When current enters the negative terminal of a meter, what is displayed?

When current enters the negative terminal of a meter, a negative sign is displayed because of the way current and voltage polarity is conventionally defined in electrical measurements. The meter is designed to interpret the direction of the current flow relative to its terminals. If the current flows into the terminal designated as negative, it indicates that the potential at that terminal is higher than the terminal designated as positive, which typically leads the meter to show a negative reading.

This display provides valuable information about the direction of current flow, particularly in applications such as cathodic protection and electrochemistry, where understanding the polarity is crucial for assessing system performance. The appearance of a negative sign directly correlates with the flow of current into the negative terminal, thus making it essential for accurately interpreting measurements in these contexts.