Electrical Basic Terms Definations: Electrical Voltage

Monday, December 1, 2014

Electrical voltage

Electrical voltage is defined as electric potential difference between two points of an electric field.

Using water pipe analogy, we can visualize the voltage as height difference that makes the water flow down.

In an electrical circuit, the electrical voltage V in volts (V) is equal to the energy consumption E in joules (J)

divided by the electrical charge Q in coulombs (C).

$V=\frac{E}{Q}$

V is the voltage measured in volts (V)

E is the energy measured in joules (J)

Q is the electric charge measured in coulombs (C)

Voltages in series

The total voltage of several voltage sources or voltage drops in series is their sum.

V_T = V₁+ V₂+ V₃+...

V_T - the equivalent voltage source or voltage drop in volts (V).

V₁ - voltage source or voltage drop in volts (V).

V₂ - voltage source or voltage drop in volts (V).

V₃ - voltage source or voltage drop in volts (V).

Voltage in parallel

Voltage sources or voltage drops in parallel have equal voltage.

V_T = V₁= V₂= V₃=...

V_T - the equivalent voltage source or voltage drop in volts (V).

V₁ - voltage source or voltage drop in volts (V).

V₂ - voltage source or voltage drop in volts (V).

V₃ - voltage source or voltage drop in volts (V).

Voltage drop

Voltage drop is the drop of electrical potential or potential difference on the load in an electrical circuit.

Electrical voltage is measured with Voltmeter. The Voltmeter is connected in parallel to the measured component or circuit.

The voltmeter has very high resistance, so it almost does not affect the measured circuit.

Voltage standards at different countries