clear?

Claude
 
The emf of a device measures the energy gained by unit charge passing through a cell or dynamo etc. The PD between two points in a circuit measures the energy lost per unit charge as it passes through those points. Both are measured in Volts (joule per coulomb)
One is energy gained. The other is energy lost.
In a closed circuit, energy gained equals energy lost. This is often expressed as Kirchhoff's Rule.
 
The way I like to remember it, emf is the negative line integral of the electric field between two points, whereas a potential difference is the negative difference between the potential function of the electric field. When the electric field actually has a potential function, these would be the same thing (but we don't call it emf when the field is the gradient of some function). However, some electric fields don't have potential functions, for example a circular electric field can't be written as the gradient of a potential. But it will still have an emf.

The important thing here is that the voltage across a closed loop is always zero, but you can have a nonzero emf by integrating around a closed look. As you know,

[tex]\oint_C\vec{E}\cdot d\vec{l} = -\dfrac{d}{dt}\iint\vec{B}\cdot d\vec{A}[/tex]

So Faraday's Law itself gives an example of how emf can be different from a voltage. If the electric field had a potential function, then the left side would always be zero.

You could also think of the emf as the "work" done by an electric field.
 
thxk for all..but i still not clear & i am confuse..What is emf & voltage..
 

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