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Lab #1: Electric Fields

S. Nye, P. Scruggs, B. Kelly Table #2
Introduction
An electric field is a region of space in which electric charges experience an electric
force. The electric field is analogous to the gravitational field, and in much the same way that a
massive object creates a disturbance in (or warping of, according to General Relativity) space,
electric charges exert forces on each other by creating disturbances in the electric field that
surrounds them. The electrostatic force generated by charges in an electric field (E) is defined
by the following equation:
= q
o
= =

q

Where F denotes the total force exerted by the field, q the charge that exerts the force, and E the
value of the electric field (in N/C or Volts/m).
The electrostatic potential (or electric potential) is the potential energy divided by a
charge associated with an electric field, and is given by the following equation:
=

q

For a uniform electric field, the potential, = q
0
, (where d denotes distance). Thus, the
electric potential for a uniform electric field is given by:
= -
Just as in a gravitational field, where gravitational potential energy ( = ) imparts the
requirement of work to be applied to a massive object to move it from one height, h, to another
( = A = (
2
-
1
)), in an electric field work must also be done to move a charge in that
field, as described by the following equation:
= A = q(
2
-
1
) = -q
1
+ q
2

Using equation (3) and equation (1), we get:
-q
1
+ q
2
= q
2
- q
1
= q(
2
-
1
) = qA
Therefore:
A = A

= || =
A
A

When the potential difference, V, between two points is zero, the points lie on the same
equipotential surface (or lines if the field is being considered in two dimensions). Equipotential
Eq. 1
Eq. 2
Eq. 3
Eq. 4
Eq. 5
Eq. 6
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surfaces run perpendicular to electric field lines (see figure 1), and thus, in conjunction with
equation (6), can be used to
determine the magnitude and
direction of an electric field. In this
experiment, the equipotential lines
created by two charges on a flat
surface will be detected and mapped
using conductive paper (see figure 2),
a power supply, and a computer
voltage meter. By using the data
gathered in this experiment (voltage,
direction, and distance between
equipotential lines), and applying
equation (6), we will determine the
magnitude and direction of the electric
field generated by the power supply connected to the conductive paper.
Experiment Mapping the Electric Fields
This experiment will illustrate the equipotential lines between various electric field
configurations, and use the data collected to create maps of electric fields. The apparatus used in
this experiment include conductive paper, a power supply, a computerized voltage probe and a
voltage meter. The electric potential will be measured at specific points between the electrodes
and then the points will be connected to illustrate where the equipotential lines are present.
Different variations of electric dipoles are drawn onto the paper with conductive ink to produce
the different electric field shapes (see
figure 3).
The first configuration of
conductive paper is set up and positive
and negative wires from the power supply
are connected to their respective ends of
an electric dipole. These wires carry a
charge that creates the potential
difference needed when held to the
conductive ink drawn on the conductive
paper to create and electric field.
The power supply is set to output
6.00 0.05V
1
, and two wires are used to
carry charge to the conductive paper. The
free red probe will then be used to measure the potential at various points on the conductive
paper. The probe is then used to find points with the same potential. These points are marked and
Figure 1 - Equipotential lines (dotted lines) run around the charge,
and field lines (solid lines originating at the charges) run
perpendicular to the equipotential lines.

Figure 2 - The Field Analysis. A voltage probe (a) is connected to a
power supply (b) and to a sheet of conductive paper (c).
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used to estimate the electric field lines. This process is repeated for each different variation of
conductive ink drawn on the resistive paper (see figure 3).



Analysis

By measuring the location and strength of the equipotential lines of the charges in this
experiment, we are able to indirectly calculate the location, direction, and strength of the electric
field. In the three data tables below, the strength (Voltage Reading) and distance from origin
(d) of the voltage probe readings is displayed. From this data, we were able to calculate the
magnitude of the electric field present at the recorded locations (|E|).

1.) Electric field data; Two Point Charges (see figure 3.a):
Voltage Reading V (volts) d (meters) |E|=V/d
5.30 0.05 V

0.70 0.05 0.01 70 0.06 V/m
4.50 0.05 V
0.70 0.05 0.01 70 0.06 V/m
3.80 0.05 V
0.60 0.05 0.01 60 0.06 V/m
3.20 0.05 V
0.40 0.05 0.01 40 0.06 V/m
2.80 0.05 V
0.70 0.05 0.01 70 0.06 V/m
2.10 0.05 V
0.90 0.05 0.01 90 0.06 V/m
1.20 0.05 V

Table 1



Figure 3 - Different configurations of the conductive ink/paper. (a) Two point charges; (b) A
point charge and a line (representing a plate in two dimensions); and (c) Two lines
(representing parallel plates in two dimensions).
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2.) Electric field data; One Point Charge and One Plate (see figure 3.b):
Voltage Reading V (volts) d (meters) |E|=V/d
5.00 0.05 V

