Difference between emf and voltage

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salem_sajid

Joined: 28 Jun 2004
Posts: 57
Location: Pakistan

25 Sep 2004 20:51 Difference between emf and voltage

Dear members
can anyone please differentiate between emf and voltage. how do they differe n when and where we should exactly use each term

Regards

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FoxyRick

Joined: 09 Jan 2004
Posts: 597
Helped: 35

25 Sep 2004 21:40 Re: Difference between emf and voltage

An electromotive force (EMF) is the "force", measured in volts, that is produced when a current and magnetic field interact, at least one of which must be changing. Since the word force now has a very specific meaning, and an emf is not a force in this sense, the expansion of the acronym EMF is obsolete.

To me, the words voltage and volts are units of measurement, with voltage often being used incorrectly to mean potential difference. EMF is also sometimes used when what is meant is again potential difference.

I think... Embarassed

FoxyRick

djalli

Joined: 10 Nov 2001
Posts: 887
Helped: 15
Location: 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington DC 20500

26 Sep 2004 1:20 Difference between emf and voltage

EMF maybe thought as a vectorial quantity (all forces are vectors) and voltage is difference as is magnitude of this vector.

Example: What is EMF in a closed loop? We know voltage is zero. Again what consitutes EMF as vectorial field acting in a loop (closed path) would be also zero.

We have learned in Physics these are conservative forces.