Physics 32.

Group 5 *Capuno, Jodie, *Lacerna, Zhannis, *Mallari, Meghan, * Oclarit, Jamie, *Policarpio, Gold *Tolentino, Ahra

December 6, 2012

MAPPING THE ELECTRIC POTENTIAL AND THE ELECTRIC FIELD

I.

PARALLEL PLATES

1. MEASURE THE POTENTIAL DIFFERENCE BETWEEN YOUR REFERENCE PROBE AND THE OTHER VOLT METER PROBE EVERY 0.5 CM ALONG YOUR LINE, STARTING AT 0.5 CM. TABULATE YOUR MEASUREMENTS. TABLE 1. The distance and potential difference measured in the parallel plates. DISTANCE (cm) POTENTIAL DIFFERENCE (V) 0.0 0.0 0.9 2 2.9 5 4.8 8 5.9 10 2. MAKE A GRAPH OF THE POTENTIAL ALONG YOUR LINE AS A FUNCTION OF DISTANCE FROM ONE PLATE (THE REFERENCE PROBE IS AT X = 0.0 CM).

Potential Difference (V)

15 10 5 0 0 5 Distance (cm) 10

Figure 1. The graph of the potential as a function of distance.

3. DESCRIBE IN WORDS HOW THE POTENTIAL VARIES WITH DISTANCE IN YOUR GRAPH. The potential increases as you move the probe near the positive side of the parallel plates. Also, we can relate from this formula (E= V/d) that if the potential difference is constant, the smaller you make the distance between the plates, the stronger the electric field will be.

4. MAP OUT A FEW EQUIPOTENTIAL CURVES NEAR EACH OF YOUR ELECTRODES. LABEL EACH EQUIPOTENTIAL CURVE OR LINE WITH THE CORRESPONDING ELECTRIC POTENTIAL. SKETCH THE ELECTRIC FIELD LINES.

Figure 2. The equipotential and electric field line of the parallel plate setup.

II. POINT SOURCE AND GUARD RING 1. MAKE A GRAPH OF THE POTENTIAL ALONG YOUR LINE AS A FUNCTION OF DISTANCE FROM THE POINT SOURCE. TABLE 2. The distance and potential difference measured in the point source and guard ring. DISTANCE (cm) 0.0 1.2 2.8 5.0 6.0 8.0 POTENTIAL DIFFERENCE (V) 10 0.0050 0.0020 0.0 0.0070 0.0070

12 10 8 6 4 2 0 -2 0

Potential Difference (V)

4 6 Distance (cm)

10

Figure 3. The graph of the potential as a function of distance.

2. DESCRIBE IN WORDS HOW THE POTENTIAL VARIES WITH DISTANCE ON YOUR GRAPH. As the distance of the electric probe goes farther from the point source, the potential measured decreases and reaches zero. 3. VERY CLOSE TO THE POINT SOURCE THE POTENTIAL SHOULD VARY AS 1/r, WHY IS THAT? The interaction between the positive charge and negative charge allows this manner. Both of the charges obtain 10V and as the negative charge approaches near the positive charge, their electric potentials and electric fields interact with each other causing the , volts measured to decrease. This can also be explained by the equation, wherein Volts, Electric Field, and distance.

4. IF POSSIBLE, TRY FITTING YOUR PLOT TO A 1/r FUNCTION? DO MOST OF YOUR POINTS PASS NEAR THE FITTED LINE? IS THERE A PART OF YOUR PLOT THAT MATCHES THE FITTED LINE BETTER? BRIEFLY COMMENT. Legend: Red: 1/x Function Blue: Plots from figure 1.

Figure 4. The graph of the 1/x function with some of the plots from figure 1. Most of the points fitted the 1/x function, especially the points that approaches zero as the distance increases.

5. DOES THE POTENTIAL VARY AT ALL OUTSIDE OF THE GUARD RING? BRIEFLY COMMENT. No, since there is no interaction between the positive charge and the negative charge because of the ring guard acting as a boundary. 6. MAP OUT EQUIPOTENTIAL CURVES AND SKETCH ELECTRIC FIELD LINES. Legend: Black: Positive Charge Red: Negative Charge Blue: Equipotential Line Green: Electric Field Line

Figure 5. The equipotential and electric field line of the point source and ring guard setup. III. ELECTRIC DIPOLE OPPOSITE CHARGES 1. WHAT IS ITS SHAPE AND HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE ITS LOCATION? IS ITS SHAPE CONSISTENT WITH YOUR KNOWLEDGE OF THE ELECTRIC FIELD AND EQUIPOTENTIAL CHARGES? The shape of the electric potential of a dipole is circular surrounding each charge and shows mirror symmetry at the center point of the dipole. Electric charges exert forces upon one another, to which a general rule is followed, like charges repel and unlike charges attract. These forces can be seen to occur in electric fields, represented by electric field lines, set up by a charge. And by a general rule the electric field lines are perpendicular to the equipotential surface thereby the sketches made are consistent.

