The amount of energy given to each coulomb of electric charge passing through a component is equal to the potential difference (voltage) across that component, measured in volts (V). This is because 1 volt is defined as 1 joule of energy transferred per coulomb of charge (1 V = 1 J/C)
. In other words, the energy EEE (in joules) given to each coulomb of charge is numerically equal to the voltage VVV (in volts):
E=V×QE=V\times QE=V×Q
For one coulomb of charge (Q=1 CQ=1,CQ=1C):
E=V×1=V joulesE=V\times 1=V,\text{joules}E=V×1=Vjoules
For example, if a battery has a voltage of 6 volts, then each coulomb of charge passing through it gains 6 joules of energy
. Similarly, for an 8 V battery, each coulomb gains 8 joules of energy
Summary:
- Energy per coulomb = Voltage (in volts)
- 1 V = 1 J/C
- Energy given to each coulomb of charge passing through a 6 V battery = 6 J
- Energy given to each coulomb of charge passing through an 8 V battery = 8 J
This relationship is fundamental in electrical circuits and is used to calculate energy transfer based on charge and voltage
