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Electric Fields Experiment

INTRODUCTION: The objectives of this experiment are to observe electric


fields including the direction, to measure the strength of the electric field, to
observe the relation of electric potential and electric field strength, and to
observe the differences in electric field pattern using different electrode

configurations. The magnitude of the electric field strength E is equal to



the Force divided by the magnitude of the charge q: E= F /q . The electric
field is measured using the relationship between electric potential and
electric field strength. The electric potential is determined by measuring the
work required to move a charge from one point in the electric field to
another. The electric potential difference, V, is calculated as the work, W,
needed to move a test charge, q, from one point to another divided by the
charge: V = W/q. The definition of work is defined as force, F, times distance:

W = F * d . Substituting the equation for work into the equation for


potential difference the following equation for electric field strength is
derived: E = V/ d wherein the electric field strength can be found by
measuring the potential difference between two points within the field and
dividing by the distance between these two points. The SI unit of electric
field strength is newton/coulomb (N/C) which is the equivalent of volts/meter
(V/m).
PROCEDURE: The equipment used in this experiment included the CencoOverbeck electric fields mapping apparatus with U-shaped mapping probe;
sets of different electrode configurations painted on conducting paper
mounted to a substrate; Pasco PI-9877 variable dc power supply; a digital
voltmeter; banana plug connecting wires; graph paper, ruler, and writing
utensil. The first electrode configuration observed was the parallel bars. The
electrode was attached to the apparatus. The voltmeter and power supply
were switched on. The probe was placed in the center between the
electrodes for an initial calibration. The probe was then moved left, right, up,
and down to observe what, if any, effect such movements would have on the
voltage. Equipotential lines were established in whole number increments
from one to nine to map the electric field and obtain the direction of the
electric field. Points were selected to measure the magnitude of the electric
field strength. Three points were measured (A, B, C). Points A and B were
located between the parallel bars while C was located above the electrode
boundary. The electrode configuration was then changed to observe the
behavior of the electric field with different electrode boundaries.
Equipotential lines were again established to map the electric field and its
direction. This concluded the experiment.
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DATA:
Point A electric field strength calculation:
E = V/ d
E = 1.9V / 120m
E = 1.6 * 10-2 V/m
Point B electric field strength calculation:
E = V/ d
E = 2.0V / 120m
E = 1.7 * 10-2 V/m
Point C electric field strength calculation:
E = V/ d
E = 1.1V / 110m
E = 1.0 * 10-2 V/m
Electric field graphs for both electrode configurations attached.
ANALYSIS / CONCLUSION: In this experiment, electric fields were studied
in two different configurations and will be discussed separately. The first
configuration studied was that of parallel electrode bars. The probe was
initially centered between these bars. Moving the probe parallel to the bars
no discernable change in voltage was observed, while moving the probe
perpendicular to the bars produced a significant change in voltage. The
largest increase in voltage was observed to occur when the probe was
moved perpendicularly toward the negative electrode. Within the boundary
of the parallel bars the equipotential field lines were also parallel. However,
when the probe was moved outside of the boundary of the electrodes the
equipotential lines followed an outward curve. The further the probe was
from the boundary the wider the gap between lines.
The second electrode configuration was that of a circle and an open
bracket. This configuration was explored in the same manner as the parallel
electrode configuration. Once again it is observed that the greatest increase
in voltage occurs as the probe approaches the negative electrode.
Possible sources of error within the experiment include improper
calibration of the voltmeter when establishing the initial voltage reading,
improper handling of the probe (creating the shearing effect described in the
manual). The observations made in this experiment support the theory that
electric fields will be directed outwardly from positive charges and inwardly
from negative charges. This is clearly illustrated in both graphs. The
calculations of the electric field strength at the three selected points also
supports the theory of the field being stronger with the boundary of the

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electrodes. Points A and B were both located within the electrode boundary
and had a higher strength than that of point C, which was located outside of
the boundary.

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