Polaritet

Polaritet (polarity) denotes a property of systems that have two opposite or differently charged or oriented ends. The concept captures a directional bias, an uneven distribution of properties, or the presence of distinct poles, and it appears in physics, chemistry, magnetism and language.

In electricity, polarity designates which terminal is positive and which is negative. Correct polarity matters for power supplies, batteries, diodes and many circuits. Reversing polarity can reverse current direction or damage components and reduce efficiency.

In chemistry and molecular science, polarity describes the distribution of electrical charge within a molecule. Polar molecules have a dipole moment due to unequal sharing of electrons, while nonpolar molecules have a more even distribution. Polarity influences solubility, boiling points and intermolecular interactions.

In magnetism, polarity refers to the orientation of magnetic poles, typically designated as north and south. Magnetic polarity can be reversed by external fields or internal changes, as in dynamos and magnetic storage media.

In linguistics, polarity concerns the use of negation and affirmation in statements, such as negative polarity items and polarity-sensitive contexts.