Electric Field and Equipotential Lines

Joshua D. Alabanza,* Lance Eros Lewis Dadios, Shaira Estrella, and Plinth Juderei Ced

Department of Physical Sciences and Mathematics, University of the Philippines Manila, Philippines
*jdalabanza@up.edu.ph

Abstract
Electric field magnitude was computed using the ratio between ΔV and Δl – displacement which resulted
from the equipotential and electric field lines drawn in a conducting paper. Results show that when the 15
V equipotential line is intersected with y=10, 8, 6 and 4, it yielded 0.03m, 0.03m, 0.04m and 0.05m as l,
respectively; and 1.67V/cm, 1.67V/cm, 1.25V/cm and 1.25V/cm as electric field magnitude, respectively.
The findings explain how electric field vary with distance and electric charge.

Keywords: electric field lines, electric potential, equipotential lines, voltage

1 Introduction
Electric field, an electric property associated with each point in space when charge is present in any form. The
magnitude and direction of the electric field are expressed by the value of E, called electric field strength or
electric field intensity or simply the electric field. [1]

Knowledge of the value of the electric field at a point, without any specific knowledge of what produced the field,
is all that is needed to determine what will happen to electric charges close to that particular point. For a point
charge, the electric field is given by:

(1)
Where q is the magnitude of the point charge, r2 is the distance between a reference point and the point charge, an
1
is the given constant of the equation.
4𝛑ε0

To visually demonstrate the electric field, an imaginary curve or line is drawn. This pictorial representation is
called the electric field lines. Electric Field Lines can be easily defined as a curve which shows the direction of an
electric field when we draw a tangent at its point. [1]

Since the electric field is inversely proportional to the square of the distance, the electric field strength decreases,
as we move away from the charge. The direction of arrows of field lines depicts the direction of the electric field,
which is pointing outwards in case of positive charge and pointing inwards in case of a negative charge. Further,
the magnitude of an electric field is well described by the density of charges. The lines closer to the charge
represent a strong electric field and the lines away from charge correspond to the weak electric field. [2]

With this experiment concerned with the electric fields of positive and negative charge, comes also the potential
difference or voltage – the electromotive force or the electric potential energy difference between two

points per unit of charge, expressed in volts (V). Voltage, along with current and resistance, is used to describe
the behavior of electrons. Voltage is what makes the current happen; without any voltage push to force it, there
would be no flow of electrons. The amount of electron flow created by voltage is important with respect to the
work that needs to be done. [2]

Electric Field and Equipotential Line

Laboratory Experiment #1
1
2 Methodology

The experiment was made possible by utilizing the following materials: metallic push pins, connectors, circle
template, DC power supply, voltmeter, silver conductive ink, corkboard working surface, and a conductive paper.

The setups of the experiment are represented by the following:

Figure 1: Electric Field Line Experiment Setup

Figure 2: Wiring, Voltmeter, and DC power supply setup

The power supply was adjusted to provide 30 V as instructed. Then a rough sketch was made out of 10
coordinates to draw the electric field lines, as the procedure is repeated with varying voltage values. The data
gathered were recorded using a graphing paper to draw the electric field and equipotential lines.

3 Results, Answers and Discussion

Figure 3: Equipotential Lines (left), and Electric Field Lines (Right)

Figure 3 (left) shows several coordinates were drawn with common potential values of 10 V, 15 V, and 20 V.
These were the approximation for each potential line which have been recorded and detected to pinpoint the
equipotential lines for the electrode.

On the right side of figure 3, the points of intersection between the 15 V equipotential line and y = 10, 8, 6, and 4
were used to draw the electric field lines.

Electric Field and Equipotential Line

Laboratory Experiment #1
2
 Figure 5: Electric Field Magnitude

Change in length ∆l is the perpendicular distance from each of these points to an adjacent equipotential line. On
the other hand, ∆V is obtained from difference in between the 15 V and 10 V equipotential lines, while |𝐸⃗ | or the
electric field magnitude is simply ∆V divided by ∆l.
∆𝑉
|𝐸⃗ | = ∆𝑙
(2)

Table 1: Magnitudes of the Electric Field

y ∆l ∆v |𝐸⃗ |
10 3 5 1.67 V/cm
8 3 5 1.67 V/cm
6 4 5 1.25 V/cm
4 5 5 1 V/cm

1. The direction of the electric field is indicated on field lines. Why is there no electric field lines directed
along equipotential lines?

The electric field lines are perpendicular to the equipotential lines since there is no work required to set a charge
in motion. In addition, electric field lines cannot be parallel to the equipotential surface because there is no
potential difference along any direction parallel to the surface. The same thing goes with the electric field for it
cannot go in line with the surface.

2. The equipotential lines of an electrode with uniform charge distribution are shown in figure. Explain why
in the presence of another electrode, the charge distribution in each electrode is no longer uniform.

If an electric field with has a single electrode, then the electric fields are evenly distributed and only differ in
distance. However, if that electrode is acted by an another one, then their electric field and equipotential lines
will interact with each other, changing the course of the direction, and making the distribution of charges non-
uniform.

Electric Field and Equipotential Line

Laboratory Experiment #1
3
 3. In what region(s) does the electric field have the greatest field strength? How is this determined from the
plot? Comment on the electric field: a.) Between the electrodes along the x-axis.
b.) Near the edges of the conducting paper.

a. ) The electric field of the electrodes along the x-axis is the weakest since the manifestation of the field is
just a horizontal line, therefore this region has the lowest concentration (weakest) of electric field line.

b.) The electric field lines near the edges are concentrated and strong since the plot shows curved lines and
the field lines are relatively near from one another.

4. What effect does the finite size of the black conductive paper have on the field?

Since the electricity is confined within a considerably small paper, the electric current cannot fully expand as it
would normally would in a free environment, or at least a larger medium. This containment limits the current,
compresses and bends it along the edges of the conducting paper.

4 Conclusions

Electric field is a region wherein a charge is being exerted a force from an another charge. In addition, the
magnitude of the electric field is in inverse proportion to the distance from the point charges but is directly related
to the strength of the electric charge source. [1]

Acknowledgement
The group expresses its sincere gratitude to the instructor, Sir John Paul Bustillo, for the demonstration of
several equipment that is essential in further studies in physics.

References

[1] H. D. Young, R. A. Freedman, and A. L. Ford, University physics, 14th ed. (Boston, MA: Pearson, 2019).

[2] D. C. Giancoli, Physics principles with application, 6th ed. saddle river, NJ: Pearson education inc., (2005).

Electric Field and Equipotential Line

Laboratory Experiment #1
4