Lecture 5, ACT 1

• A single charge ( Q = -1mC) is fixed at the origin. Define point A at x = + 5m and point B at x = +2m.

  • What is the sign of the potential difference between A and B? (VAB º VB - VA )

• The simplest way to get the sign of the potential difference is to imagine placing a positive charge at point A and determining whether positive or negative work would be done in moving the charge to point B.
  • A positive charge at A would be attracted to the -1mC charge; therefore NEGATIVE work would be done to move the charge from A to B.

• You can also determine the sign directly from the definition:

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