What is the difference between EMF and Voltage?

EMF stands for the Electromotive Force and it can be defined in a few ways:

1. It's the potential across the terminal ends of a cell.

2. Or in other words, the amount of energy that is given to a charge in in the circuit as it leaves the cell. 

When we talk about EMF we usually talk about a circuit powered by a cell with some internal resistance. All cells have an internal resistance that prevent them from outputing a constant Voltage. Some of this energy is lost as heat to the surroundings when it passes through the internal resistance of the cell.

When we talk about voltage we usually talk about the potential difference across two points in a circuit.

EMF can be found using the equation E = I(R+r).

Voltage can be found using the equation V = IR.

If we compare both equations we see that EMF and V are very closely related, where EMF adds the internal resistance to the equation to make up for the energy loss in the cell due to it's internal resistance.

FG
Answered by Francisco G. Physics tutor

2465 Views

See similar Physics IB tutors

Related Physics IB answers

All answers ▸

What are elastic and inelastic collisions? After a head on elastic collision of two balls of mass m1 and m2, deduce an equation relating the final and initial velocities of both balls.


A pipe has one open and one closed end. Determine the ratio of the frequency of the first harmomic to that of the next harmonic.


Why does the temperature of a substance during a phase change stay constant, despite heat being transferred?


How can I derive the energy of an electron using the electron in a box model?


We're here to help

contact us iconContact ustelephone icon+44 (0) 203 773 6020
Facebook logoInstagram logoLinkedIn logo

MyTutor is part of the IXL family of brands:

© 2026 by IXL Learning