Potential Difference and the Volt

Lab Brief #2

🎯 Your mission

Set it up. Test it. Be amazed.

⚡ The twist

Speed isn't the same as force. Don't mix them up.

What you'll learn

Potential difference is the energy transferred per unit charge, V = E/Q, measured in volts. A 12 V supply gives each coulomb 12 joules. Voltmeters are connected in parallel across a component because they compare energy at two points.

Key words

potential difference
Energy transferred per coulomb of charge, in volts.
volt
One joule of energy transferred per coulomb of charge.

Make a hypothesis first

Guess: where does the energy go?

Say your guess out loud — then find out if you were right.

Get ready

🧰 What you need

low-voltage supply
two lamps
voltmeter
connecting leads

⚠️ Safety first

Low-voltage supply only.
Lamps get hot — let them cool before handling.

Step 1 of 4 · Read

Think about what you just learned: say what "potential difference" and "volt" mean in your own words before you start.

Step 2 of 4 · Do

Connect two lamps in series and measure the potential difference across each and across the supply. Check that the two component readings add to the supply reading, then repeat with unequal lamps.

Step 3 of 4 · Observe

Record what actually happened, including anything that did not match what you expected.

Step 4 of 4 · Record

Write a conclusion that answers the question this lesson opened with, and state your uncertainty.

Question 1 of 2

A voltmeter is connected:

How sure are you?😐 maybe

Question 2 of 2

A 12 V supply gives each coulomb of charge:

How sure are you?😐 maybe

Mind = blown

🔥 A bolt of lightning is 5 times hotter than the surface of the sun.

Nice work!

You got 0 of 2 right.

Next: Resistance and Ohm's Law All lessons

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✨ More to explore

🌍 Where you see this in real life: This is why airplanes can fly and why rockets reach space.

🏆 Stretch challenge (try it this week): This week, find one thing in your house that turns one kind of energy into another.

👨‍👩‍👧 For the dinner table: “Show me something at home that uses this kind of energy.”

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