Physics Online Electric Dipole

Many molecules can be treated as electric dipoles for the purpose of calculating their electric fields. We can calculate the electric field, E, at a distance r from the center of the dipole at a point on its axis. The dipole has charge separation d and charges +q and q. Using the principle of superposition, we find the following electric field along the axis connecting the two charges: E = kq/(r d/2)2 kq/(r + d/2)2 E = kq[(r d/2)-2 (r + d/2)-2] E = kq/r2[(1 d/(2r))-2 (1 + d/(2r))-2] If we assume that r >> d, then we can use the first two terms of the binomial expansion as follows: (1 d/(2r))-2 = 1 + d/r (1 + d/(2r))-2 = 1 d/r Substitution of the approximations into the formula for the electric fields yields the following: E = kq/r2[(1 + d/r) (1 d/r)] E = kq/r2[2d/r] E = 2kqd/r3 We can use the definition of the electric dipole moment, p = qd, to further simplify the above equation. E = 2kp/r3 If we place an object with charge q0 in the presence of this electric field, then we can calculate the magnitude of the force on the charged particle. F = qoE = 2kpq0/r3 By Newtons third law, this will also be the magnitude of the force on the dipole. Newtons second law can be used to relate the force on the dipole to the acceleration of the dipole. [1] max = 2kpq0/r3 In this experiment, we will use water molecules as the dipoles and a balloon as the charged object. A water molecule has a dipole moment of 6.2E-30 C*m and a mass of 2.992E-26 kg. We can use two-dimensional kinematics to

approximate the acceleration of the water molecules in the presence of the charged balloon. Then we can calculate the magnitude of the charge on the balloon. If we assume that the acceleration is uniform (perhaps not a wise assumption, but this will greatly simplify our analysis) and that the acceleration in the y direction is only due to gravity (another questionable assumption), then the kinematics equations are the following: [2] y = gt2 (using down as positive) [3] x = axt2

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Equipment You Procure faucet and sink metric tape measure human hair, hairless human skin, glass, paper, and a furry animal (optional) digital camera r Equipment from Kits digital calipers balloon Procedures Derivations x y

1) Solve equation [2] symbolically for t2 and substitute your symbolic solution into equation [3]. 2) Solve equation [3] symbolically for ax and substitute your symbolic solution into equation [1]. 3) Solve equation [1] symbolically for q0, the charge of the balloon. There should be only one division symbol and one 2 (or 0.5). Experiment 1) Measure the distance from the faucet to the bottom of the sink, y.

2) Slowly open the faucet so that drops come out. Observe the location where the water hits the bottom of the sink. If you use a stream instead of drops, you may have your report returned for resubmission. 3) Rub the balloon on your head for several seconds to negatively charge the balloon. If you dont have enough hair on your head, then rub the balloon on your chest hair or a puppy. Record the material. Record the number of rubs or time of rubbing. 4) Place the balloon halfway between the end of the faucet and the bottom of the sink and a small horizontal distance away from the drops. The part of the balloon that you rubbed should be facing the drops. Measure the approximate distance from the balloon to the drops, r. Note that the picture uses a stream to make it easier to see. You will use drops. 5) Measure the distance that the drops of water deflect, x. Calculations 1) Use your theoretical equation to calculate q0, the magnitude of the charge of the balloon. 2) Calculate the number of excess electrons on the balloon, given that e = 1.60E-19 C. 3) Calculate the additional mass acquired by the balloon from the electrons, given that me = 9.11E-31 kg. Repeat this experiment several times with a different pair of substances, different amount of rubbing or different distances. Try to keep the contact area during rubbing roughly consistent. Perform a sufficient number of experiments to test the following claims: 1) The distance will not affect the calculation of charge (conservation of charge), other things equal. 2) The greater the amount of rubbing, the greater the charge, other things equal. 3) The greater the distance between two substances in the triboelectric series, the greater the charge (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triboelectric_series), other things equal.

The two men in the front row and the man in the middle of the back row appear to have hairless chests. The triboelectric effect would therefore be different than that of the hairy chests of the men in the back left and back right.