Electric Potential Class 10 – Detailed Explanation

Facing difficulty in understanding the term “Electric Potential”? If yes, then you are at the exact right place because after going through the content you’ll have no doubt left in electric potential Class 10.

We will start by giving a brief overview (with example) about electric potential. Then, we will study the definition for electric potential class 10 followed by the “electric potential difference”. Finally, we will see some important numerical related to this topic.

Electric Potential Class 10

What makes the electric charge flow? Let us count the analogy of the flow of water. Charges don’t flow in a copper wire by themselves, precisely as water in a perfectly flat channel doesn’t flow.

However, such that there’s a pressure difference between the two ends of the tube, water flows out of the other end of the tube. If one end of the tube is joined to a tank of water kept at a high position. For the flow of charges in a conducting metallic wire, the gravity, of course, has no part to play; the electrons displace only if there’s a difference of electric pressure- called the potential difference-along the conductor.

This difference of potential may be delivered by a battery, consisting of one or further electric cells. The chemical action within a cell generates the potential difference across the outstations of the cell, indeed when no current is drawn from it.

When the cell is interlinked to a conducting circuit component, the potential difference sets the charges in movement in the conductor and produces an electric current. To preserve the current in a presented electric circuit, the cell has to give the chemical energy stored in it.

Electric Potential

Electric Potential is defined as the amount of work done when a unit positive charge is displaced from infinity to a point inside the electric field.

If work is done in moving a positive charge Q from infinity to a point then electric potential V of that point is:

• V = W/ q

The SI unit of electric potential is volt (V) and is termed after Italian physicist Alessandro Volta (1745-1827). It’s a scalar quantity.

A potential of 1 volt at a point means that 1 joule of work is done in displacing 1 unit positive charge from infinity to that point. Since the unit of charge is the coulomb, we can bring out that:

A potential of 1 volt at a point means that 1-joule work is done in displacing 1 coulomb of positive charge from infinity to that point. An additionally frequent term used in electricity is, still, a potential difference which we will discuss now.

Electric Potential Difference

It is defined as the work done per unit charge in displacing a unit positive charge from one point to another point inside the electric field.

The electric potential difference between two junctures is said to be 1 volt if 1 joule of work is done in displacing 1 coulomb of electric charge from one point to another point.

Electric Potential Difference is measured by Voltmeter (V).

Therefore,
1 volt = 1 joule/ 1 coulomb
1V = 1J/ 1C
1V = 1 J/ C = 1JC^-1

Lower units of electric potential,
1 mV = 10^-3 V

• Some Important Topics:

1. CARBON AND ITS COMPOUNDS CLASS 10th Notes
2. Define Resistivity Class 10th

Some Important Numericals

Example 1: Calculate the work done if a charge of 5 C moving across two points having a potential difference equal to 15 V.

Solution: Potential difference (V) = 15 V        [Given]
Charge (Q) = 5 C
Work done (W) =?

We know that, V=W/Q
Or, W=V×Q
Or, W=15V×5C=75J

Example 2: Calculate the work done to carry a charge of 3 Coulomb if the potential difference between the two points is 10 V.

Solution: Given, charge = 3 C
Potential difference between two points = 10V
Work done (W) =?

We know that, V=W/Q
Or, W=V×Q
Or, W=10V×3C=30J

Example 3: What is the amount potential difference required to do 100 J of work to carry a charge of 10 C between two points?

Solution: Given, work done (W) = 100J
Charge (Q) = 10C
Potential difference (V) =?

We know that, V=W/Q
Or, V=100J/10C=10V

Example 4: 5000 J of work would be done to carry how much charge between two points having a potential difference of 100 V?

Solution: Given, potential difference (V) = 100V
Work done (W) = 5000 J
Charge (Q) =?

We know that, V=W/Q
Or, Q=W/V
Or, Q=5000J/100V=50C

Summary

So, this was all about Electric Potential. I hope that now you are all clear with the topic and have no doubt left. Electric Potential is a very important topic from the class 10th board exam point of view, so please go through the article again if you still have some doubts.

Thank You!

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