Is Postive Electric Field at high potential or Negative electric field?

In summary, the conversation discusses the movement of an electron between two plates with positive and negative charges. It is explained that electric potential is potential energy per charge and that an electron going to a higher potential actually goes to lower potential energy. The conversation also touches on the movement of an electron in a positive electric field, where it is concluded that the electron moves up the potential gradient.
  • #1
khamaar
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What i mean to say is, for example we have two plates, one positive the other negative...

By convention the positive is said to be at a higher potential than the negative one..

But what if i put an electron between these two plates. The electron would obviously go towards the positive terminal.

How is this possible?...a thing going from lower potential to higher potential?? I was taught that things spontaneously go from Higher to lower!


Thanks in advance
 
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  • #2
welcome to pf!

hi khamaar! welcome to pf! :wink:
khamaar said:
How is this possible?...a thing going from lower potential to higher potential?? I was taught that things spontaneously go from Higher to lower!

no, things don't spontaneously go from higher potential to lower

they spontaneously go from higher potential energy to lower …

and electric potential is potential energy per charge …

(just like gravitational potential being potential energy per mass)

so an electron (with negative charge) going to higher potential does go to lower potential energy! :smile:
 
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  • #3
ohhhhh...thanks, i understand..but now there is one other problem.

An electron is left in a positive electric field. Does it go Up the potential gradient? or down the potential gradient?..

thnx in advance...
(PS. this is a question, which i read in some book today)
 
  • #4
khamaar said:
An electron is left in a positive electric field. Does it go Up the potential gradient? or down the potential gradient?..

well, up is to a higher electric potential, sooo … ? :smile:
 
  • #5
so an electron moves up the potential gradient in an electric field?
 
  • #6
yup! :biggrin:
 

1. Is a positive electric field always associated with high potential?

No, a positive electric field is not always associated with high potential. The electric field describes the direction and strength of the force that a positive charge would experience, while electric potential refers to the potential energy per unit charge at a specific point in space. These two concepts are related but not always directly correlated.

2. How does the direction of the electric field affect potential?

The direction of the electric field does not affect potential. Electric potential is a scalar quantity and is independent of direction. However, the direction of the electric field does affect the direction of the force that a positive charge would experience, which can impact the motion of charges in an electric field.

3. Can a negative electric field have a high potential?

Yes, a negative electric field can have a high potential. The sign of the electric field (positive or negative) refers to the direction that a positive charge would experience a force, while the magnitude of the electric field is what determines the strength of the force. Therefore, a negative electric field can still have a high potential if its magnitude is large enough.

4. What is the relationship between electric field and potential?

The relationship between electric field and potential is described by the equation E = -∇V, where E is the electric field, V is the electric potential, and ∇ is the gradient operator. This equation shows that the electric field is the negative gradient of the electric potential. In other words, the electric potential decreases in the direction of the electric field.

5. How do we determine the direction of the electric field at a point?

The direction of the electric field at a point is determined by the direction that a positive charge would experience a force. This can be determined by looking at the direction of the electric field lines, which always point in the direction that a positive test charge would move. Alternatively, the direction of the electric field can also be determined by calculating the electric field using the equation E = kQ/r², where k is the Coulomb constant, Q is the source charge, and r is the distance from the source charge to the point in question.

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