Voltage Drop
Definition
Voltage drop refers to the decrease in electrical potential energy across a component or part of a circuit due to its resistance or impedance.
Analogy
Think of voltage drop as water flowing down a slide at an amusement park. As it goes down, it loses some energy due to friction with the slide surface. Similarly, as electric current passes through a resistor, it loses some voltage due to resistance.
Related terms
Ohm's Law: Ohm's Law states that voltage (V) is equal to the product of current (I) and resistance (R), V = I * R.
Kirchhoff's Voltage Law (KVL): KVL states that in any closed loop within an electrical circuit, the sum of all voltages must be zero.
Power Dissipation: Power dissipation refers to the conversion of electrical energy into heat energy within resistive components due to voltage drops across them.
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