Explain that the energy available to electric charges moving in an electrical circuit is measured using electrical potential difference.

A battery supplies energy to a circuit. When a charge of 2.0 C passes through a resistor, 12 J of energy is transferred. What is the potential difference across the resistor?

A student investigates energy transfer in two identical light globes connected in different configurations. Configuration A: Two 6.0 V globes connected in series to a 12 V battery. Each globe operates at normal brightness. Configuration B: Two 6.0 V globes connected in parallel to a 12 V battery. Both globes burn out immediately. Explain why the globes in Configuration A operate normally while those in Configuration B fail, with reference to electrical potential difference and energy available to charge carriers.

A technician tests two different batteries by connecting each to identical resistive loads. Battery X is rated at 9.0 V and Battery Y is rated at 1.5 V. When connected, both batteries deliver the same current of 0.50 A through their respective loads. Compare the energy transferred to each coulomb of charge in the two circuits and explain how electrical potential difference is used to measure this energy.

Explain why electrical potential difference is used to measure the energy available to charges in a circuit.