Positive or Negative? A Question about Polarity

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The discussion centers on identifying positive polarity in an image that includes a compass and possibly a magnet or battery. Participants clarify that a compass cannot determine battery polarity, as it aligns with magnetic fields rather than electrical polarity. There is confusion about the image's contents, with suggestions that the upper part may be a protective lid rather than a battery. The original question is seen as unclear, making it challenging to provide a definitive answer. Overall, understanding polarity requires more than just a compass, and a voltmeter is recommended for accurate measurement.
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Referring to following image,

Does anyone have any suggestions on which side is positive polarity?

Thanks in advance for any suggestions :>

Polarity_zpsb705bcfd.jpg
 
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could you explain what the picture consists of?
 
The bottom of the magnet, the side the compass is pointing to, is actually a south pole. A compass points towards the North pole of the Earth not because it is magnetically north, but because it is magnetically a south pole and is in the North direction.
 
Polarity is the most confusing concept in my understanding.

Thanks you very much for suggestions :>
 
space0 said:
Referring to following image,

Does anyone have any suggestions on which side is positive polarity?

Thanks in advance for any suggestions :>

Polarity_zpsb705bcfd.jpg

Is that a battery in the upper part of the image? is that a magnetic compass in the lower part? If the answers are both "yes", then you cannot determine polarity of the battery using a compass.

A compass moves its needle into alignment with a magnetic field (the earth's, usually).

The polarity of a battery cannot measured using a magnetic compass. You could find the polarity of the battery using a voltmeter, for one example.
 
I think that is a magnet, not a battery.
 
ModusPwnd said:
I think that is a magnet, not a battery.

I think you are right

tho when you look closely at the top thing, I'm wondering if its a flip down lid that covers/protects the compass face ? see the little lugs at 180 Deg spacing

but the original question is so screwball, its really difficult to figure out what the Op really wants to know

Dave
 
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