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LAB REPORT COVER PAGE

ELECTRIC FIELDS AND POTENTIAL IN THE PLATE CAPACITOR

NO STUDENT NAME STUDENT ID

1. DHEVIHYAN A/L LOGANATHAN 1125220922041

COURSE NAME : ELECTROMAGNETIC THEORY

COURSE CODE : BET2143

PROGRAMME TITLE : BTEE

INTAKE/SESSION : SEPTEMBER 2022

LECTURER NAME : DR.SEGAR

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1.0 ABSTRACT

In this experiment, there are three tasks that were performed. The first task is to determine
the relationship between voltage and electric field strength with constant plate spacing. While
the second task is to find out the relationship between electric field strength and plate spacing
with constant voltage. The last part is to compute the potential with a probe as function of
position in the plate capacitor. The first task is to determine the relationship between voltage
and electric field strength with constant plate spacing. While the second task is to find out the
relationship between electric field strength and plate spacing with constant voltage.

2.0 INTRODUCTION

An electric field is a special state that exists in the space surrounding an electrically charged
particle. This special state affects all charged particles placed in the electric field. The true nature
of electric fields, as well as the true nature of an electric charge is still unknown to scientists, but
the effects of an electric field can be measured and predicted using known equations. Just like a
magnet creates an invisible magnetic field around it, which can be detected by placing a second
magnet in its field and measuring the attractive or repulsive force acting on the magnets, electric
charges create an electric field which can be detected by using a test charge. When a test charge
is placed inside an electric field, an attractive or repulsive force acts upon it. This force is called
the Coulomb force. In fact, magnetic and electric fields are not entirely separate phenomena. A
magnetic field that changes with time creates - or “induces an electric field, while a
moving electric field induces a magnetic field as a direct consequence of the movement. Because
these two fields are so tightly connected, the magnetic and electric fields are combined into one,
unified, electromagnetic field.

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Objective

1) To investigate the relationship between the voltage and the electric field strength with
a constant distance of two plates
2) To investigate the relationship between the distance of two plates and the electric field
with a constant voltage
3) To measure the potential as a function of position with a probe in the designated plate
capacitor.

Background

Capacitor is an electronic component that store electric charge. Capacitor is made of

two plate or two conductor that are closely separated by dielectric material. These two plates
accumulate electric charge when power supply is connected. One of the plates
accumulate positive charge while another plate accumulates negative charge. A capacitor
stores energy in the form of electrostatic between the plates. The capacitance is the amount of
electric charge stored in the capacitor at voltage of 1V. Capacitance measured in Farad, F
which is 1 farad=1
coulomb per volt. The capacitance is given by
𝐴
𝐶 = 𝜅𝜀0
𝑑

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Where κ is dielectric constant, ε0 is the permittivity of vacuum, A is the area of each

pate and d is the separation distance.

Electric field can be described as the electric force per unit charge. The charge of the
electric field can be taken as the direction of the force it would be exerted. The positive charge
of the electric field is radially outward while negative charge is vice versa. In the presence of
electric charge or the magnetic field will produce the electric field. The magnetic field must
be varying in other to produce electric field.

In the capacitor the placement of two conducting plate parallel to each other
with constant voltage will form a uniform magnetic field. Magnetic field can be described as
the infinite charges while the electric field is the approximation to the finite area of the plate
of the capacitor. If boundary disturbance due to the finite extent of the plate are
disregarded the
electric field can be calculated using the following formula

∅1 − ∅2 ∆∅
𝐸= 𝑥 −𝑥 = 𝑑
2 1

Where ∆∅ is the potential difference between the plates and d is the distance between the plates.

Potential different is the expression amount of potential energy per unit charge at a
specified location which represent the work involved in the transfer of a unit quantity
of electricity between two point. Potential difference is known as voltage, V.

The electrical potential also the expression of the voltage. It can be described
as potential energy arises from any collection of charge which the charge will exert a force on
any other charge. If a positive is fixed at some point and a negative charge brought close to
the positive charge it will experience the repulsive force this will resulting the potential
energy. The potential energy of the charge can be calculated by using the following formula.

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𝑘𝑄�
�=
�
Where k is the coulomb constant.

Equipotential lines represent the movement lines of the electric potential or the voltage. The
lines are always perpendicular to the electric field. In the capacitor the electric field lines are
perpendicular to the both plates and the equipotential lines are parallel to the plates. The dash
line at the picture below shows the equipotential lines.

Set-up

Experimental set-up for task 1 and task 2

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Experimental set-up for Task 3

3.0 PROCEDURE

Task 1: The investigation of the relationship between the voltage and the electric field
strength with a constant distance of two plates.

1. The experiment was set-up as shown in the figure above

2. The distance between the two plate was set to 10 cm
3. The power supply was on
4. The electric field was adjusted to the zero with 0V applied voltage
5. The applied voltage was increased until 250 V
6. The measured voltage displayed on the digital multi-meter was noted down
7. The power supply was off

Task 2: To investigate the relationship between the distance of two plates and the electric
field with a constant voltage.

1. The experiment was set-up as shown in the figure above

2. The distance between the two plates was initially adjusted to 12cm
3. The power supply was on
4. The applied violated was adjusted to 200V
5. The distance between two plates was decreased with reduction of 2cm until 2cm
6. The measured voltage displayed on the digital multi-meter for each re-placement of
plate was noted down

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7. The power supply was off

Task 3: To measure the potential as a function of position with a probe in the designated
plate capacitor.

