Electric Potential: Va or Vb - Is It Right?

[superaznnerd]

my teacher gave me a handout that said Vab = Vb- Va

However my textbook says Vab = Va-Vb..


Which one is correct? By the way Va means voltage at a and Vb equals voltage at b

 

[porcupine6789]

They are the same thing. a and b are arbitrary letters to denote which two points you are looking at.

 

[Mapes]

Both are correct, as long as you choose one definition and stick with it. Which one to use is just a matter of convention.

EDIT: But they are not the same thing: Vab = -Vba.