2. MAP OUT A FEW EQUIPOTENTIAL CURVES NEAR EACH OF YOUR POINT CHARGES. DRAW IN A FEW ELECTRIC FIELD LINES. BE SURE TO INCLUDE AN INDICATION OF THE DIRECTION OF YOUR FIELD LINES.

TABLE 3. The distance and potential difference measured in electric dipole-opposite charges. REFERENCE NO. 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 DISTANCE (cm) 0.0 4.8 7.4 8.5 9.4 11.4 14.3 POTENTIAL DIFFERENCE (V) 10 5 6 2 10 2 6

Potential Difference (V)

15 10 5 0 0 5 10 Distance (cm) 15 20

Figure 6. The graph of the potential as a function of distanc.

Figure 7. The equipotential and electric field line of the electric dipole-opposite charges. ( See Table 3 for the distance and potential difference measured)

IV. LIKE CHARGES IN A BOX DIPOLES OF LIKE CHARGES

1. WHERE IS THE POTENTIAL MOST NEGATIVE? WHERE IS IT MOST POSITIVE? Near the negative source, the potential was observed to be the most negative. Consequently, the most positive potential was observed near the positive source. 2. DETERMINE IF THE POTENTIAL VARIES AT ALL OUTSIDE THE BOX. As tested, charges did not vary at all outside the box. 3. WITH THE OTHER VOLTAGE PROBE, MAP OUT A FEW EQUIPOTENTIAL LINES NEAR THE POINT CHARGES ALSO NEAR THE WALLS OF THE BOX. MAKE A SKETCH OF THESE EQUIPOTENTIALS AND INCLUDE IT WITH YOUR LAB REPORT.

Analysis/Guide Questions: 1. HOW WILL YOU DECIDE WHEN YOU HAVE TAKEN ENOUGH POINTS? When a visible pattern could already be seen from the different points taken, it is already safe to say that enough points were already taken to determine the electrode's motion. 2. WHY ARE ELECTRIC FIELD LINES PERPENDICULAR TO THE EQUIPOTENTIAL LINES? An electrode moving along an equipotential line is not gaining nor losing any potential energy. Furthermore, this would entail that there is no net work done by the field on the electrode. If the field's net work is zero as the electrode moves, then this would mean that the direction of the field's force must be perpendicular to the direction of the electrode's motion which in this case, is the equipotential line.

3. HOW WOULD YOU FIND THE MAGNITUDE OF THE ELECTRIC FIELD IN A GIVEN REGION OF YOUR SKETCH OR DIAGRAM? DO AN EXAMPLE.

Solution: The formula E1= kq1 is used to get the magnitude of the electric field. r12 = (9x109)(2x10-6)= 26,769.78 N/C (0.82)2 E2= kq2 r22 =(9x109)(2x10-6)= 55,401.66 N/C (0.57)2

Resultant E:

E1x= E1cos35=21,928.52

E2x=E2cos55= 31,777.09 E1y=E1cos35=15,354.52 E2y=E2cos55=45,382.38 Ex= E1x - E2x = -9,848.57 Ey= E1y + E2y = 60,736.90 E= = 61,530.199 N/C magnitude 4. WHAT QUALITATIVE EFFECTS DO THE SHAPES OF THE ELECTRODES HAVE ON THE FIELD DISTRIBUTION? The geometries manifested by the electrode, including their relative positions determine the way in which the charges will be distributed on the electrodes. This charge distribution will then determine the electric field strength at carious point in space.

*REFERENCES: Parks, James. "Electric Fields Experiment-The Cenco Overbeck Apparatus". Learn the Physics. June 2012. Web. 3 December 2012 .http://www.phys.utk.edu/labs/Cenco%20Overbeck%20UT%20ElectricFields.pdf Nave, C. HyperPhysics.http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/electric/equipot.html (accessed 12/2/12) 1999 Science Joy Wagon http://www.regentsprep.org/Regents/physics/phys03/aparplate/