Observations on the Correlation of Equipotential Field Lines to Electric Field and Geometry of Charged Conductors

Junelle Rey C. Bacong1, Jona Ann P. Vistal2, Nia Angelica F. Zambale3 1 National Institute of Physics, University of the Philippines Diliman, Quezon City 2 National Institute of Physics, University of the Philippines Diliman, Quezon City 3 nfzambale@upd.edu.ph

Abstract
The team wanted to observe the equipotential field lines produced by conductors of different geometry. By locating points that have similar potential values, a family of equipotential field lines can be constructed. After series of tests, it was observed that the field lines follow nearly the same shape as the conductors. Also by using the known relationship between equipotential and electric field, we have been able to determine the magnitude of electric field at certain points in the tank.

1. Introduction
A set of charges at fixed points produces an electric field in its proximity. Electric field, E is defined as the electric force per unit charge [1]. Given a charge and its position, one can easily compute for the electric field on a certain point of interest using Coulombs law. However, there may problems wherein one must calculate the electric field of a region using its potential difference and position instead of charge values. From here we define potential difference, dV as the potential energy change per unit charge [2]. With this definition, we can be able to construct a mathematical relationship between electric fields and electric potentials.

2. Methodology
One of the main objectives of this experiment is to observe the relationship between the equipotential and electric field lines produced by two types of conductors a rod and a disk. To be able to do this, the team constructed an experimental set-up wherein two charged conductors that are attached to a voltmeter are located at points (0,12) and (0,-12) of a water tank (see Appendix A for complete experiment set-up). We determined the electric potentials for each points in the y-axis ranging from (0,-7) up to (0,7). The values which were obtained from each point became our reference for locating other points that have nearly the same magnitude of potential. Moreover, we only selected three points that will constitute to an equipotential curve one is at the y-axis and the other two points are located at the left and right quadrants of each charged conductor. This was to ensure that the team would be able to observe any changes in equipotential field lines in the region between the two conductors. Furthermore, the team also used different types of conductors to examine if there were effects on the shape of conductors to the equipotential field lines they produce. We used two disks, two rods, and a combination of the two conductors for the same experimental set-up. After summarizing the sets of points that have equal magnitude of electric potential (see Table. 1 for complete tabulation of data), we used Microsoft Excel program to draw the equipotential field lines for each pair of conductors. With these graphs, the team will be able to confirm the effects of the conductors shape on the ir equipotential field lines they produce. Additionally, we will also be able to explicitly show the magnitude of the electric field on certain points of the tank by using the known relationship between equipotential and electric field lines (see Appendix B for complete calculations).

3. Results and Discussions

In the experiment, we already have located points by which the magnitude of the electric potential remains constant. Using these data, we will be able to find the magnitude of electric fields on certain points in the tank. But before we do that, let us first correlate electric field with the potential. Recall that the change in the potential (dV) is the scalar product of the electric field (E) of an arbitrary point and its distance (l) relative to the negative charge, hence in mathematical form, (1)

Since we are considering equipotential charges that is, dV=0, we now have the equation (2) (3) Take note that this statement can be true if and thus, we can solve for . In this manner, we can conclude that the electric field lines are perpendicular with the equipotential lines. After establishing this identity, we then use the data below to solve for the unknown magnitude of electric field due to the charged conductors (see Appendix for sample calculations of electric field on a test point). Table 1. Electric potentials, V and their corresponding locations for different shapes of conductors. V 2.53 2.82 3.2 3.5 3.8 4 4.3 4.6 4.85 5.1 5.3 5.5 5.8 6.1 6.4 Disks Points (x,y) (-7.5,-9.5) (0,-7) (7.5,9.5) (-6, 7.5) (0,-6) (6,-7.5) (-4.5, -5.5) (0,-5) (4.5, -5.5) (-4.5, -4.5) (0,-4) (4.5,4.5) (-5, -3.5) (0, -3) (8, -3.5) (-3, -2) (0,-2) (3,-2) (-1.5, -1) (0,-1) (1.5, -1) (-5, 0) (0,0) (5,0) (-3, 1) (0,1) (3,1) (4, 2.5) (0,2) (-4, 2.5) (-7, 3.5) (0,3) (7, 3.5) (-8,4.5) (0,4) (6, 4.5) (-6.5, -6) (0,5) (5, 6) (-7, 7.5) (0,6) (7, 7.5) (-3.5, 7.5) (0,7) (4,8) V 3.6 3.9 4.1 4.5 4.8 5.1 5.4 5.7 5.9 6.1 6.4 6.7 6.9 7.2 7.5 Rods Points (x,y) (-5.5, -8) (0,-7) (6, -8) (-5, -6.5) (0,-6) (5, -6.5) (-2.5, -5) (0,-5) (4, -5) (-3,- 4) (0,-4) (3.5, -4) (-2, -3) (0, -3) (4.5, -3) (-2, -2) (0,-2) (2, -1.5) (-3, -1) (0,-1) (5, -0.5) (-1.5, 0.5) (0,0) (2.5, 0.5) (-0.5, 1) (0,1) (6.5, 1.5) (-1, 2) (0,2) (1, 2) (-3, 3) (0,3) (5, 3.5) (-9.5, 4.5) (0,4) (5.5, 4.5) (-6.5, 5.5) (0,5) (5,5.5) (-8.5, 7) (0,6) (5.5, 7) (-7.5, 9) (0,7) (6, 9)

