Potential Difference in Series Circuits

• How can we measure potential difference?

  Using a voltmeter
• What is potential difference also called?

  Voltage
• What does a potential difference of one volt indicate?

  One Joule per Coulomb of charge
• What does potential difference tell us in an electrical circuit?

  How energy is transferred
• How do you measure the potential difference across a cell?

  Place the voltmeter across the cell
• What does a reading of 9 volts indicate about energy transfer?

  9 Joules per Coulomb of charge
• What happens to the electrical energy in the lamp?

  It is transferred to light and thermal energy
• What is the energy transfer process in an electric circuit?

  • Chemical energy in the cell
  • Converted to electrical energy
  • Carried by electrons
  • Transferred to light and thermal energy in components
• Why are both lamps dimmer in a series circuit?

  Energy is shared between the two lamps
• What does the total potential difference across both lamps equal?

  The potential difference across the cell
• What are the key points about potential difference in series circuits?

  • Total potential difference equals cell voltage
  • Energy is shared between components
  • Different lamps can have different voltages
  • Brighter lamp has higher potential difference