The Difference Between Electric Potential and Potential Difference

Electricity is a fundamental force that powers the modern world. Understanding how it works is essential for anyone interested in the fields of electrical engineering, physics, or any other related discipline.

Two concepts that are central to understanding electricity are electric potential and potential difference. While the two terms sound similar, they actually refer to different things. In this article, we will explore the difference between electric potential and potential difference.

Electric Potential

Electric potential is a scalar quantity that represents the amount of electric potential energy that a charged particle possesses at a certain point in space. It is sometimes also called voltage or electric potential difference.

Electric potential is a fundamental concept in electromagnetism and is used to describe the behavior of charged particles in an electric field. The electric potential is measured in volts (V) and is defined as the work required to move a charge of one coulomb (C) through an electric field from a reference point to a specific point in space.

In simpler terms, electric potential is a measure of the amount of energy that a charged particle has due to its position in an electric field. The higher the electric potential, the more energy the charged particle possesses.

Potential Difference

Potential difference, on the other hand, is a measure of the difference in electric potential between two points in an electric field. It is sometimes also called voltage or voltage drop.

Potential difference is measured in volts (V) and is calculated by subtracting the electric potential at one point from the electric potential at another point. If the two points have the same electric potential, then the potential difference is zero.

In other words, potential difference is a measure of the energy change that occurs when a charged particle moves from one point to another point in an electric field. The greater the potential difference, the greater the energy change or voltage drop.

The Key Difference

The key difference between electric potential and potential difference is that electric potential is a scalar quantity that represents the amount of electric potential energy that a charged particle possesses at a certain point in space, while potential difference is a measure of the difference in electric potential between two points in an electric field.

In simpler terms, electric potential is a measure of the energy that a charged particle has at a certain point, while potential difference is a measure of the energy change that occurs when a charged particle moves from one point to another point in an electric field.

In Conclusion

In summary, electric potential and potential difference are two fundamental concepts in electromagnetism that describe the behavior of charged particles in an electric field. While they are related, they refer to different things and are used in different contexts. Understanding the difference between electric potential and potential difference is essential for anyone interested in the field of electricity.

Table difference between electric potential and potential difference

Electric Potential vs. Potential Difference

Parameter	Electric Potential	Potential Difference
Definition	The amount of electrical energy per unit charge at a point in a circuit	The difference in electric potential energy between two points in a circuit
Symbol	V	ΔV
Unit	Volts (V)	Volts (V)
Formula	V = W/Q	ΔV = V2 – V1
Representation
Meaning	Electric potential is the amount of electrical potential energy that a unit charge encounters at a certain point of an electric field	Potential difference refers to the difference in electrical potential energy between two reference points in an electric circuit
Example	When a battery is connected to a lightbulb, the voltage of the battery creates an electric potential difference that causes the current to flow through the circuit, lighting the bulb.	When you turn on a lamp connected to a 120-volt outlet, the potential difference between the two wires of the electrical outlet causes a flow of electrons that powers the light.