Electric Fields and Potentials1

ElectricFieldsandPotentials
Name:Equipment:Field Mapper Kit, Conductive Paper, Digital

Multi Meter, Power Supply, Graph
Paper (at the end of this lab manual)
ElectricpotentialandfieldofadipoleElectricpotentialandfieldof
amonopole
Purposeofthelab:In this lab, you will map some equipotential

lines and use them to construct electric field maps for different
configurations of charges:the dipole, the parallel plates, and the
concentric cylinder.
(left)Schematicdiagramofexperimentalsetup.(Right)photoof
typicalsetupTheory:
The electric field is way to visualize the interaction between charged
objects. It is assumed that the electric field permeates the space around a
charged object and is responsible for the force that the
Date:
object exerts on other charges. The electric field (strength) is defined as

the force per unit charge on a vanishingly small test charge q.
E= F/q Eq. (1)To help visualize the field we use the concept of electric
field lines where, by convention, the
lines begin on positive charges and terminate on negative charges.There
are a number of rules about the field lines that help draw them for the
static case:
1.
the lines should have the same symmetry as does the charge distribution.
2.
the number of lines from a charge q should be proportional to q.
3.
the lines cannot stop in space. They begin on a + charge and end on
a charge. (otherwise the force does not fall off as 1/r2.)
4.
field lines cannot cross (otherwise violate conservation of energy.)
5.
field lines cannot pass through a conductor (otherwise charge

moves.)
6.
field lines must be perpendicular to the surface of a conductor

(otherwise charge moves.)
7.
the lines must be perpendicular to any equipotential surface (see
below.)
An equipotential surface is a surface upon which no work is required to
move a charge on that surface. How can we move a charge in a region
where there is a force on it due to the electric field and yet do no work?
The answer lies in the fact that the work, W, done is the scalar product of
force, F, and displacement, d, so depends on the angle.
W = Fd cos
If is 900, the work done is zero. For example, a satellite in a circular
orbit around the Earth does no work against gravity so does not need any
additional energy (i.e. firing its engine) to orbit. So an equipotential
surface must be perpendicular to the force and thus an equipotential
surface must be perpendicular to the electric field (strength) and field
lines (see Figure 1). The electric field is difficult to measure directly, but
it is very easy to find the equipotential surfaces using a voltmeter (well
see how a voltmeter works later in the course). For example, all the
points where the voltage is 4 volts form an equipotential surface. In the
case of our two dimensional pattern, the equipotential surfaces will be
lines.
Dipole Field
Mapelectricfieldsandequipotentialfortwoelectrode
configurations
The apparatus consists of a special sheet of electrically conducting

paper. A pair of conducting electrodes has been painted on this sheet,
using silver (real Ag) paint. Youll attach a wire to each of the electrodes
so that one of them is charged to some positive voltage, and the other is
at ground (0 Volts). This sets up an electric field in the paper, which you
will measure with a digital multimeter (DMM).
Fig. 1: Apparatus setup, showing how to connect the power supply and
DMM to the conducting sheet.
ApparatusSetup:
1.
Take the conducting sheet with two point electrodes (two dots) and
attach it to the cork board using plastic push pins in the corners.
2.
Use metal push pins to attach a wire from the power supply to each of
the two
3.
electrodes. You need a good solid contact between the silver electrode
and the wires. Make sure that your connections are firm. Dont use old
holes in the electrodes. Make new holes.
4.
The DMM (Digital Multimeter) should be set to measure DCV (DC

