PhysicsLAB CP Workbook
DC Currents

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Water doesn't flow in the pipe when (a) both ends are at the same level. Another way of saying this is that water will not flow in the pipe when both ends have the same potential energy (PE).
 
 
Similarly, charge will not flow in a conductor if both ends of the conductor are at the same electric potential.
 
But tip the water pipe and increase the PE of one side so there is a difference in PE across the ends of the pipe, as in (b), and water will flow.
 
 
Similarly, increase the electric potential of one end of an electric conductor so there is a potential difference across the ends, and charge will flow.
    
The units of electric potential difference are
 
It is common to call electric potential difference
 
The flow of electric charge is called electric
 
The flow of electric charge is measured in
 
Refer to the following information for the next six questions.

Complete these statements:
A current of 1 ampere is a flow of charge at the rate of ___ coulomb per second. 

When a charge of l5 C flows through any area in a circuit each second, the current is ___ A. 

One volt is the potential difference between two points if 1 joule of energy is needed to move ___ coulomb of charge between the two points. 

When a lamp is plugged into a 120-V socket, each coulomb of charge that flows in the circuit is raised to a potential energy of ___ joules. 

Which offers more resistance to water flow?
 
Similarly, which offers more resistance to the flow of charge?
 



 
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