Name ______________________ Lab: ELECTRIC FIELDS Purpose: To study the electric field and electric potential for a distribution

of charges Part 1: Electric Fields for a Combination of Charges #1: 1. Use the diagram below to find the electric field at the origin by following the steps.
3 2 1 0 -1 -2 -1.5 -1 -0.5 Distances in Meters 0 0.5 1 -4n C +3n C

a. Calculate the magnitude and direction of the electric field at the origin due to the -4nC charge. Show your work below

b. Calculate the magnitude and direction of the electric field at the origin due to the +3nC charge. Show your work below

c. Find the net electric field at the origin. Show your work below

2. Go to the web site http://phet.colorado.edu/simulations/sims.php? sim=Charges_and_Fields and click on run nowWhen the simulation opens, click on show grid and show numbers. Make note of the scale used! 3. Replicate the situation above by dragging point charges to the given positions. 4. Drag an electric field sensor to the origin. Record the values from the electric field sensor below

Measured Electric Field at the Origin = ________ 5. Find the percent error in your values for the electric field

6. What would be the magnitude and direction of the force on a proton placed at the origin?

7. What would be the magnitude and direction of the force on an oxygen ion (816O-2) placed at the origin?

Part 2: Electric field for a Combination of Charges #2 1. For this part of the lab, you will use the combination of charges shown below
3 2 1 0 -1 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 Distances in Meters +7n C +3n C

2. Find the electric field at the origin a. Find the magnitude and direction of the electric field at the origin due to the +3nC charge.

b. Find the magnitude and direction of the electric field at the origin due to the +7nC charge.

c. Find the magnitude and direction of the net electric field at the origin.

Net Electric Field at the Origin = _______ d. Use the simulation to measure the electric field at the origin. Measured E- Field at Origin = _______ e. Find the percent error.

f. If an electron were placed at the origin, what would be the magnitude and direction of the force on the electron?

g. Find all of the places on the x-axis where the electric field is zero. Show your work below.

h. Use a field sensor to find the position where the Electric field is zero. How does this compare with the position you found in part g.

Part 3: Find Electric Field through Vector Addition #2

3 B 2 1 0 -1 -2 -1.5 -1 -0.5 0 0.5 1 1.5 2 Distances in Meters -3n C +3n C

3. Find the electric field at point B a. Find the magnitude of the electric field at point B due to the +3nC Charge.

b. Find the direction of the electric field at point B due to the +3nC charge (youll have to do a little trig here).

c. Find the magnitude of the electric field at point B due to the -3nC Charge.

d. Find the direction of the electric field at point B due to the -3nC charge.

e. In the space below, draw a vector diagram and use it to calculate the net electric field at point B.

Net Electric Field at B = ________

f. Use the simulation to determine the electric field at B. Measured Electric Field at Point B = ________ 4. Find the percent error in your values for the electric fields

5. What would be the magnitude and direction of the force on a proton placed at point B?

6. What would be the magnitude and direction of the force on an oxygen ion (816O-2) placed at point B?