Dimensions of integral of voltage curve

In summary, the integral of a voltage curve represents the total area under the curve and is equal to the total charge that has passed through a circuit over time. It is measured in units of Coulombs (C). The integral is directly proportional to the amount of energy consumed in a circuit, as it represents the work done by the voltage to move charge. The units of the integral depend on the units of the voltage and time axes, and if measured in volts (V) and seconds (s), the units would be volt-seconds (V·s). The shape of a voltage curve affects its integral by changing the amount of area under the curve, with a steeper curve resulting in a larger integral. The integral can also be negative if
  • #1
SW VandeCarr
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I recently answered several questions in the biology forum regarding integrating over the change of voltage with respect to time. Although it wasn't part of the posters' question, I'm not sure about the physical dimensions of this integral. Electrical potential can be expressed as energy per unit charge or joules per coulomb. If you integrate over time you get the units joule-seconds per coulomb or action/charge. I'm not familiar with of the use of this unit in biology. Does it have a name?
 
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  • #2
Not that I'm aware of.
 

1. What is the physical meaning of the integral of a voltage curve?

The integral of a voltage curve represents the total area under the curve, which is equal to the total charge that has passed through a circuit over time. This is known as the Coulomb integral and is measured in units of Coulombs (C).

2. How is the integral of a voltage curve related to power consumption?

The integral of a voltage curve is directly proportional to the amount of energy consumed in a circuit. This is because the integral represents the work done by the voltage to move charge through the circuit, and work is equal to energy.

3. What are the units of the integral of a voltage curve?

The units of the integral of a voltage curve depend on the units of the voltage and time axes. If the voltage is measured in volts (V) and time is measured in seconds (s), the integral will have units of volt-seconds (V·s).

4. How does the shape of a voltage curve affect its integral?

The shape of a voltage curve affects its integral by changing the amount of area under the curve. A steeper curve will have a larger integral than a flatter curve, as it represents a higher voltage and thus more work done to move charge through the circuit.

5. Can the integral of a voltage curve be negative?

Yes, the integral of a voltage curve can be negative. This would occur if the voltage is negative for a portion of the curve, indicating that work is being done to move charge in the opposite direction. However, the total integral over the entire curve will always be positive as it represents the net work done by the voltage.

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