1. The experiment was set-up as shown in the figure above

2. The distance between two plates was adjusted to 10 cm
3. The power supply was on
4. The butane cartridge was opened
5. The end of the probe was lit up with a flame of 3 to 5 mm
6. The applied voltage was adjusted to 250V
7. The probe was moved parallel to the plate by 2cm from one of the plates
8. The measured voltage displayed on the digital multi-meter for each re-placement of
the probe with flame was noted down
9. The butane cartridge was closed, and the power supply was off

4.0 RESULT
Task 1: The investigation of the relationship between various voltage and electric field
strength with a constant plate spacing of 10cm

∅1 (V) ∅2 (V) E (kV/m)

25 2.1 0.23
50 4.3 0.46
75 7.9 0.67
100 10.7 0.89
125 13.2 1.12
150 17.4 1.33
175 18.9 1.56
200 21.9 1.78
225 24.8 2.0
250 29.2 2.21

Table 1: Various voltage and the electric field strength

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CALCULATIONS:

∅1 = 25 V, ∅2 = 2.1 V, d = 10 cm

∆∅
𝐸=
𝑑
�1 −
�2
𝐸=
𝑑
25� − 2.1�
𝐸=
10 ∙ 10−2𝑚

𝐸 = 0.23 𝑘�/𝑚

Graph 1

Task 2: To investigate the relationship between the distance of two plates and the electric
field with a constant voltage of 200V.

d (cm) ∅2 (V) E (kV/m)

2.0 4.91 9.755
4.0 3.16 4.921
6.0 2.36 3.294
8.0 1.92 2.476
10.0 1.55 1.985
12.0 1.30 1.656

Table 2: The results of the calculations, with the voltage of 200V is kept constant.

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CALCULATIONS:

∅1 = 200 V, ∅2 = 4.91 V, d = 2 cm

∆∅
𝐸=
𝑑
∅1 − ∅2
𝐸=
𝑑
200� −
𝐸= 4.91�
2 ∙ 10−2𝑚
𝐸 = 9.755 𝑘�/𝑚

Electric Field Strenght vs Distance

12.000
Electric Field Strength (kV/m)

y = -0.716x + 9.0264
10.000

8.000

6.000

4.000

2.000
0.000
10 12 14
Distance (cm)

Graph 2

The values are then plotted on a log-log graph, calculated using the formula,

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Log d (cm) Log E (kV/m)

0.301 0.989
0.602 0.692
0.778 0.518
0.903 0.394
1.000 0.298
1.079 0.219
Table 3: Value of Log d and Log E

Log E vs Log d
1.200

1.000 y = 1.0108x + 1.301

0.800
Log E (kV/m)

0.600

0.400

0.200

0.000
0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.2
Log d (cm)

Graph 3

Task 3: To measure the potential as a function of position with a probe in the designated plate
capacitor.

Distance, x (cm) ϕ0 (V) ϕ (V)

2 250 241.94
4 250 233.88
6 250 225.82
8 250 217.76
10 250 209.7
Table 4: The measured voltage and the distance between one plate and probe. Voltage is set
at 250V with a constant distant between plates of 10cm

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Electric Potential, ϕ vs. Distance, x

245
240
Electric Potential, ϕ (V) 235
230
225
220
215
210 y = -4.03x + 250
205
0 2 4 10 12
Distance, x (cm)

Graph 4

5.0 DISCUSSION

From the result in the table 1 it shows that the measured voltage is increase as the applied
voltage increase with constant distance between the plates. The result plotted in the graph
1 showed electric field is increasing as the voltage increase. From the result in the table 2 it
shows that the measured voltage is decreasing as the distance of separation between the plates is
increasing with constant applied voltage. The electric field strength was calculated using the
difference between applied voltage and the measured voltage divided distance between two
plates.

The result plotted in the graph 2 showed electric field is decreasing as the distance between two
plates is increasing. Then the result of electric field strength converts to the logarithmic function
as plotted in the graph 3 that showed logarithmic of electric field is inversely proportional to the
distance of two plate. From the result in the table 4 and graph 4 it can be seen that the electric
potential is decreasing uniformly as the distance between one plate to the probe is increase. This
showed that the electric potential is higher near to the plate of the capacitor.

Furthermore, the probe is properly move parallel to the capacitor plate to get accurate result.

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6.0 CONCLUSION

It can be concluded when two conducting plate placed parallel to each other will store
electric charge equivalent to the function of a capacitor. After that from the investigation of
the relationship between the electric field strength and the voltage with a constant distance of
the separation between two plate shows that it directly proportional to each other.
Furthermore, it was seen that the relationship between the electric field strength and the
distance of the separation between two plates with constant voltage applied is inversely
proportional to each other. Finally, the electric potential in the capacitor is measured using the
probe showed that the electric potential is inversely proportional to the distance between one
plate to the probe. Therefore, all objective of this experiment was achieved. After that from
the investigation of the relationship between the electric field strength and the voltage with a
constant distance of the separation between two plate shows that it directly proportional to
each other. Furthermore, it was seen that the relationship between the electric field
strength and the distance of the separation between two plates with constant voltage
applied is inversely proportional to each other.

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