Electricity Confusion: True or False?

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SUMMARY

The discussion clarifies the behavior of charged particles in an electric field, specifically that positive charges move with the flow of the electric field while negative charges move against it. It establishes that allowing a charge to move freely results in a loss of potential energy, whereas forcing it against the field direction results in a gain of potential energy. The equations Delta PE = -qE(Delta X), Delta V = (Delta PE)/q, and V = -E(Delta X) are fundamental to understanding these concepts. Additionally, it emphasizes that while protons gain kinetic energy when moving with the flow, the direction of motion may not always align with the field lines due to inertia.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of electric fields and potential energy
  • Familiarity with the equations Delta PE = -qE(Delta X) and Delta V = (Delta PE)/q
  • Knowledge of the behavior of protons and electrons in electric fields
  • Basic principles of kinetic energy and inertia
NEXT STEPS
  • Study the implications of Delta PE = -qE(Delta X) in various electric field scenarios
  • Explore the relationship between electric potential and kinetic energy in charged particles
  • Investigate the concept of inertia in the context of charged particle motion
  • Learn about the applications of electric fields in practical scenarios, such as capacitors and circuit design
USEFUL FOR

Students and professionals in physics, electrical engineering, and anyone interested in understanding the dynamics of charged particles in electric fields.

MrMumbleX
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PLEASE help me by telling me if the following is true (below, when I say going with the flow I mean following the direction of electric field, and when I saw going against flow I mean going in opposite direction of electric field)

Positive charges go with the flow
Negative charges go against the flow
Letting something do what it want to do is loss of energy (I.E., letting gas expand; letting a positive charge go in direction of field lines)
Making it do what it doesn’t want to do is gain of energy (I.E., compressing gas; forcing a positive charge go in direction opposite field lines)
Going with flow is loss of V
Going against flow is gain of V
ALL charged particles go from high PE to low PE
Positive charges go from high electric potential to low electric potential
Negative charges go from low electric potential to high electric potential

This is all based on the equations Delta PE = -qE(Delta X), Delta V = (Delta PE)/q, and V = -E(Delta X), V is voltage (potential difference), q is charge, E is electric field in the x-axis, and X is the position in the x-axis.
 
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MrMumbleX said:
PLEASE help me by telling mel me if the following is true (below, when I say going with the flow I mean following the field lines direction, and when I saw going against flow I mean going in opposite direction of field lines)

Protons go with the flow
Electrons go against the flow
Letting it do what it wants is loss of energy
Letting it do what it doesn’t want is gain of energy
Going with flow is loss of V
Going against flow is gain of V

This is all based on the equations Delta PE = -qE(Delta X), Delta V = (Delta PE)/q, and V = -E(Delta X), V is voltage (potential difference), q is charge, E is electric field in the x-axis, and X is the position in the x-axis.

That will basically be true if you replace energy by potential energy (e.g. "Letting it do what it wants is loss of potential energy"), but of course total energy is conserved and a proton "going with the flow" will gain kinetic energy.

Another thing is that the direction of motion will be along the field lines only if the particle starts from rest and you look just an instant later. A particle has inertia, so its acceleration will go in the direction of the field or directly opposite, but its velocity does not need to.
 
Yeah I meant potential energy
 

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