How does electric current change electric potential?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around the relationship between electric current and electric potential, specifically how the injection of current affects the voltage of an electrically insulated box. Participants explore theoretical aspects, mathematical relationships, and intuitive understandings related to capacitance and potential difference.

Discussion Character

  • Technical explanation
  • Mathematical reasoning
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • One participant introduces the scenario of an insulated box and asks how the injection of current changes its electric potential, defining initial and final voltages.
  • Another participant notes that the change in potential depends on the capacitance of the box, referencing the relationship V=Q/C and suggesting that current increases charge over time.
  • A participant questions whether the equations can be equated to CV=It, and discusses the implications of high capacitance on the effect of current on potential, seeking intuitive understanding.
  • Further elaboration is provided on the relationship between initial and final potential differences, emphasizing that higher capacitance requires more charge to achieve the same change in potential.
  • An analogy is presented comparing electric potential to water depth in a container, where capacitance is likened to the container's volume, illustrating the need for greater current to raise the potential in larger capacitance scenarios.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the implications of capacitance on potential change, with some seeking intuitive explanations while others focus on mathematical relationships. No consensus is reached regarding the overall understanding of the relationship between current, capacitance, and potential.

Contextual Notes

Participants discuss the dependence of potential change on capacitance without resolving the implications of high capacitance on the effect of current. The discussion includes various assumptions about the nature of the box and its electrical properties.

Apteronotus
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Suppose we have an electrically insulated box in a room, and the potential difference between the box and the room is given by [tex]V_1=V_{Box1}-V_{room}[/tex].

Now suppose we inject the box with X amps of current, for t seconds. The new voltage is now given by [tex]V_2=V_{Box2}-V_{room}[/tex]

By how much does the injection of X amps of current change the electric potential of the box?
ie.
What is [tex]V_{Box1}-V_{Box2}[/tex]?
 
Last edited:
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It depends on the capacitance of the box. V=Q/C
and Q = It
Your current has placed more charge on the box so its potential will rise according to the value of its capacitance.
Edit
Use V=Q/C and write an expression for V1 and V2 in terms of the charge on the box and its capacitance.
 
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So can we equate the two equations you've written and simply say [tex]CV=It[/tex]?

Also,
if the box is a good electrical insulator, then we expect it to have a high capacitance (ability to hold an electrical charge), right?
But then by the CV=It above, the higher the C is the less effect a current I will have on the potential V. What's the intuitive meaning behind this?
 
Apteronotus said:
So can we equate the two equations you've written and simply say [tex]CV=It[/tex]?
The initial pd on the box is given by V1=Q/C where Q is the initial charge and C its capacitance.
The final pd of the box (V2) is found by putting the charge on it equal to Q + It (and the same value of C.)
You then find V2 - V1
Also,
if the box is a good electrical insulator, then we expect it to have a high capacitance (ability to hold an electrical charge), right?
But then by the CV=It above, the higher the C is the less effect a current I will have on the potential V. What's the intuitive meaning behind this?

The definition of C is that it equals Q/V
The intuitive part of this is that the higher the value of C, the more charge you need to increase the pd. So as current is flow of charge, the higher the capacitance means that you need more current to increase the pd.
I always think of water in a container. The pd is the depth of the water, and the capacitance is the capacity (volume) of the container. The bigger the capacity of the container, the more water you need to raise its level.
If you were filling it with a hose pipe, you would need a larger water current to fill a larger container to the same depth in the same time.
 

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