Voltage polarity can be determined by observing the direction of what?

Voltage polarity can be determined by observing the direction of what?

• A. Magnitude
• B. Direction
• C. Frequency
• D. Phase

Answer: (B)

Voltage polarity is about which terminal is positive, and you determine it by the direction of current flow with respect to a defined reference. Under the usual convention, if current enters the terminal labeled positive, the polarity is positive; if the current would enter the other terminal, the polarity would be reversed. Magnitude, frequency, and phase describe how large the voltage is, how often it repeats, and the relative timing between signals, but they do not establish which end is positive. So the direction of current flow sets the polarity.

Voltage polarity is about which terminal is positive, and you determine it by the direction of current flow with respect to a defined reference. Under the usual convention, if current enters the terminal labeled positive, the polarity is positive; if the current would enter the other terminal, the polarity would be reversed. Magnitude, frequency, and phase describe how large the voltage is, how often it repeats, and the relative timing between signals, but they do not establish which end is positive. So the direction of current flow sets the polarity.