What would happen if an electron moves through a potential difference of 1 volt?

When an electron moves through a potential difference of 1 volt, it gains energy due to the work done on it by the electric field associated with that potential difference. The relationship between the electric potential difference (voltage) and the energy gained by a charge is described by the equation:

[ \text{Energy (Joules)} = \text{Charge (Coulombs)} \times \text{Potential Difference (Volts)} ]

In the case of an electron, it has a charge of approximately (-1.6 \times 10^{-19}) coulombs. Therefore, when this electron moves through a potential difference of 1 volt, it gains energy equal to:

[ \text{Energy} = -1.6 \times 10^{-19} , \text{C} \times 1 , \text{V} = -1.6 \times 10^{-19} , \text{J} ]

The negative sign indicates the direction of the electron's charge, but in the context of energy gained, we typically consider the magnitude. Thus, it can be interpreted that the electron gains energy, and in practical terms, since 1 volt corresponds to a gain of energy