Lab 2 - Electric Field

Electric Field and Equipotential Mapping
LAB REPORT 2
Introduction to Physics II
PHY 132
Professor Chukwuemeka Patrick Abbey
Professor Chukwudi Ugwumba
11th February 2022.
STUDENT INFORMATION
NAME: Abdul-Qudus Jimoh
ID NUMBER: A00021513
GROUP MEMBERS
 Anointing Izuchukwu
 Samuel Onyebuchi
 Isioma Enwerem
 Clinton Chuks
Objectives
The objectives of this experiment were to:
 Map out electric field lines and equipotential lines for two simple
configurations of oppositely charged conductors.
 And set up an elementary circuit and measure the voltage in a circuit with
the provided digital multimeter.
N.B: Electric field is a region surrounding electrically charged particles that exerts
a force on all other charged particles in the field, either attracting or repelling them.
Equipotential lines are lines along which the electric potential is constant. These
lines are always perpendicular to electric field lines.
Apparatus
The following apparatus was needed for this experiment:
1. Corkboard: we placed the provided papers on it, and it acted on our
experiment as an insulating material or board.
2. Power supply: we used this for delivering power while converting one
voltage to another.
3. Plain A3 paper: we placed all our papers on the corkboard to get the dots to
connect them in getting our diagram.
4. Conducting paper: we used this paper as connection points for the provided
wires.
5. Digital multimeter: we used this as a test tool to measure the recommended
electrical value. We connected the wires to the multimeter as well
6. Board pins: we used this to get a hold of the A3 papers and the conductive
paper while also attaching two more to tag them as the connection points
(the wires are connected to the pin).
7. Silver pen: we used this to mark out the distance from the horizontal grid
line to place two pins to act as the connection points.
8. Trace paper: we used it to trace our connected dots from the experiment.
9. Alligator clips are attached to the wires and clipped to the connection points.
Theory
An electric field, E, is defined as the force per unit charge at the point: E = F/q.
The electric field is represented by lines of force drawn to follow the direction of
the field. The electric potential is defined as the potential energy per unit charge;
however, we can only measure the difference in potential energy between two
points. This change in potential energy per unit charge (Vba) is equal to the work
done by the electric force to move a charge from one point to another: Vba = Vb -Va
= W/q. Electric field lines point in the direction of maximum decrease in potential.
An equipotential surface is defined as a surface where all points on the surface
have the same electric potential. To move a charge around on such a surface
requires no work. In two dimensions, the equipotential surfaces are equipotential
lines. How close the lines are to each other indicates the field strength. Electric
field lines are always perpendicular to equipotential lines. The two conductive
patterns, point charges, and parallel plates are on conductive/resistive paper. A
perfectly conducting paper would have zero potential difference between two
points. The paper tends to concentrate the electric field into the plane of the paper.
STEP-BY-STEP PROCEDURES
1. We placed the provided A3 paper on the board and a carbon sheet paper
which will reduce the effect of any eternal electric charges, having the
conductive paper on top of it.
2. We then used the provided board pins to hold it firm on the corkboard.
3. We measured out two (2) points about 0 to 10cm apart along the horizontal
grid line, using a silver-gel ink pen, and then placed the two metallic pins to
act as connection points.
4. We then connected the apparatus as set in the provided diagram using a DC
power supply of 10 volts.
5. We connected the alligator clips to the power supply.
6. We clipped the alligator clips to each of the push pins.
7. We used the digital multimeter to trace electric field lines moving by interval
at the negative charges of 1V and 2V and the positive charges at points 8V
and 9V.
8. We repeated step 7 as many times as possible until we got our desired results.
9. We chose a particular volt at each source point and traced it near a circular
pattern to produce the equipotential mapping.
10. We repeated step 9 two more times.
11. Finally, we removed all the pins and traced all our dots.
DATA ANALYSIS: attached to the data sheet.
∆v
PROBLEM: Calculate E1 using the formula d and E2 with the same formula.
Then, find E through the average of E1 and E2 .
ANSWER TO THE PROBLEM
∆v 9−8
E2 = = = 38.46 V/m
d 0.0026
∆ v 2−1
E1 = = = 25V/m
d 0.04
( E 2+ E 1) 25+38.46
E= = =¿ 31.73V/m
2 2
UNCERTAINTIES AND ERRORS

 In some situations, we did not secure the alligator chips properly.
 Placing our bare hands on the conducting paper while checking for our
charges.
 Initially, we did not place the A3 papers on the cork board very well.
 We had to ensure that the pins were in close contact with the silver.
 Initially, we used AC instead of DC so that had to be corrected as we
progressed.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION
For the experiment, we aimed to understand the concept of electric field,
electric field lines and equipotential lines and to also find the electric field lines
from equipotential lines. The process was repeated from 2V to 8V and vice
versa. By the end of the experiment, the group graphed the coordinates and
connected the points with the same voltage. Seven curves were produced. These
curves were symmetrical with the x axis.
Objects with charges produce an electric field. The presence of an electric
field is illustrated using electric field lines. The direction of the electric field is
illustrated by the electric field lines. The direction of the electric field differs for
different charges. The direction of the electric field of a positive charged
particle is repulsive while in a negatively charged particle, it is attractive. In our
experiment we used dipoles with different charges. Thus, this kind of electric
field is produced.
In conclusion that seems plausible is the fact that where the electrical
field lines concentrate (where the lines become dense) is where the most
electrical force is available. This theory goes hand-in-hand with Coulomb’s
Law, where the smaller the r, the bigger the force is at that point, thus having
the strongest electrical field at those points where the lines are densest and most
curved. The places where we saw straight lines were the places with the lowest
concentration of electrical field, showing that those are also the positions where
there is the least amount of charged particles. This shows the correlations
between the curvature and electric field strength. Also, the closer the field is to
the negative terminal, the smaller the electric potential is.

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Electric Field and Equipotential Mapping

DATA ANALYSIS: attached to the data sheet.

UNCERTAINTIES AND ERRORS

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