Polarity (physics)

This article is about the concept in physics. For other uses, see Polarity.

In physics, polarity is an attribute with two possible values. Polarity is a basic feature of the universe.

• An electric charge can have either positive or negative polarity.
• A voltage or potential difference between two points of an electric circuit has a polarity, describing which of the two points has the higher electric potential.
• A magnet has a polarity, in that it has two poles described as "north" and "south" pole.
• More generally, the polarity of an electric or magnetic field can be viewed as the sign of the vectors describing the field.
• The spin of an entity in quantum mechanics can have a polarity – parallel or anti-parallel to a given direction.

See also

• Polarization (disambiguation)
• Chemical polarity