ATAR Notes: Forum

VCE Stuff => VCE Science => VCE Mathematics/Science/Technology => VCE Subjects + Help => VCE Physics => Topic started by: Chease on June 07, 2012, 09:15:19 pm

Title: PD/VD
Post by: Chease on June 07, 2012, 09:15:19 pm

What's the difference between Potential Difference and Voltage Drop?

For example if we have a series circuit with a 18ohm resistor LED1 (Reversed bias) LED2 (Forward biased)

What would the Pot diff / Volt drop of LED1 be?

(From Insight 2012 Paper)

Title: Re: PD/VD
Post by: meemz on June 07, 2012, 10:18:07 pm

voltage drop is when their is currect running through the circuit.. in your case, as led1 is reverse biased, no current is running through it, so p.d is the voltage provided by the battery.. so if the battery supplied 12v, the p.d across led 1 will be 12v as infinite resistance is running through it resulting in an open switch :D