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| Potential and Potential Difference |
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| 'Electrical potential' is a condition, which determines the direction of the flow of charge. |
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| Let us consider the experiment outlined below to understand electrical potential. |
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| Analogy to show the Concept of 'Potential Difference' |
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| Pipe A is connected to the container B through a stopcock. The quantity of water in A is less than the quantity in B, but the level of water is higher than the level in B. |
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| When the stopcock is opened, this water begins to flow from A to B, till the levels of water in both A and B are equal. |
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| The above observation, determines that it is not the quantity of water, but the level of water, which decides the direction of flow of water. Here the water in 'A' is at a higher 'gravitational potential' and the water in 'B' is at a lower gravitational potential. It is the 'potential difference' that is responsible for the flow of water. |
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| Similarly 'electrical potential' is the direction of the flow of charge. |
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| Let us consider the process of depositing an electric charge, for example, a positive charge on a neutral body. It now acquires a small amount of charge. If we wish to deposit some more charge of the same type on that body, it will experience a force of repulsion due to the charges already present on it. Therefore, work has to be done to counter this force of repulsion. This work done on the electrical charge in the process of charging gets stored as potential energy of charges. This is
known as 'electrostatic potential'. |
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