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

AI Thread Summary
In the discussion, the concept of electric potential is clarified, emphasizing that while positive charges are at higher potential, electrons, being negatively charged, move towards higher potential but experience a decrease in potential energy. The confusion arises from the idea that objects move from higher to lower potential; however, it's explained that electrons move from lower to higher potential energy. When placed in a positive electric field, electrons move up the potential gradient, which is counterintuitive but consistent with their charge. This understanding resolves the initial question about the behavior of electrons in an electric field. Overall, the discussion highlights the relationship between electric potential and potential energy in the context of charged particles.
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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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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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)
 
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:
 
so an electron moves up the potential gradient in an electric field?
 
yup! :biggrin:
 

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