0.60 0.05 0.01 60 0.06 V/m
4.40 0.05 V
0.70 0.05 0.01 70 0.06 V/m
3.70 0.05 V
0.50 0.05 0.01 50 0.06 V/m
3.20 0.05 V
0.60 0.05 0.01 60 0.06 V/m
2.80 0.05 V
0.40 0.05 0.01 40 0.06 V/m
2.40 0.05 V
0.80 0.05 0.01 80 0.06 V/m
1.60 0.05 V

Table 2
3.) Electric field data; Parallel Plate Capacitor (see figure 3.c):
Voltage Reading V (volts) d (meters) |E|=V/d
5.00 0.05 V

1.00 0.05 0.01 100 0.06 V/m
4.00 0.05 V
0.65 0.05 0.01 65 0.06 V/m
3.35 0.05 V
0.60 0.05 0.01 60 0.06 V/m
2.70 0.05 V
0.40 0.05 0.01 40 0.06 V/m
2.10 0.05 V
0.70 0.05 0.01 70 0.06 V/m
1.40 0.05 V
0.90 0.05 0.01 90 0.06 V/m
0.80 0.05 V

Table 3
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Using the data in the tables above we calculated the strength of the electric fields for the
various configurations illustrated in figure (3). This calculation of the electric field is accurate to
within 0.06 V/m (see calculation details.)
In addition to calculating the magnitude of the electric field, we were also able to
determine its location and orientation on the plane. (see figures 4 6)


Figure 4 Two Point Charges


Figure 5 Parallel Plates

Figure 6 - Plate and Point Charge
Figure 4 Two Point Charges: The
equipotential lines, represented by
dotted lines, circle around the two
point charges. The electric field lines
(solid lines) always run perpendicular
to the equipotential lines. Note that
all field lines meet at the charges at a
90 degree angle from the surface of
the charge. At the midpoint between
the two charges, the equipotential
line is vertical.
Figure 5: Parallel Plate Capacitor: In this
diagram, the equipotential lines, are
represented again by the dotted lines,
and in this illustration run in the vertical
direction. Perpendicular to the
equipotential lines is are the field lines.
Represented by the horizontal solid
lines, the direction of the field is marked
with arrows on the lines.
Figure 6: Point Charge and Plate: In this
diagram, the equipotential lines, are
represented again by the dotted lines,
and in this illustration run in the vertical
direction. Perpendicular to the
equipotential lines is are the field lines.
Represented by the horizontal solid
lines, the direction of the field is marked
with arrows on the lines.
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Answers to Questions

1) The field is perpendicular to the surface of the conductor. This is because the equipotent
lines have the same shape as the surface of the conductor.
2) Along the line of symmetry the electric field is not constant in all cases. In the case of the
two parallel plates it is constant because the distance between the equipotent lines is the same all
the way along the surface. However, in the other two cases the distance from the previous
equipotent line increases as you go away from the shortest line connecting the two points or
connecting the point and the plate. This causes the electric field to be weaker the farther you go
away from the aforementioned line. If you drop a charge on this line it will move, following the
electric field lines.
3) In order to move a one coulomb charge 2 cm along an equipotent line, one would not
have to spend any energy. This is because the path of movement is perpendicular to the force of
the field.
4) If a test charge is placed in the middle of two parallel plates it cannot follow a non-
straight path. This is because the equipotent lines are also parallel between the plates, which
causes the electric field lines to be straight.

Conclusion

By measuring the location and strength of the electric potential at various points on a
charged conductive sheet of paper, we were able to map the location and direction of the
equipotential lines. By using this data collected about the magnitude of the electric potential and
the orientation of the equipotential lines, we successfully calculated the magnitude and direction
of the electric field to within 0.06 V/m, albeit indirectly.
Because of the limitations of the instrumentation used in this experiment, we were unable
to obtain an accuracy greater than 0.06 V/m. Inherent in all voltage meters is the potential for
error in the reading, however this error diminishes with greater quality instrumentation. Error in
voltage meters (or voltmeters) can be increased by compensating for frequency error as well as
adjustment of the resistance in the circuitry.
1




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Appendix A - Calculation Details
% Error in Calculations: e || =
_

.5
7

2
+
.5
.1

2
= . 55 .




Appendix B Literature Cited
1
- Frequency errors in diode-compensated voltmeters: http://www.springerlink.com/content/v5132g7n0011v155/
Journal Measurement Techniques
Publisher Springer New York
ISSN 0543-1972 (Print) 1573-8906 (Online)
Issue Volume 8, Number 8 / August, 1965
Category High and Ultrahigh Frequency Measurements
DOI 10.1007/BF00985637
Pages 745-747
SpringerLink Date Monday, January 17, 2005