The Terms Potential & Potential Difference

[Chase25]

So I'm supposed to read Chapter 34 (Electric Current) in the next couple of days. I'm sure I'll have more questions about it but one question I have right now is what does the book mean by the term potential and potential difference. My teacher briefly explained it but I couldn't stay awake this morning so could I have some help?

 

[Simon Bridge]

So I'm supposed to read Chapter 34 (Electric Current) in the next couple of days.

What is the book - the reference is meaningless without this information.

I'm sure I'll have more questions about it but one question I have right now is what does the book mean by the term potential and potential difference.

The book should have defined the terms. Reread those bits.

For electric circuits:
the potential difference is the voltage between two places in the circuit.
the potential is the potential difference between some place in the circuit and some standard reference point like the ground or the negative terminal of the power supply.
the potential energy of a charge is qV - the amount of charge times the potential where it is.
when a charge falls through a potential difference ΔV, it gains kinetic energy qΔV.

 

[Chase25]

For electric circuits:
the potential difference is the voltage between two places in the circuit.
the potential is the potential difference between some place in the circuit and some standard reference point like the ground or the negative terminal of the power supply.
the potential energy of a charge is qV - the amount of charge times the potential where it is.
when a charge falls through a potential difference ΔV, it gains kinetic energy qΔV.

Thanks!

 

[Simon Bridge]

Just to cement it: compare with gravity close to the Earth's surface:

potential difference between two heights, h₁ and h₂ would be g(h₂ - h₁)
potential at height h is gh (the standard reference point being the ground)
potential energy of mass m at height h is mgh
a mass m falling though distance Δh gains kinetic energy mgΔh