Is the potential at each point on a circuit same,if so why? I have read that in order for current to flow through any kind of resistance,the potential of charges reaching resistance is higher than those exiting it. ie. all the charges before it are at same potential and the charges exiting it are at some low but same potential.this means that there are only two potential levels in a circuit. for better understanding of my doubt please check out this video https://youtu.be/-Rb9guSEeVE
1 Answers
Kirchoff's law says that $\Delta V_{\rm loop} = 0$, i.e. that the voltage summed around the closed circuit must add to zero.
If you have a circuit with one battery and one resistive element, like a resistor or a lightbulb, like this:
Circuits are typically modeled with ideal wires, which have no resistance. That means that in this situation, if the battery is 3V, then every point in the wire between the (+) terminal of the battery and the "upper" terminal of the resistor is 3V. At the resistor, you see a voltage drop of -3V. Then, from the bottom of the resistor back to the (-) terminal of the battery, every point is 0 volts. So in this very simple circuit, the wires are held at two distinct potentials.
In reality, wires do have resistance and dissipate energy through heat, but this is very small, so it is a good approximation in many applications to model the circuits with ideal wires.
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