Terminal potential difference
What Terminal potential difference means in Physics A-Level, as defined for AQA, OCR.
Definitions of Terminal potential difference
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Reference: OCR
The energy transferred per unit charge by the source to the external circuit, which is less than the e.m.f. when current flows.
The potential difference across the external circuit, measured between the terminals of a source when current flows.
The pd V across the cell terminals, measured with a voltmeter connected in parallel across the cell.
Topics that use Terminal potential difference
- Electromotive force and internal resistance (AQA A-Level)
- Internal resistance (OCR A-Level)
Related terms
- Electromotive force and internal resistance
- Energy transfer per unit charge in a source
- Lost volts
- Terminal potential difference and lost volts
- Circuit equations and algebraic rearrangement
- Electromotive force
- Experimental uncertainty and improvement
- Graphical analysis of linear relationships
Using Terminal potential difference in the exam
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