PHYSICS 2

Electric Potential

Name: ______________________________ Section: ___________________

1. Start the simulation by opening the “PhET Simulations Program”.

2. Drag a +1nC charge at the middle of the screen. Describe the direction of the electric field lines and
paste a screenshot of the simulation below.

3. Check the “Values” option and drag the sensor anywhere near the +1nC charge. What happens to
the magnitude of the electric field (measured in V/m) as you go far to the positive charge? as you go
near?

4. Repeat steps 2 to 3 but this time using a -1 nC charge. Describe the electric field lines and the
magnitude of the electric field as you move towards and away the negative charge. Also attach a
screenshot of your simulation below.

5. Reset the simulation and uncheck the “Electric field” option. Afterwards, drag a +1nC charge at the
center of the screen. Now, check the “Values” option and using the “Voltmeter” (see Figure below),
draw equipotential lines by clicking the pencil button. You can undo the lines by pressing the eraser
button.

(Voltmeter)
6. Your work should look like the figure below but with the values of the electric potential.

7. What do you observe with the value of electric potential as you go far from the charge?

8. Repeat steps 6 – 7 but this time with a -1nC charge. What happens to the electric potential as you go
far from the charge.

9. Reset the simulation and drag one + 1nC charge and a -1nC charge at the screen. Arrange the
charges horizontally like in the figure below. Describe the electric field lines generated by these two
charges. Attach a screenshot of the simulation below.

10. Repeat step 9 but with two +1 nC charges. Describe the electric field lines and attach a screenshot
of the simulation below.
11. Repeat step 9 but with two -1 nC charges. Describe the electric field lines and attach a screenshot of
the simulation below.

12. Reset the simulation and uncheck the “Electric field” option. Afterwards, drag two charges: a +1nC
charge and a -1 nC charge arranged horizontally like in Step 9 at the center of the screen. Now,
check the “Values” option and using the “Voltmeter”, draw equipotential lines by clicking the pencil
button. DO AS MANY LINES AS YOU CAN. You can undo the lines by pressing the eraser button.
Attach a screenshot of your screen below.

13. Repeat step 12 but now using two +1 nC charge arranged horizontally like in Step 10 at the center of
the screen. Draw equipotential lines by clicking the pencil button. DO AS MANY LINES AS YOU CAN.
You can undo the lines by pressing the eraser button. Attach a screenshot of your screen below.