I do not understand potential difference?
I don't really understand the term: potential difference, but I'm guessing that it means this.
When you have a new cell, one pole (I'm assuming the negative pole) would contain all or more energy than the other.
+_________-
If that were a cell.
So, during the process of using the cell, energy would move from the negative pole to the positive pole, and when both poles contain the same amount of energy, the cell will no longer work. (Battery Flat)
Am I correct? If not, please correct me.
Thanks.
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Voltage, also known as electrical potential difference or electric tension (denoted ∆V and measured in volts, or joules per coulomb) is the difference in electric potential between two points - or the difference in electric potential energy per unit charge between two points; see:
"Potential difference - Wikipedia":
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Potential_difference
Cheers ebs
Electric Potential is basically determines whether a conductor will give or receive Electrons. It is measured in Joule/Coulomb or Volt. Electrons flows from low to high potential (not necessarily negative to positive). The Difference between these high and low potential is called potential difference. You can see that it's obvious that if the potential difference becomes zero (which means potential of the two points are same, so no highs or lows) than no electrons will flow, i.e no electric current.
In a electric cell, the low potential terminal is called negative pole and the high is the positive pole. Chemical reactions in the cell continuously produces electrons at the negative pole and depletes electrons at the positive pole, so low and high potential is produced. As long as there is this potential difference electricity will flow. As the chemicals runs out gradually, the potential difference also decreases and thus the electric current produced also decreases. Potential difference will eventually reach zero and no current flow and flat battery.
You were correct with your assumption, but not necessarily the energy at the two poles needs to be same.
What each pole actually has is a collection of charges. The collection of negative charges on the - pole causes free electrons to be pushed away from it, attracted toward the + pole. A chemical reaction keeps replenishing those charges.
The cell no longer works when the chemicals run out and they can't replenish the charges.
Potential difference is closely related to energy, so it's not bad to think of it in terms of energy. It's the energy per unit charge. If the PD between the two poles is 1.5 V, then it takes 1.5 Joules of energy to move a Coulomb of charge from one pole to the other. And a Coulomb of charge gets 1.5 J of energy if it "falls" from one pole to the other.