Nt1310 Unit 1 The Electric Field Lab
Lab #1
Electric Field Plotting
Wilmer Suarez – 109592501
Eric Correia - 110698980
Lab section 01
TA: Sonali Gera
Date performed: 09/12/2016
Date submitted: 09/14/2016
Introduction
The aim of this experiment was to improve our understanding of the model of an Electric Field and Electric Potential. This was done by examining the locations between multiple electrodes connected to a power source of DC electricity. Finding the lines of equal potential difference for two different 2-dimesioanl charge distributions. An equipotential line is a line that has a potential difference equal to zero. Using voltage probes, the equipotential lines found were sketched along with the lines that represent the electric field between the electrodes. …show more content…
The electrodes used to calculate the electric fields for both, the parallel plate and the electric dipole, were equipotential because the difference in electric potential was equal to zero between them. As can be seen in the diagrams attached, the equipotential lines are shown to encircle the voltage source while the electric field moves away from it. This is due to the pull of the negative charges to the positive …show more content…
What does the density of the electric field lines imply about the electric field strength?
The areas on a point charge where the density is much greater is the area nearest to it. This means that the electric field strength is greater in that area. As the distance between the electric field and the point charge increases, the strength of it decreases.
How are the electric field lines oriented relative to the equipotential lines? Why?
The electric field lines are always perpendicular to the equipotential lines. This is because along each equipotential line there is no change in potential energy. The charge moving along the equipotential line means no work is done on the charge. This can only happen if the charge is perpendicular to the force given by the electric field.
For the parallel plate configuration, what happens to the electric field lines and equipotential lines at the edges of the source charge distribution?
They begin to curve around the edges slightly.
For the electric dipole configuration, are any of the equipotential lines straight? Why or why
Electric Field Plotting
Wilmer Suarez – 109592501
Eric Correia - 110698980
Lab section 01
TA: Sonali Gera
Date performed: 09/12/2016
Date submitted: 09/14/2016
Introduction
The aim of this experiment was to improve our understanding of the model of an Electric Field and Electric Potential. This was done by examining the locations between multiple electrodes connected to a power source of DC electricity. Finding the lines of equal potential difference for two different 2-dimesioanl charge distributions. An equipotential line is a line that has a potential difference equal to zero. Using voltage probes, the equipotential lines found were sketched along with the lines that represent the electric field between the electrodes. …show more content…
The electrodes used to calculate the electric fields for both, the parallel plate and the electric dipole, were equipotential because the difference in electric potential was equal to zero between them. As can be seen in the diagrams attached, the equipotential lines are shown to encircle the voltage source while the electric field moves away from it. This is due to the pull of the negative charges to the positive …show more content…
What does the density of the electric field lines imply about the electric field strength?
The areas on a point charge where the density is much greater is the area nearest to it. This means that the electric field strength is greater in that area. As the distance between the electric field and the point charge increases, the strength of it decreases.
How are the electric field lines oriented relative to the equipotential lines? Why?
The electric field lines are always perpendicular to the equipotential lines. This is because along each equipotential line there is no change in potential energy. The charge moving along the equipotential line means no work is done on the charge. This can only happen if the charge is perpendicular to the force given by the electric field.
For the parallel plate configuration, what happens to the electric field lines and equipotential lines at the edges of the source charge distribution?
They begin to curve around the edges slightly.
For the electric dipole configuration, are any of the equipotential lines straight? Why or why