potentiaalierotus

Potentiaalierotus, often translated as potential separation or potential difference, is a fundamental concept in physics that describes the difference in electric potential between two points. This difference is what drives the flow of electric charge, similar to how a difference in water pressure causes water to flow. The unit of electric potential difference is the volt (V), named after Alessandro Volta. A higher voltage indicates a greater "push" for electric charges to move.

In simpler terms, imagine a hill. The higher you are on the hill, the more potential energy you have due to gravity. When you roll down, this potential energy is converted into kinetic energy. Similarly, electric charges have electric potential energy. A potentiaalierotus between two points means one point has a higher electric potential than the other, and if a charge is placed at these points, it will tend to move from the higher potential to the lower potential, releasing energy in the process. This is the driving force behind electric currents in circuits.