Understanding Low Potential Difference & Current Flow

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the relationship between potential difference, resistance, and current flow in a wire, particularly when the potential difference is very low. Participants explore the implications of Ohm's Law and the conditions under which current can still flow despite low voltage.

Discussion Character

  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants suggest that a low potential difference does not preclude current flow, as current can still be significant if resistance is also low, referencing Ohm's Law.
  • One participant emphasizes that while the potential difference is low, it is not zero, which allows for current to flow.
  • Another participant discusses the control over voltage and resistance in a circuit, asserting that as long as both are non-zero, current will be non-zero as well.
  • There is a challenge posed regarding the expectation of no current in the circuit, prompting a discussion on the parameters that can be controlled in a typical setup.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the implications of low potential difference and its effect on current flow. While some agree that current can still exist under certain conditions, others question the assumptions behind expecting no current, indicating that the discussion remains unresolved.

Contextual Notes

Participants discuss the relationship between voltage, resistance, and current without resolving the nuances of how low values interact in practical scenarios. There is an implicit assumption that the circuit is powered by a typical DC source, but this is not universally clarified.

Who May Find This Useful

This discussion may be of interest to students and practitioners in electrical engineering, physics, and related fields who are exploring the fundamentals of circuit behavior under varying electrical conditions.

nil1996
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If potential difference between two points of wire is very low(as potential drop is very low due to low resistance) then how can there be flow of current in the wire?
 
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nil1996 said:
If potential difference between two points of wire is very low(as potential drop is very low due to low resistance) then how can there be flow of current in the wire?
Ohm's Law: current = V/R

When V is very small, if R is very small, too, then current can be large,

e.g., 0.001 volts/0.0001 Ohms = 10 amps
 
Because it's low but not zero.
 
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nil1996 said:
If potential difference between two points of wire is very low(as potential drop is very low due to low resistance) then how can there be flow of current in the wire?

Why do you expect no current in the circuit? any reasons?(pardon my rudeness if any)
First of all ,you have to understand what parameters we can control and what we cannot ,assuming a normal dc voltage source (a battery),and a given resistance wire.

->Now you can choose the voltage by choosing your own battery.
->You can choose the resistance by choosing the length ,area and the material of the wire(an engineering issue).
->The current gets fixed as a consequence of Ohm's law.(V/R=I)
let's say the voltage and the resistance you have chosen are some NON-ZERO values.
Then,
V/R = I ≠ 0
There is a non-zero current.
PS:i think you came up with this question by considering two points on a conducting wire.
But i think this explanation will serve the purpose.
 

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