UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MARA

CAWANGAN PERAK KAMPUS TAPAH

PHY 150
ELECTRICITY AND MAGNETISM
LABORATORY REPORT

TITLE : ELECTRIC CHARGES AND FIELD

EXP. NO. :3

GROUP : A4AS1203A

NO NAME STUDENT ID
1) NUR SYAMIMI AZREEN BT MOHD ALI 2019368145
2) FATIN NADIA BT TALIBUDIN 2019367179
3) PUTERI NURUL ATIQAH BT MAZLAN 2019906069
4) NUR ALLISYA NAJWA BT ABDUL NASIR 2019514251
5) NOR SYAFIQAH BT ABDUL WAHID 2018214892

DATE OF
SUBMISSION : JULY 1, 2020
LECTURER : SIR AZRUL NIZAM B ALIAS

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1) CONTENTS
SECTIONS PAGE

TOPICS RELATED
DESCRIPTION
OBJECTIVE 3

INTRODUCTION 4
MATERIAL
PROCEDURE

DATA AND RESULTS 5-8

DISCUSSION 9-10

CONCLUSION 11
REFERENCES

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2) TOPICS RELATED
 Electric Field
 Electrostatics
 Equipotential
 Electrostatic Potential
 Electric Charges
 Voltage

3) DESCRIPTION
Arrange positive and negative charges in space and view the resulting electric field and
electrostatic potential. Plot equipotential lines and discover their relationship to the electric field.
Create models of dipoles, capacitors, and more.

4) OBJECTIVES
 Determine the variables that affect the strength and direction of the electric field for a
static arrangement of charges.

 Explain equipotential lines and compare them to the electric field lines.

 For an arrangement of static charges, predict the electric field lines. Verify the prediction
using vector addition.

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5) INTRODUCTION
The virtual lab about the electric field and electrostatic potential and was being experimented to
indicate the best result about this topic. The electric field is the space around an isolated charge
where an electric force is experienced if a positive test charge is placed in the region. The
electric field from an isolated negative charge is radially inwards into the charge whereas the
electric force from an isolated positive charge is radially outwards from the charges. Electric
field strength is defined as electric force per unit positive test, as given below:

|F|
|E|=
q0

The electric potential is an electric potential is the amount of work needed to move a unit of
charge from a reference point to a specific point inside the field without producing an
acceleration. Electric potential is a scalar quantity and its SI unit is volt (V) or joule per coulomb
(JC-1). The electric potential energy of the system is the total work done to bring all the charges
from infinity to their final positions in the electric field. An equipotential surfaces is a surface over
which the electric potential is constant. If all points on the surface have the same potential, no
work is done moving a charge along equipotential surfaces.

6) MATERIAL
PC/Laptop/Smartphone/ any gadget that have internet connection and able to handle the
simulation.

7) PROCEDURE
1) The Charges and Fields PhET simulation was opened.

2) “Grid” was clicked on. One positive charge was placed in the center of the grid. “Electric
Field” was clicked on

3) One negative charge was placed in the center of the grid in 1 meter away from the positive
charge.

4) The color of the arrow relate to the strength to the field in the discussion was observed

5) 1 nC equal to 1 q, while -1nC equal to -1 q were set up. Then, the field lines are draw
regarding the information in tables below. The result was screenshot and data and result table
were recorded.

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8)DATA AND RESULT
Part 1 – Field around isolated point charges

4q

-2q

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Part 2 – Field around two-point charges in a line

Two unequal, unlike point charges

Two equal point charges

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Part 3 – More complicated scenarios

3-point charges, equal, like charges

4-point charges, 2 positive, 2 negatives, all unequal

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5-point charges all unequal, 3 positive, 2 negatives

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9) DISCUSSION
An electric field is a vector quantity and it is a region of space around an electrically charged
particle. Electric field is visualized by using an arrow which is going toward or away from the
charges. The arrow will point radially outward and away from a positive charge and radially
inward toward a negative charge. The electric field exists at all points in space and can be
observed by bringing another charge into the electric field. Formula that given from the
magnitude of the electric field is E = F/q where E is the strength of the electric field, F is the
electric force, and q is the charge. The electric field can exist at all points in space and it can be
observed by adding another charge into the electric field.

