If a negative charge is initially at rest in an electric field, will it move toward a region of higher potential or lower potential? What about a positive charge? How does the potential energy of the charge change in each instance?

Ayaana Buck

Ayaana Buck

Answered question

2020-10-27

If a negative charge is initially at rest in an electric field, will it move toward a region of higher potential or lower potential? What about a positive charge? How does the potential energy of the charge change in each instance?

Answer & Explanation

Velsenw

Velsenw

Skilled2020-10-28Added 91 answers

A negative charge at rest in an electric field will move toward the region of higher potential, so that its potential energy diminishes and converts into the kinetic energy of motion. The total energy, E = KE + PE, should remain constant. Note that the potential energy of a negative charge (PE = qV, q < 0) has the opposite sign from the potential, and thus an increase of the potential corresponds to a decrease of the potential energy. The situation for a positive charge is opposite, it will move toward the region of lower potential.

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