Parth Patel

Lab 3: Electrical and Gravitational Potential

Activity 1-1: The Electrical vs. Gravitational Force 1. The same about the two force laws is the constant in the two formulas. The Electrical force has a constant of k and the gravitational force has a constant of the G. The two formulas represent force acted upon one object or charged object on the other object or the charged object. In both laws the distance is squared, representing the distance between the two charged objects. 2. The difference about the force laws is the magnitude of the constants. In electrical force the constant is multiplied by the charge of the two objects. In gravitational force the constant is multiplied by the mass of the two different objects. The units for the constants are also different in both force laws. In electrical force the unit for k is and in gravitational force is .

The force between the two like masses depends on the direction of the force being applied. In the electrical force case, the charge tells if it would be attractive or repulsive. If the charges are different then it would attract. If the charges are same on the two objects then it would repel each other since they are sharing the same charge. 3. If there were two negative masses, then masses would repel each other since they are sharing the same mass within them. A negative mass interacting with positive mass would attract since they are sharing the mass in different direction. I dont think negative mass can ever exist in this universe. It is either there is any mass or there is no mass at all.

Activity 1-2: Which Force Is Stronger- Electrical or Gravitational? 1. Calculate the magnitude of the electrical force? Is it attractive or repulsive?

2. Calculate the magnitude of the gravitational force? Is it attractive or repulsive?

3. Which force is larger? By what factor? Calculate the ratio of the larger to the smaller.

4. Which force are you more aware of on a daily basis? If your answer does not agree with that in question 3, explain why. I am more aware of the gravitational force since the gravitational force is always acted upon us. In electrical force it requires tools to measure and see if one object has any charge or not. Also gravitational force is always constantly active whereas electrical force is when you are electrocuted or some short time of electricity passing through your body. Activity 1-4: Work Done on a Charge Traveling in a Uniform Electric Field 1.

What is the work done by the field on the charge?

How does the form of this equation compare to the work done on a mass m traveling distance d parallel to the almost-uniform gravitational force near the surface of the Earth?

2.

What is the work done by the field on the charge?

3.

What is the work done by the field on the charge?

Activity 2-1: Electric Field Lines and Equipotentials 1. Given that the electric field is non-zero, what path could you move a test charge along without doing any work? What is the shape of the equipotential surface? Work =

2. What is the relationship between the direction of the equipotential lines you have drawn and the direction of the electric field lines? Explain. The direction of the equipotential lines and the electric field lines are perpendicular to each other.

Prediction 2-1: Draw some equipotential surfaces for the charge configuration shown below that results from two charged metal plates placed parallel to each other.

Prediction 2-2: Draw some equipotential surfaces for the electric dipole charge configuration show below. What is their shape?

Activity 2-2: Mapping Equipotentials and Field Lines from Point Electrodes on Conducting Paper 1. What is the reading when both probes touch the same electrode? The reading when both probes are touched together to the same electrode is zero. This means that there is no flow of electrons through the probes. 2. What happens when you reverse the probes? Why? When the probes are reversed there is negative value since the direction of the electrons is changed. 3. Are the equipotentials what you expected? Did they agree with your predictions? Explain. The equipotentials are what I expected since the positive charge is giving off the charge and the negative charge is accepting the positive charge. 4. Explain how you knew how to draw your field lines. Do these field lines agree with your predictions? The field lines are always going from the positive charge side to the negative charge side. This field lines does agree with my predictions. Extension 2-3: Mapping Equipotentials and Field Lines from Parallel Plate Electrodes on Conducting Paper 1. Describe the similarities and differences between the equipotentials from the point electrodes and those for the line electrodes. The similarity between the equipotentials and for line electrodes is the central equipotential line in the plane across the line electrodes. The difference is that the equipotential is a straight plane and the point electrode is the watermelon like shape when the field is generated. 2. Describe the similarities and differences between the field lines for the point electrodes and those for the line electrodes. Point and the line electrodes have a line that is constant between the electrodes in the field line. The difference is the range between the voltages throughout the electric field because of the change in the electrodes.

Homework for Lab 3 Electrical and Gravitational Potential 1.

2. What is the relationship between equipotential surfaces and the direction of electric field lines? The equipotential surfaces and the direction of electric field lines are always perpendicular to each other. 3. How much work is done moving a charge along an equipotential surface? Explain.

The work done in this case is actually being produced when moving a charge along an equipotential surface. 4. Sketch at five equipotential lines for the electric field lines shown below. Add arrows to the field lines to show the direction of the field. Explain how you decided where to draw the lines.

5. Explain how you would use a voltmeter to find equipotential lines for electrodes painted on carbonized conducting paper with conducting paint. The black probe of the voltmeter is permanent help at the reference point of the carbonized conducting paper at negative charge. The positive probe is moved around and the voltage is measured by the strength of the equipotential lines. 6. How would you draw in the electric field lines once you located the equipotential lines on the carbonized conducting paper? The electric field lines are perpendicular to the equipotential lines. It would for an watermelon shape.