What Do E, V, and e Mean in Voltage Symbols?

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E, V, and e represent different concepts in voltage terminology. E is often used for electric field or electromotive force, while V denotes voltage or potential difference. The symbol e typically refers to an electron or is used in equations related to induction. There is confusion regarding the use of these symbols, particularly in the context of potential difference and the gradient operator. The discussion highlights the importance of understanding the context in which these symbols are used, as they can have overlapping meanings in different scenarios.
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Throughout EE I've seen many symbols. When it comes to voltage I've seen E,V,and e. Do they all mean the same thing?
 
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E is generally used for electric field

V or v is generally used for voltage

e generally refers to an electron or the constant from natural logs
 
In the book I've been readinf E means potential difference.

And e was in one about Industion. Eqaution looked something like
L=de/dt
 
Sounds like your book has problems. What are the title and author of the book? Potential difference is voltage V, and E = - \nabla V
 
E can be used for electromotive force which is equivalent to voltage right?
 
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Picture this:
-
E = 10V
I = 10A
-
Understand?
 
berkeman said:
Sounds like your book has problems. What are the title and author of the book? Potential difference is voltage V, and E = - \nabla V

If you're counting V is the actual voltage and Eis the voltage with ground
calculated then E=V- \nabla V ...potential difference.
 
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Here we use U for the voltage and sometimes E for the EMK.
We use V to symbolize the potential difference.
e should be the time dependant voltage (of course we use u for that).
 
Line said:
If you're counting V is the actual voltage and Eis the voltage with ground
calculated then E=V- \nabla V ...potential difference.
Holy smokes, that's totally wrong and misleading. Try putting units into that equation...
 
  • #10
berkeman said:
Holy smokes, that's totally wrong and misleading. Try putting units into that equation...
Potential DIfference does eqaul voltage minus the change in voltage doesn't it?

IN my boo E was potential difference, V was voltage and e had to do with induction.

e=N x d(webers)/dt
 
  • #11
Line said:
Potential DIfference does eqaul voltage minus the change in voltage doesn't it?
It can, but that's not what you wrote. There's a big difference between \nabla and \Delta :smile:

FYI, \Delta can represent a change (as I guess you intended), but \nabla is the gradient operator. So the equation E = -\nabla V is the way that we usually show the relationship between the vector electric field E and the scalar potential V.
 
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  • #12
In the beginning of the book they teach us E as the voltage.

I=E/R

Then in the middle they give us V.

P=VV/R
 
  • #13
Valhalla said:
E can be used for electromotive force which is equivalent to voltage right?
You are correct, E can be used for http://www.phys.uAlberta.ca/~gingrich/phys395/notes/node8.html .

As Berkeman has also mentioned, E (especially boldface) is also used in electrical engineering for "electric field", so be careful of the context in which you are using these symbols.

Line said:
In the beginning of the book they teach us E as the voltage.

I=E/R

Then in the middle they give us V.

P=VV/R
So in your book, they are using E interchangably with V for voltage potential. (they are virtually synonymous).
 
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  • #14
Sounds to me you have a terrible book, Line.
 

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