# Some Questions regarding the Potential Difference

I have some questions regarding the potential difference : Question (1) :

The potential difference is defined as the negative of the integral of E.dl with the lower limit being a and the upper limit being b. Does this mean that the physical meaning of the potential difference is the work done against the field ( because of the negative sign) in moving a charge from point a to b ??

Question (2) : Consider we need to find the potential difference between points A and B at radial distances RA and RB from a point postive charge q placed at the origin. This will be equal to the integral of E ( of point charge). dl from RA to RB this will be equal to q/4*pi*efslon ((1/RA)-(1/RB)). If we consider that RB>RA my textbook states that, in this case, "the work done is positive which means that the work done by an external force to move the positive test charge to the original positive charge placed at the origin. This agrees with the fact that two like charges repelling each other". This disagrees with my understanding mentioned above of the potential difference V, which is the definition of V is the work done against the field. Since the work is positive this means that the external source is moving the test positive charge in the direction of the field ( away from the original positive charge ) toward the original positive charge? Please clarify this !

In any case, if A is closer to the positive charge generating the field, then the potential at A is higher than the potential at B, and we'd say $$V_{ab}$$ is positive and $$V_{ba}$$ is negative.