Negative facts for kids

The word negative can mean a few different things. It often describes something that is the opposite of positive, or something that is not good. Let's explore some of the ways we use this word!

Negative Numbers

When you think about numbers, you usually start from zero and count up: 1, 2, 3, and so on. These are called positive numbers. But numbers can also go below zero! These are called negative numbers.

Imagine a thermometer. If the temperature is 5 degrees Celsius, that's a positive number. If it drops below zero, like to -3 degrees Celsius, that's a negative number. Negative numbers are used for things like temperatures below freezing, debts (money you owe), or depths below sea level. For example, if you have 5 apples and someone takes 8, you'd have -3 apples, meaning you owe 3 apples.

Negative in Language

Sometimes, "negative" is used to mean "no" or "not." For example, if someone asks, "Are you coming?" and you say "Negative," it means "No, I am not coming."

Words like "not," "never," and "nowhere" are called negative words because they show the absence of something or a refusal. In two-way radio communication, people often say "negative" instead of "no" to make sure their message is very clear and understood.

Negative in Photography

Before digital cameras, people used film cameras. When you took a picture with a film camera, the light would hit the film and create a special image called a film negative.

A film negative looks like the opposite of the actual picture. Imagine a photo of a sunny day. On the negative, the bright sky would look dark, and dark shadows would look light. All the colors would also be reversed! For example, red might look green, and orange might look blue. This negative image was then used to make a positive print, which is the normal photo you see.

Negative Electric Charge

In science, especially when studying electricity, you'll hear about electric charge. Everything around us is made of tiny particles called atoms. These atoms have even smaller parts, including electrons, which carry a negative charge.

Think of it like magnets. Magnets have a north pole and a south pole. Opposite poles attract each other. In the same way, negative charges are attracted to positive charges. This attraction and repulsion of charges is what creates electricity and makes many things work, from your phone to lightning!

Negative Feedback

Negative feedback is a super important idea in science and engineering. It's about how systems keep themselves stable and balanced. Imagine you're riding a bicycle. If you start to lean too much to the left, your brain tells your body to steer a little to the right to correct it. This correction brings you back to balance. That's negative feedback!

In your body, negative feedback helps keep things like your body temperature, blood sugar, and blood pressure just right. For example, if you get too hot, your body sweats to cool you down. This process of keeping things stable is called homeostasis. It's like your body's own built-in balancing system!

See also

In Spanish: Negativo para niños