noun
potential
Voltage at a point relative to a reference point.
The potential at this point is five volts relative to ground.
Etymology
Potential concerns capacity or power to produce an effect. Electric potential measures the electrical potential energy available per unit charge relative to a chosen reference.
More examples
- We use ground as the reference for measuring electric potential.
- Both terminals have the same potential, so no current flows between them.
- The diagram shows the potentials at several points in the circuit.
Forms
potential · potentials
Similar words
- voltage
- Usually expresses the potential difference between two points.