Exam-style question
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What is terminal potential difference in a circuit?.
- A.The voltage across the terminals of a power source when no current flows
- B.The voltage across the terminals of a power source when current flows
- C.The total voltage supplied by a power source
- D.The voltage drop across a resistor in a circuit
Model answer
What a good answer should say
- The voltage across the terminals of a power source when current flows
Explanation
Why this works
Terminal potential difference is defined as the voltage across the terminals of a power source when current flows. The key difference is that it accounts for internal resistance, which affects the voltage available to the circuit.
This applies when the circuit is active and current is flowing, making it crucial for understanding how much voltage is actually usable in a circuit.
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