if there is a circuit that has a battery and a lightbulb:
will an electron have more electric potential energy on the positive side of the battery or negative side of the battery?
- i think its same because conservation of energy. energy gained by electron on positive side is equal to energy loss electron on negative side. am i correct?
will an electron have more electric potential on the positive side of the battery or negative side of the battery?
- think both sides have same electric potential (same reasoning as previous question). am i correct?
An electron will have more potential energy at the negative terminal. As it goes to the positive terminal that potential energy will be released to do work, increase kinetic energy or produce heat.
thanks
what about potential?
Potential is higher at the positive terminal. It is the place where a POSITIVE charge would have the highest potential energy (compared to the negative terminal)
In a circuit with a battery and a lightbulb, the electric potential energy of an electron does indeed depend on its position relative to the battery. The electric potential energy of an electron is the energy it possesses due to its position in an electric field.
When considering the positive and negative sides of the battery, it is important to understand that the battery establishes an electric field between its positive terminal and its negative terminal. In conventional current flow (from positive to negative), the positive terminal of the battery is the high potential, or high voltage, side, while the negative terminal is the low potential, or low voltage, side.
To determine the electric potential energy of an electron at different points in the circuit, you need to consider the direction of the electric field and the movement of the electron. The electric field within the circuit is from the positive terminal of the battery to the negative terminal.
1. For the first question: Will an electron have more electric potential energy on the positive side of the battery or the negative side of the battery?
At the positive side of the battery, the electron is moving against the electric field, meaning it is moving from a lower potential to a higher potential. In this case, the electron gains electric potential energy due to the work done on it by the electric field. On the negative side of the battery, the electron moves in the direction of the electric field, moving from a higher potential to a lower potential. Here, the electron loses electric potential energy as it does work against the electric field to move in the opposite direction.
Therefore, an electron will have more electric potential energy on the positive side of the battery compared to the negative side.
2. For the second question: Will an electron have more electric potential on the positive side of the battery or the negative side of the battery?
Electric potential refers to the electric potential energy per unit charge. In a circuit with a battery, the electric potential is higher at the positive side of the battery compared to the negative side. The electric potential difference, commonly known as the voltage, between the positive and negative terminals of the battery drives the flow of electric charges (such as electrons) through the circuit.
So, an electron will have a higher electric potential on the positive side of the battery compared to the negative side.
It's important to note that the discussion above assumes conventional current flow from the positive terminal to the negative terminal. In reality, electrons move in the opposite direction (from negative to positive). However, the concepts of electric potential energy and electric potential remain the same.