electromotive force

American  

noun

Electricity.

1. the energy available for conversion from nonelectric to electric form, or vice versa, per unit of charge passing through the source of the energy; the potential difference between the terminals of a source of electrical energy: expressed in volts. emf, EMF, E.M.F., e.m.f.

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electromotive force British  

noun

1. physics

   1. a source of energy that can cause a current to flow in an electrical circuit or device

   2.  E.  Abbreviation: emf.   EMF.  the rate at which energy is drawn from this source when unit current flows through the circuit or device, measured in volts Compare potential difference

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electromotive force Scientific  

1. Electric potential or voltage. Electromotive force is not really a force, but a measure of how much work would be done by moving an electric charge.

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Etymology

Origin of electromotive force

First recorded in 1825–35

Example Sentences

The electromotive force becomes the right-hand side of Equation 4.24.

From Textbooks • Mar. 30, 2016

Kirchhoff’s Loop Rule states that the sum of the voltage drops across resistors, inductors, and capacitors is equal to the total electromotive force in a closed circuit.

From Textbooks • Mar. 30, 2016

Applying Kirchhoff’s Loop Rule to this circuit, we let E denote the electromotive force supplied by the voltage generator.

From Textbooks • Mar. 30, 2016

We thus use the name electromotive force, abbreviated emf.

From Textbooks • Aug. 12, 2015

He went on to show that the total heat produced in any voltaic circuit was proportional to the electromotive force E of the battery and to the number of equivalents electrolysed in it.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 13, Slice 2 "Hearing" to "Helmond" by Various