V 2.7 3.15 3.56 3.9 4.2 4.58 4.89 5.27 5.55 5.86 6.15 6.41 6.73 7.05 7.73

Disk and Rod Points (-4, -8.5) (0,-7) (-5.5, -7) (0,-6) (-6, -6) (0,-5) (-7, -5) (0,-4) (-6, -3.5) (0, -3) (-8, -2.5) (0,-2) (-7.5, -1.5) (0,-1) (-1.5, 0) (0,0) (-6, 1) (0,1) (-7.5, 2) (0,2) (-8.5, 3.5) (0,3) (-8, 4.5) (0,4) (-5.5, 5.5) (0,5) (-5.5, 7) (0,6) (-3.5, 7.5) (0,7)

(2.5, -8) (5, -7) (6, -6) (7, -5) (7, -3.5) (8, -2.5) (6.5, -1.5) (1.5, 0) (8,1) (7.5, 2.5) (5.5, 3.5) (5.5, 4.5) (4, 5.5) (5,7) (5, 8)

We now take a look on the equipotential lines produced by the conductors. Plotting the data above on a spreadsheet program, we can draw family of curves that define the equipotential field of different sets of conductors. These field lines can be seen in the following figures.

Figure 1. Graph of equipotential lines between two disk conductors At the very least, there is a noticeable constancy of increment between the potentials values in Figure 1. And also, there is an observable pattern in the curves of each electric potential. As you move towards the origin, the field lines become linear particularly in the x-axis. This is expected from the set-up since we have placed both same conductors symmetrically along the y-axis. Although we used the same experimental set-up for different shape of conductors, the following equipotential field lines of different set of conductors faintly deviate from the usual curves. There is a random pattern of field lines that can be observed in the following figures.

Figure 2. Graph of equipotential lines between two rod conductors

Figure 3. Graph of equipotential lines between disk-rod conductors Comparing Figures 1 and 2, there is a difference in the shape of the contour lines for their equipotential field. Field lines on Figure 1 follow concentric paths whereas elongated curves on Figure 2. The combination of the two conductors disk and a rod can help us distinguish the difference on the shapes of their own electric field lines. Figure 3 shows us how their field lines differ in geometry.

4. Conclusion and Recommendations

As discussed previously, there exists a relationship between the electric field and potential of a conductor. This will become useful when finding the electric field of a certain point using its known potential. Additionally, it was also observed at the end of the experiment that the equipotential field lines follow the geometry of the conductor. The team concluded that since charges tend to achieve electrostatic equilibrium, electric field lines should be perpendicular to the surface of the conductor; otherwise, charges will tend to accelerate [3]. That is why we observed such patterns on the figures above. As much as the team wanted an accurate set of data, the experiment however was not error-free in totality. The sensitivity of the voltmeter to small movements made it hard for the team to accurately read the potential value for a certain point and locate other regions in tank with similar potential. Although this is unavoidable, future experimentalist should also consider revising the approach on obtaining the potential values of each point in a specific region of interest. For instance, making use of different device that does not require human intervention at the very least would produce accurate results since the source of error that has been observed came merely from the team itself. We recommend furthermore that more points having a constant equipotential value should be gathered so that the shape of the equipotential lines can be more accurate. By doing this, obvious patterns for equipotential field lines can be observed. Nonetheless, the team has still performed the experiment with high precision and have resolved to a rational conclusion on the relationship of conductors geometry to its equipotential field lines.

5. References
1. 2. 3. Hugh Young, Roger Freedman, A. Lewis Ford, University Physics, Chapter 21, Pearson Education, Inc., San Francisco, California, 2008. Paul Tipler, Gene Mosca, Physics for Scientists and Engineers 5 th ed., Chapter 23, W.H Freeman and Company, USA, 2004. Paul Tipler, Gene Mosca, Physics for Scientists and Engineers 5 th ed., Chapter 22, W.H Freeman and Company, USA, 2004.

Appendix B Test Points: 1. 4.0 V at point (-3, -2)- disk to disk conductors

2.

3.6 V at point (0, -7): rod-rod conductors

3. 4.

6. 15 V at point ( 5.5,3.5): disk- rod conductors

5.

7.5 V at point (-7.5, 9): rod-rod conductors

Appendix A

Complete Experiment Set-up