The discussion revolves around the flow of electrical current and the behavior of electrons in relation to electric potential and potential energy. Participants explore the definitions of potential, the historical context of charge designation, and the implications for understanding current flow.
Participants express differing views on the implications of charge designation and the movement of charges in relation to potential. There is no consensus on how these concepts should be reconciled.
The discussion highlights potential misunderstandings regarding the definitions of electric potential and potential energy, as well as the historical context of charge assignment, which may influence participants' interpretations.
This discussion may be of interest to students and educators in physics, particularly those exploring concepts of electric charge, potential, and current flow.
Look up again the definition of potential. You will see that is defined by using a positive charge as probe. So "low" and "high" potential according to standard definition are valid for a positive charge. If we use a negative charge, the low and high will change places. But rather than doing this re-definition we say that negative charges move from low to high potential.Elsa1234 said:Electrons flow from negative to positive. But everything in nature moves from higher potential to lower potential, i.e the charges should move from positive to negative but they don't?
Quite true. Electrons 'fall down' to the positive terminal (opposite sign) and their potential energy reduces. If, originally, early electrical Science had chosen a different sign for the charges, when electrons were found. they would have been given a Positive charge and this particular problem would not have presented itself to students. OTOH, the important principle that's involved, could have passed them by without them noticing.Geofleur said:objects have to move toward lower potential energies.