Which Charge is Negative in an Electric Field Diagram?

[damu123]

Homework Statement

We are given a picture like the one I attached, in the question we are told that ATLEAST 2 are positive which one (if any) is negative
a) Only A
b) Only B
c) Only C
d) None of them

Homework Equations

None really all you need to know is that when the lines are pointing away from a charge its positive and if its going in that means its positive (but it really doesn't make much sense in this picture to me)

The Attempt at a Solution

I said that none of them are negative because A is def. not negative and B and C are the same so I assumed that they are all positive although it doesn't really make sense to me how B and C can be negative if arrows are going towards them (unless its like a vector diagram and we can move it from going into going out the other side of it which kindof makes sense but hard to explain)

 

[supratim1]

i think only A is positive, and it doesn't go with atleast 2 positive.

 

[tiny-tim]

welcome to pf!

hi damu123! welcome to pf!

… when the lines are pointing away from a charge its positive and if its going in that means its positive (but it really doesn't make much sense in this picture to me)

no …

the lines going inward means the two charges are attracting each other,

the lines going outward means the two charges are repelling each other …

sooo … ? ​

 

[damu123]

http://library.thinkquest.org/10796/ch12/ch12.htm
On section 2 it says what I said

I probably explained it incorrectly

 

[rwisz]

I would like to clarify that the concept of "positive" and "negative" in electric fields is not the same as in everyday language. In this context, positive and negative refer to the direction of the electric field lines, not the charge itself.

Based on the given information, it is not possible to determine which of the charges is negative. The picture only shows the direction of the electric field lines and does not provide any information about the magnitude or type of charge. Therefore, it is not accurate to say that any of the charges are definitively positive or negative.

It is also important to note that electric fields can exist in both positive and negative directions simultaneously, depending on the location and arrangement of charges. Therefore, it is possible that all three charges in the picture could be both positive and negative at different points in the electric field.

In summary, without more information, it is not possible to determine which of the charges is negative. It is important to clarify that the direction of electric field lines does not necessarily indicate the sign of the charge.