[Phys-l] anode and cathode

[John Denker <jsd@av8n.com>]

On 12/03/2006 02:27 PM, R. McDermott wrote:

> Thus the chemist's cathode is the physicist's anode.

Baloney.

The definition of anode and cathode is consistent across all
of chemistry and physics.

   http://www.av8n.com/physics/anode-cathode.htm

which says:

 ** The anode of a device is the terminal where current flows in.
 ** The cathode of a device is the terminal where current flows out.

AFAIK there is only one exception, which is quite obscure, has
nothing to do with physics or chemistry, and is best understood
as an error:
  http://www.av8n.com/physics/anode-cathode.htm#i-zener

> > Consider a 12 V car battery; it’s two electrodes are always labeled as + and -. On that basis a
> > physicist would say that these two electrodes are anodes and cathodes, respectively.

That's not the rule.

That's wrong roughly half the time.