Voltage Source

Definition

A voltage source is a device that maintains a constant potential difference, or voltage, between two points in an electrical circuit. It is the driving force that pushes electric charge through the circuit, providing the energy necessary for the circuit to function.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Voltage sources can be classified as either ideal, with zero internal resistance, or real, with a non-zero internal resistance.
2. The EMF of a voltage source represents the maximum potential difference that can be applied across the terminals of the source.
3. In a simple series circuit, the voltage drop across a resistor is determined by the product of the current and the resistance, as described by Ohm's Law.
4. The presence of a voltage source in an RL circuit (a circuit with a resistor and inductor) affects the time-dependent behavior of the current and voltage.
5. The power delivered by a voltage source is the product of the current and the voltage, which must be equal to the power dissipated by the load.

Review Questions

• Explain how a voltage source differs from an ideal voltage source and how this impacts the behavior of a simple series circuit.
  • A real voltage source, unlike an ideal voltage source, has a non-zero internal resistance. This internal resistance causes the output voltage of the source to be less than the EMF, as described by Ohm's Law. In a simple series circuit with a resistor, the presence of the voltage source's internal resistance means that not all of the source's EMF will be available across the resistor. Instead, a portion of the EMF will be dropped across the internal resistance, reducing the voltage available to the load. This is an important consideration when analyzing the behavior of a simple series circuit with a real voltage source.
• Describe the role of a voltage source in an RL circuit and how it affects the time-dependent behavior of the current and voltage.
  • In an RL circuit, which contains a resistor and an inductor, the presence of a voltage source plays a crucial role in determining the time-dependent behavior of the current and voltage. The voltage source provides the driving force that causes the current to flow through the circuit. As the current changes over time, the inductor opposes this change, creating a time-dependent voltage drop across the inductor. The voltage source, in combination with the resistor and inductor, determines the specific transient and steady-state responses of the current and voltage in the RL circuit.
• Explain how the power delivered by a voltage source is related to the power dissipated by the load and the internal resistance of the source.
  • The power delivered by a voltage source is the product of the current and the voltage at the source's terminals. This power must be equal to the power dissipated by the load, as well as the power dissipated in the source's internal resistance. The presence of the internal resistance means that not all of the power generated by the source is available to the load; a portion of it is lost within the source itself. Understanding this relationship between the power delivered by the source and the power dissipated by the load and the internal resistance is crucial for analyzing the efficiency and performance of electrical circuits with voltage sources.

Related terms

Electromotive Force (EMF):

The voltage or potential difference generated by a voltage source, which is the energy per unit charge supplied by the source.

Internal Resistance:

The resistance within the voltage source itself, which can cause the output voltage to be less than the EMF.

Ohm's Law:

The fundamental relationship between voltage, current, and resistance in an electrical circuit, described by the equation V = IR.