- #1
Rib5
- 59
- 0
Hey guys, I need some help clearing up voltage signs, its always confusing me and I have my final this Friday.
First off I'm not talking about voltage in a circuit, but rather if there is an electric field caused by a charge distribution.
First off, I understand potential energy for gravity. ANYTHING with a higher height is considered to have a higher potential energy. But with voltage you can have + and - charges. So my confusion is if you have an electric field caused by two oppositely charged plates---------------->
(+) ------------> (-)
---------------->
1) Which side has higher potential energy? The + or the - side.
2) So say the potential is 500V, and the book says, now assume the V is -500, how is it possible to have a different potential without switching the charges around?I don't know how to really put this in words but if you can figure out what I am confused about then I would appreciate some explanation.
First off I'm not talking about voltage in a circuit, but rather if there is an electric field caused by a charge distribution.
First off, I understand potential energy for gravity. ANYTHING with a higher height is considered to have a higher potential energy. But with voltage you can have + and - charges. So my confusion is if you have an electric field caused by two oppositely charged plates---------------->
(+) ------------> (-)
---------------->
1) Which side has higher potential energy? The + or the - side.
2) So say the potential is 500V, and the book says, now assume the V is -500, how is it possible to have a different potential without switching the charges around?I don't know how to really put this in words but if you can figure out what I am confused about then I would appreciate some explanation.