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Very interesting!

Confused by the text about the alkaline scan (the first one). The +ve side is called the anode isn’t it, not the cathode? And electrons originate at the cathode not the anode. Or is the usual terminology inverted because it’s a battery or this particular type of battery? I don’t know much about batteries; chemistry never a strong suit.



Here's how I was taught to remember it: The cathode is purr-sitive.


As I understand it, the cathode is where electrons "leave", the anode is where they "enter". In case of a battery, electrons leave the minus side. But for a device being powered, electrons enter the minus side.


I always remember it by thinking about a cathode ray tube - on that, the flying electrons are called "cathode rays", i.e. the cathode shoots out the electrons that came in from the external connection. The power supply pushes electrons into the "cathode" terminal on the device. That is, "positive current" flows out of the cathode (in the opposite direction to the electrons).




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