A simple potential difference is the difference in electrical potential between two points in a circuit. It is measured in volts and represents the amount of work needed to move a unit of charge from one point to another in the circuit.
While potential difference and voltage are often used interchangeably, they are technically different. Voltage is the overall potential difference between two points in a circuit, while potential difference specifically refers to the difference in potential energy between those two points.
The two main factors that affect potential difference are the amount of charge and the distance between the two points in the circuit. The greater the amount of charge, the greater the potential difference, and the smaller the distance, the greater the potential difference.
Potential difference is measured using a voltmeter, which is a device that measures the difference in electric potential between two points in a circuit. It is typically connected in parallel to the circuit to measure the voltage across a specific component or section.
The unit of measurement for potential difference is the volt (V). One volt is equal to one joule of energy per coulomb of charge. It can also be represented as one newton-meter per coulomb.