Hi,I'm doing Edexcel IAL Physics AS.
Below is a description of what I understood of how potential difference is created across a circuit:
So,a battery contains imbalances of charges(electrons)on its terminals. The negative terminal(anode) has a surplus of electrons,as the anions lose electrons to become neutral,and the positive terminal(cathode) loses electrons,as the cations gains electrons to become neutral.This creates a region of high potential in the anode and a region of low potential in the cathode.So,if we add a wire now,the electrons would move from high potential to low potential.Now,we add a wire.Electrons now move from high potential to low potential.As the electrons now come back to the low potential(positive terminal of the battery),it loses energy.So,the battery now supplies energy to the electrons(emf) to create a potential difference again.The energy dissipated when electrons move through components(such as a light bulb),or obstalces(resistors),we call it the voltage.
Is my explanation correct?If I'm wrong somewhere,please do correct me!