Dual Interpretation of the Same Dimensional Expression of Voltage
N Ramu, R Rajaganapathi · 2025
The conventional definition of voltage in an electric circuit is based on the concept of electric potential difference between two points. While this explanation is widely accepted, it does not explicitly account for the collective behavior of electric charges in motion. In this paper, an alternative interpretation is proposed: voltage is defined as the total work done on all electric charges between two specified points, in order to move one coulomb of charge through any cross-sectional area in the electric circuit. This new perspective is developed within the same dimensional framework as the classical definition. A mathematical justification is provided, and the need for this reinterpretation is discussed. The paper critically examines whether this new definition contradicts or complements the conventional one, ultimately demonstrating that both describe the same physical quantity from different viewpoints. The broader implications of this reinterpretation for electrical circuit theory are also explored.