Electromotive force
Electromotive Force
Electromotive force (EMF) (pronounced: /iːˌɛmˈɛf/), is a quantity or phenomenon in Physics and Electrical engineering that describes the energy provided by a source of electrical energy such as a battery or a generator. The term "force" in this context is not used to mean mechanical force, as with Newton's second law, but a potential, or energy per unit of charge, measured in volts.
Etymology
The term "electromotive force" comes from the early days of the study of electricity, when it was thought that electricity was a fluid that was pumped around a circuit by a force. The term "force" is now known to be a misnomer, as EMF is not a force but a potential difference, but the term has stuck.
Definition
Electromotive force is defined as the energy provided by a source of electrical energy per unit charge that passes through it. It is measured in volts (V), and is often represented by the symbol E or ε.
Related Terms
- Voltage: Voltage is the electric potential difference between two points. It is often used interchangeably with EMF, but they are not exactly the same. Voltage refers to the potential difference that can exist anywhere in a circuit, while EMF refers specifically to the potential difference provided by a source of electrical energy.
- Electric current: Electric current is the rate of flow of electric charge. It is driven by the EMF in a circuit.
- Electric circuit: An electric circuit is a path in which electrons from a voltage or current source flow.
- Electric power: Electric power is the rate, per unit time, at which electrical energy is transferred by an electric circuit.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Electromotive force
- Wikipedia's article - Electromotive force
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