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electric potential

 
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Dec11-12, 05:58 AM   #1
 

electric potential


"A positive point charge, when subjected to electric force only, tends to move from a region of higher potential towards a region of lower potential while a negative charge moves in the opposite way."
I don't understand this statement. Can someone explain it to me?
 
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Dec11-12, 06:27 AM   #2
K^2
 
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Picture potential as a hill. Put a marble somewhere. It rolls downhill. That's basically how this tells you the positive charge will behave. Negative charge will move in the opposite direction.
 
Dec11-12, 08:41 AM   #3
 
but why would negative charge move in the opposite direction??
 
Dec11-12, 09:15 AM   #4
 
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electric potential


For a given electric field (and potential), the electric force is in opposite directions on positive and negative charges.
 
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