Why does negative charge decrease potential?

This is equivalent to the force between the two charges becoming less attractive and more repulsive. Increasing the -ve charge makes the potential energy increase in magnitude (the force becomes stronger) but decrease in sign (the force becomes more attractive).

How does the electric potential change as we move towards a negative charge?

Q28 Does the electric potential increase or decrease as we move toward a negative charge? Potential energy of a positive test charge decreases as it approaches a negative charge because these are attracted to one another, hence the electric potential decreases.

Why electric potential in the field of a negative charge is lower at near points and higher at distant points?

The negative value for voltage means a positive charge would be attracted from a larger distance, since the potential is lower (more negative) than at larger distances. Conversely, a negative charge would be repelled, as expected.

Why can negative charges move?

Negative charges can move freely from one object to another. When an object gains electrons, it has a surplus of electrons and is said to have a negative charge. When an object loses electrons, it has a shortage of electrons, it has a shortage of electrons and is said to have a positive charge.

Do electric field point towards higher potential or lower potential?

Notice: The electric field lines are perpendicular to the equipotential surfaces. Thus, electric field lines point in the direction of decreasing potential i e direction of decreasing potential, i.e. they point from high potential to low potential.

What happens to the electric potential energy of a negative charge after it is released from rest in an electric field?

from rest in the uniform electric field? The potential energy decreases, converted to kinetic energy.

What happens to the potential energy when the charge is negative?

As it gets closer, it loses potential energy (which becomes kinetic energy). This means that the closer you get to the negative charge, the less potential energy it has. Since $q_1$ is negative, the potential energy decreases (becomes more negative) as r decreases.

Why do electric fields point in the direction of decreasing potential energy?

Since $q_1$ is negative, the potential energy decreases (becomes more negative) as r decreases. So in conclusion, just think of an electric field, or any field, as pointing in the direction of decreasing potential energy. This is simply the construction of fields.

What does the electric field of a negative point charge point towards?

The electric field of a negative point charge points towards the point charge as a result of the definition of the electric field of a point charge.

Why is the electric field a negative gradient?

This means that the electric field is the negative gradient of the electric field. The reason it is constructed this way is because any object in a potential energy field will accelerate towards a lower potential, so using the above equation, the field lines point in the direction of the force.