Volts, or Direct Current Volts). The test probes should be attached to the
two right-most plugs in the DMM. One of these is labeled COM, and
the other is labeled VmA or something similar.
5.
Attach the DMM COM plug to one of the electrodes on your board.
Let the other probe hang free for now.
6.
Plug in the power supply and turn on the DMM. Touch the free probe to
the other electrode. You should read 0V if you touch both DMM wires to
the same electrode, and approximately +12V or - 12V if you touch them
to different electrodes.
Fig. 2: The three electrode configurations. From left to right, they are the
dipole, the parallel plates, and the cylindrical conductor. Payparticular
attentiontothegrayareaswhen youre mapping the equipotentials.
Takingmeasurements:
1.
Touch the free DMM probe to various points on the paper. You should
get different voltage readings at different spots on the paper. Touch the
probe firmly to the paper. If the probe is pointed, use the flat side of the
probe, not the sharp point. Dont stab the paper with the probe.
2.
Note that the conducting paper has a coordinate grid on it. Draw the
electrodes on a piece of ordinary graph paper, paying attention to their
coordinates. Label the electrodes with their voltages. You will find it
useful to use a coordinate system that has its origin at the center of the
paper.
3.
Now, select a convenient intermediate voltage (3V for example) between

0V and 12V. (If your voltages are negative, either switch the DMM leads
or ignore the minus sign.) Find a number of points with this voltage, and
mark their locations on your graph paper. Connect the dots to create an
equipotential line for 3V, and mark it 3V.

4.
Repeat this procedure for several different voltages. You will need at
least half a dozen equipotential lines so that you can use them to
construct the electric field pattern. Pay attention to the parts of the
pattern highlighted in gray in Fig. 2.
5.
Do NOT take apart the apparatus until you have done your analysis for
the pattern!
Analysis:
At this point, your graph paper should have several equipotential lines
on it. Construct the field lines as follows:
1.
Start at one of the conductors.
2.
Field lines always enter and leave conductors at right angles. Draw a
very short line coming out of a conductor at right angles to its surface.
Use a different color than you used for the equipotentials.
3.
Field lines always intersect equipotentials at right angles. Extend the line
that you started, bending it gently so that it crosses the nearest
equipotential line at right angles.
4.
Continue drawing the field line, always crossing the nearest

equipotential line at right angles.
5.
If you need more equipotential lines, or need to check the ones you have,
please do so. Your apparatus is still set up.
Conclusions:Asappropriate,answereachofthequestionsbelow.
1.
Does your pattern have the same symmetry as the charge

distribution?
From the second figure involving parallel plates, the symmetry of the pattern of the
field lines are same as that of the charge distribution. The field lines are symmetrical
about the vertical plane passing through the midway between the plates.
2.
Do the field lines cross each other?

No field lines never intersect each other. This is theoretically not possible because
fields do not have two direction simultaneously at a given point.
3.
Are the field lines perpendicular to the surface of any conductor?

Yes, electric field lines are always perpendicular to the surface of the conductor. This
is because if the lines are not perpendicular to the surface of the conductor then a
component of the field would remain along the surface of the conductor. This would
create a current flow in the conductor. So, in equilibrium state electric field lines
should be perpendicular to the surface. Mathematically it is explained by the
boundary conditions across the conducting surface.
4. Where in the pattern is the field strongest/weakest? Note that

where the equipotential surfaces are close together, the electric
field must be strong (why?)
When equipotential surfaces are closer that means there potential changes faster
with respect to the change in distance. Faster is the change in potential stronger is
the electric field. This is because electric field intensity E x = -V/x, so faster is the
rate of change of electric potential with respect to distance, higher will be electric
field intensity.

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ElectricFieldsandPotentials

Name:Equipment:Field Mapper Kit, Conductive Paper, Digital

Purposeofthelab:In this lab, you will map some equipotential

object exerts on other charges. The electric field (strength) is defined as

the number of lines from a charge q should be proportional to q.

field lines cannot cross (otherwise violate conservation of energy.)

field lines cannot pass through a conductor (otherwise charge

field lines must be perpendicular to the surface of a conductor

the lines must be perpendicular to any equipotential surface (see

The apparatus consists of a special sheet of electrically conducting

The DMM (Digital Multimeter) should be set to measure DCV (DC

Now, select a convenient intermediate voltage (3V for example) between

equipotential line for 3V, and mark it 3V.

Start at one of the conductors.

Continue drawing the field line, always crossing the nearest

Does your pattern have the same symmetry as the charge

Do the field lines cross each other?

Are the field lines perpendicular to the surface of any conductor?

4. Where in the pattern is the field strongest/weakest? Note that

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