In this experiment, for part one in the field around isolated point charges, there are 2 charges
are using which is 4q and -2q. For charges of 4q, the direction of the electric field is always
directed in the direction that a positive test charge would be pushed if placed in the space
surrounding the source charge. For charged of -2q, the direction of the electric field is always
directed in the direction that a negative test charge would be pulled if placed in the space
surrounding the source charge.

For part two in the field around two-point charges in a line, there are two types simulator which
is two unequally, unlike point charges and two equal point charges. For two unequally, unlike
point charges, there are one negative charge and one positive charge. The result shows there is
an electric field that is stronger between the charges. In that region, the electric fields from each
charge are in the same direction and it will increase their strengths. It will become weaker at a
large distance. It is due to the electric fields of the individual charges are in opposite directions
and cause their strengths decreasing. In addition, the electrical field is the greatest when it
closest to the charges. There will be a zero charge in between the two like charges. For two
equal point charges, there are two same negative charges. The result shows there is an electric
field that is weaker between charges. In that region, the electric field from each charge exert
opposing forces on any charge placed between them. It is also will become weaker at a large
distance. It is due to the electric fields of the individual charges are in opposite directions and
cause their strengths decreasing. In addition, the electrical field is the greatest when closest to
the charges. The field will never be zero when there are two unlike charges.

For part three in more complicated scenarios, there are three simulator which is 3 point charges
which is equal and like charges ,4 point charges with 2 positive and 2 negative and all unequal,
5 point charges all unequal with 3 positive and 2 negative. For three points charges which is
equal and like charges, there are 3 positive charges. The result shows there is an electric field
that is weaker between charges. It is also will become weaker at a large distance. For 4 point
charges with 2 positive and 2 negative and all unequal, 5 point charges all unequal with 3
positive and 3 negative, the result shows it is also will become weaker at a large distance. When
there are two same charges, the result shows there is an electric field that is weaker between
charges. When there are two different charges, the result shows there is an electric field that is
stronger between the charges.

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The relationship between equipotential lines and electric field is equipotential lines are always
perpendicular to the electric field. The equipotential lines will form equipotential surfaces in three
dimensions. There is no work requires for movement along an equipotential surface. It is
because the movement is always perpendicular to the electric field. Besides that, the
relationship between electric potential decreases in the direction of the electric field lines. Like a
positive charge, if freely to move in an electric field. It will move from a high potential point to a
low potential point. So, in the direction of electric field the electric potential will decreases. Next,
the variables that affect the strength and direction of the electric field for a static arrangement of
charges is distance from an isolated charged particle. Electric field strength which is location
dependent will decrease when the distance from a location to the source increases. Besides
that, there is a difference between electric field lines and equipotential lines. They are
perpendicular to each other. Electric field shows the direction of electromagnetic force that
relate to some charged particle while equipotential lines show points where the energy of that
electromagnetic field is the same. For an arrangement of static charges, the electric field lines
were predicted. The prediction was verified using vector addition.

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10)CONCLUSION
Overall, the objectives of this experiment to determine the variables that affect the strength and
direction of the electric field for a static arrangement of charges, explain equipotential lines and
compare them to the electric field lines and predict the electric field lines for an arrangement of
static charges and verify the prediction using vector addition were observed. The
recommendation of this lab is adding multiply of another experiment that related with this topic
of experiment.

11)REFERENCES

a) Fields, C. (2020). Charges and Fields. Retrieved 27 June 2020, from

https://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulation/charges-and-fields

b) Multiple Point Charges. Retrieved from http://hyperphysics.phy-

astr.gsu.edu/hbase/electric/mulpoi.html

c) Electric Field Lines: Multiple Charges. Retrieved from

https://courses.lumenlearning.com/physics/chapter/18-5-electric-field-lines-multiple-
charges/

d) Electric Field Intensity. Retrieved from

https://www.physicsclassroom.com/class/estatics/Lesson-4/Electric-Field-Intensity

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