Practice Potential Difference in Physics
Use these practice problems to test your method after reviewing the concept explanation and worked examples.
Quick Recap
The difference in electric potential between two points, equal to the work done per unit charge moving between them.
Potential difference is the 'height drop' that makes charges flow — the bigger the drop, the harder the push.
Example 1
easyA battery has a potential difference of 9 \text{ V} across its terminals. How much energy does it give to each coulomb of charge that passes through it?
Example 2
mediumA current of 0.5 \text{ A} flows through a 10 \text{ } \Omega resistor. What is the potential difference across the resistor? How much energy is dissipated in 20 \text{ s}?
Example 3
mediumA 12 \text{ V} battery drives 3 \text{ A} of current through a resistor. Find the resistance and the power dissipated.
Example 4
mediumTwo points A and B in an electric field have potentials V_A = 100 \text{ V} and V_B = 40 \text{ V}. What is the potential difference from A to B? How much work is done moving a 2 \times 10^{-6} \text{ C} charge from B to A?
Example 5
hardIn a circuit with a 12 \text{ V} battery, three resistors in series have values 2 \text{ } \Omega, 4 \text{ } \Omega, and 6 \text{ } \Omega. What is the potential difference across each? Verify that they sum to the battery voltage.