Question

Will a negative charge, initially at rest, move toward higher or lower potential? Explain why.

a) Higher potential, due to repulsion.

b) Lower potential, due to attraction.

c) It will stay at rest.

d) It depends on the specific charge magnitude.

Answer 1

A negative charge, like an electron, will move toward regions of higher potential in an electric field, opposite the direction a positive charge would move.

The Correct option is; b) Lower potential, due to attraction.

Step-by-step explanation:

An electron, which has a negative charge, will move toward regions of higher potential in an electric field. This motion is due to the fact that electric potential energy is related to the charge of a particle and the electric potential of the field.

Since the electron has a negative charge, it will move in the opposite direction to a positive charge in an electric field. A positive charge moves from regions of higher potential to lower potential, and so a negative charge like an electron does the opposite – it moves from regions of lower potential to higher potential.

This is analogous to how fluids move from high to low pressure; electrons move from low to high potential.