T E M P L E U N I V E R S I T Y P H Y S I C S

Mapping the Electrostatic Potential and

Electric Field

The objective of this experiment is to study the potentials, equipotential curves and electric fields
produced by various two-dimensional electrostatic charge distributions. In practice, direct measurement
of the electric field turns out to be quite difficult. Instead, we exploit the fact that the electric force is a
conservative force, and thus can be considered to be associated with a potential – the electric potential
𝑉, where the components of the electric field vector are given by the change of the electric potential in
that direction,

∆𝑉 ∆𝑉
𝐸𝑥 = 𝐸𝑦 = (1)
∆𝑥 ∆𝑦

One consequence of Equation 1 is that if one can identify a line (or surface) along which the potential
has a constant value then the electric field is necessarily perpendicular to that line at all points, see
Figure 1. Therefore, in order to map the electric field for a charge configuration, it is sufficient to map
out the equipotential lines.

There is a technical difficulty, however, with

setting up and controlling static charge
distributions: it is not easy to fix charges at precise
locations. For this reason we will simulate static
charge distributions using a small direct current
flowing through electrodes, drawn to look like our
static charge distributions, and conducting paper.
The electric field shapes, potential and
equipotential lines will be identical to those for the
simulated static charge configurations.

NOTE: You may want to reference your text or

other sources to confirm your results and aid in
mapping the fields accurately and in a timely
manner.
Learning Goals for this Laboratory:
Figure 1. Equipotentials and electric field
lines for a positive point charge (circle at
center).

 Practice visualizing electric fields and electric potentials around conductors of many shapes.
 Practice graphing and analyzing nonlinear relations.
 Practice connecting simple circuits.

A P P A R A T U S
Pasco field mapping board, digital voltage meter with point probes, D.C.
power supply, several sheets of conducting paper with different electrode configurations, push
pins

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Figure 2. Setup for this lab showing the field mapping board,
voltmeter, D.C. power supply and conducting paper (shown here
with the parallel plate electrode configuration).

Experiment Setup
The equipment used and the experimental setup is shown in Figure 2.

1. In order to keep the conductive paper

stationary, mount it with pushpins in the
corners (these can be seen in the left corner
of the paper in Figure 2).

2. Connect the electrodes to the DC power

supply using the power supply wires by
placing a pushpin through the hole in the
Figure 3. Connecting the power supply wire to
wire terminal, into the electrode, and into
the electrode using the push pin.
the corkboard beneath as in Figure 3. If
there are already holes in the electrode,
reuse them to avoid punching more holes in the electrodes.

3. Connect the other end of the wires to the power supply. Set the power supply to 5 V. We will now
use the multimeter to check the electrodes for proper conductivity (a damaged electrode could
skew your results).

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Please do not push the multimeter probes through the paper; simply placing the probes on
the paper should give you a good reading.

4. If the electrode is a good conductor, all points on the electrode should have the same potential Use
the voltmeter to probe the potential between different points along an electrode. The maximum
potential between any two points on a single electrode should not exceed about 1% of the potential
applied between the two electrodes. That is, if you are applying 5.00 V, then you want the potential
between the ends of the electrode to have a magnitude less than |0.05 V|. If your electrodes appear
faulty, check with your lab instructor, you may need a new piece of conducting paper.

Part I. Parallel Plates

1. Draw a thin reference line from one
plate to the other, connecting the
midpoints of the two plates. Place
one of the volt meter leads on one
of the parallel plate electrodes at
one end of your line. This is your
reference probe.
Figure 4. Parallel plate configuration showing power
2. Measure the potential difference supply connections. Voltmeter probes not shown.
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 and 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).

Question 1. Referring to your graph for the parallel plate electrodes, describe in words how the
potential varies with distance.

Question 2. Determine a formula that describes how potential varies between the parallel plates as a
function of position.

Question 3. How would the equipotentials look if we had chosen a different reference point? Explain.

Part II. Point Source and

Guard Ring
1. Connect the point source and guard
ring as shown in Fig 5.

2. Draw a thin reference line from the

point source straight out to the guard
ring. Place your reference probe on the
guard ring at the line. Figure 5. Point source and ring guard configuration.
3. Apply 5 V and measure the potential Voltmeter probes not shown.

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difference along the reference line every 0.5 cm moving toward the point source.

4. Make a graph of the potential along your line as a function of distance from the point source (the
point source is at 𝑥 = 0.0 cm). Describe in words how the potential varies with distance on your
graph.

Question 4. Close to the point source, the potential should vary as 1/𝑟. Why? Try fitting your plot to a
1/𝑟 function (Excel can’t fit a 1/𝑟 function automatically, so you will need to calculate 1/𝑟 and plot
the potential vs 1/𝑟 directly, then the data should fit to a line). 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. Note: you
may need to specify that only the points nearer the point source are used in the fitting process.

Question 5. Does the potential vary at all outside of the guard ring? Briefly comment.

Part III. Electric Dipole

1. Set up the electric dipole
configuration as in Fig 6. and apply 5
V. Place your reference voltage
probe halfway between the two
electrodes, along an imaginary line
that connects the two electrodes.

2. Map out the equipotential curves in Figure 6. Dipole configuration. Voltmeter probes not
the space inside the box. shown.

Question 6. Briefly describe the shape of the family of equipotentials. Did you notice the unique
equipotential line?

3. We know that electric field lines must cross equipotential lines in a particular way (as mentioned in
the introduction) - on your sketch draw in several electric field lines. Be sure to indicate the
direction of your field lines (E-field is a vector field!).

Part IV. Like Charges

in a Box
1. Set up the configuration shown in
Fig. 7 and apply 5 V. Again, place
your reference voltage probe
halfway between the two
electrodes, along an imaginary line
that connects the two electrodes.

Figure 7. Like Charges in a Box. Voltmeter probes not

shown.

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Question 7. Relative to this halfway point, where on the conducting paper is the potential highest?
Where is it lowest?

2. With the other voltage probe, map out a few equipotential lines near the point charges and also
near the walls of the box. Make a sketch of these equipotentials and include it with your lab report.

3. Also, determine whether the potential varies at all outside the box.

For Your Lab Report:

Refer to the lab syllabus and grading rubric for what to include in the report. It may be helpful to use
the answers to the questions to aid in writing the discussion.

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