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Student Name

Institution

Professor

13th September, 2022

Static Electricity Simulation Lab Report

Lab A: Comparing the Calculated and Simulated Values of Electric Force.

Objective Statement:

To determine whether the calculated and simulated values of the electric force between two

charged bodies agree (don’t agree) within the margin of error of 10%.

Introduction:

In this section of the report, comparison was done between the calculated values of electric force

between electric charges by the use of Coulomb equation with the values of electric force

obtained from a simulation using the same values of charge magnitude and the distances between

them.
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Procedure:

a) The first step was undertaken by calculating the electric force values by making use of

Coulomb equation as it will be illustrated in the data analysis.

b) With the aid of personal computer and browser, the link attached was navigated through

https://phet.colorado.edu/sims/html/coulombs-law/latest/coulombs-law_en.html from

where the simulation was conducted.

Data:

The data collected from calculations and simulation was tabulated as follows;

Charge q1 Charge q2 Distance (r) m Calculated value Simulated Value

(magnitude)C (magnitude)C of F (N) of F (N)

+8C +8C 0.1 57.536N 57.5N

+8C -8C 0.1 57.536N 57.5N

+8C -8C 0.05 230.144N 230.144N

+5C -4C 0.06 49.944N 49.944N

Data Analysis:

1. Calculate electric force (Coulomb force) between two + 8 mC charges separated by

10 cm.

¿
Use F=k |q1|∨q2∨ 2 ¿ where k = 8.99 x 109 Nm2C-2
r

Show your work clearly, under “Data Analysis” section in the lab report.

Solution:
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k (|q 1||q2|) 9 2 −2
F= 2
;but k=8.99 ×10 N m C , r=10 cm , q1=+8 μC∧q 2=+8 μC .
r

9
8.99 ×10 N m C
2 −2
(|+8 ×10−6 C||+8 × 10−6 C|)
Therefore , F =
¿¿

2. Calculate electric force (Coulomb force) between an 8 mC charge and a - 8 mC

charge separated by 10 cm.

¿
Use F=k |q1|∨q2∨ 2 ¿ where k = 8.99 x 109 Nm2C-2
r

Show your work clearly, under “Data Analysis” section in the lab report.

Solution:

k (|q 1||q2|) 9 2 −2
F= 2
;but k=8.99 ×10 N m C , r=10 cm , q1=+8 μC∧q 2=−8 μC .
r

8.99 ×10 9 N m2 C−2 (|+8 × 10−6 C||−8× 10−6 C|)

Since;|−8 ×10 C|=|+ 8× 10 C|, Therefore , F=
−6 −6
¿¿

3. What would be the electric force between the above 8 mC charge and - 8 mC charge

if they were moved so that the distance between them was reduced by half? (from 10

cm to 5 cm).

Solution:

k (|q 1||q2|) 9 2 −2
F= 2
;but k=8.99 ×10 N m C , r=5 cm , q1=+8 μC a nd q 2=−8 μC .
r

8.99 ×10 9 N m2 C−2 (|+8 × 10−6 C||−8× 10−6 C|)

Since;|−8 ×10 C|=|+ 8× 10 C|, Therefore , F=
−6 −6
¿¿

Can you answer the question without using Coulomb equation?

Yes! It can be answered without using Coulomb equation since the magnitude of the

charges are the same, what will change is the distance by half, meaning that to get the
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force, the initial force of 57.537N will be multiplied by 2^2 which is 4; therefore the new

force will be; 4 ×57.536=230.144 N

4. Calculate electric force (Coulomb force) between a 5 mC charge and a - 4 mC

charge separated by 6 cm.

¿
Use F=k |q1|∨q2∨ 2 ¿ where k = 8.99 x 109 Nm2C-2
r

Solution:

k (|q 1||q2|) 9 2 −2
F= 2
; but k=8.99 ×10 N m C , r=6 cm , q1=+5 μC∧q 2=−4 μC .
r

8.99× 109 N m2 C−2 (|+ 5× 10−6 C||+ 4 ×10−6 C|)

Since;|−4 × 10 C|=|+ 4 ×10 C|,Therefore , F=
−6 −6
¿¿

5. Now we are going to simulate scenarios in steps 1-4. Go to the

https://phet.colorado.edu/sims/html/coulombs-law/latest/coulombs-law_en.html PhET

simulation.

6. Select “Macro Scale” option.

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The above was an introductory page to the PhET Colorado simulation application with

the “Macro Scale” required as per the instruction number 6 above.

7. Check “Force Values”

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From the above screenshot of the initial step after opening the Macro Scale of the

simulation program, the electric force that was observed to be in between the two charged

charges of magnitude −4 μC∧+ 8 μC and distance between them being 3cm respectively

was 319.557N

8. Change Charge 1 and Charge 2 values to + 8 mC. Pull the charges so that the

distance between them is 10 cm. Notice that the distance is measured from center to

center.

After conducting the settings of the charge magnitude and distance between the charges

as per instruction 8 above, the results obtained are as shown in the screenshot above.

9. The simulation will show the electric force. Take a screenshot and copy it under

“Data Analysis” section. Add a description.

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With the changes in charge magnitudes to both charges q1 and q2 having+8 μC , and

distance between them being 10cm, an electric force of 57.5N was observed to have

existed between the charges. It’s important to note that this electric force is far much less

than the one in procedure 7 above because of the greater impact of the distance between

two charged bodies that tend to exist in between the electric force produced. This is to

imply that, as the distance between two charged bodies’ increases, the electric force

produced tends to reduce, hence the electric force and the distance of separation exhibits

an inversely proportional relationship. Percentage difference between calculated and

simulated electric forces is calculated as follows;

57.536−57.5
57.536+57.5
Percentage difference= ×100 %=0.063 %
2

10. Repeat for an 8 mC charge and a - 8 mC charge separated by 10 cm. Take

screenshots and include in Data Analysis section with appropriate descriptions.

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The experiment was repeated with a distance of 10 cm between the two charges, with the

charge magnitudes being −8 μC∧+8 μC respectively. It was observed that the electric

force which developed between the two charges was 57.5N. This corresponds to that

electric force which existed between q1 and q2 being of +8 μC in magnitude. The

negative sign had no impact on the final sign of electric force because,

|−8 × 10−6 C|=|+8 ×10−6 C|. Percentage difference between calculated and simulated
electric forces is calculated as follows;

57.536−57.5
57.536+57.5
Percentage difference= ×100 %=0.063 %
2

For a 5 mC charge and a - 4 mC charge separated by 6 cm. Take screenshots and

include in Data Analysis section with appropriate descriptions.

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The experiment was repeated with a distance of 6 cm between the two charges, with the

charge magnitudes being −4 μC∧+ 5 μC respectively. It was observed that the electric

force which developed between the two charges was 49.9N. This corresponds to that

electric force which existed between q1 and q2 being of −4 μC and +5 μC in magnitude.

The negative sign had no impact on the final sign of electric force because;

|−4 ×10−6 C|=|+4 × 10−6 C| . Percentage difference between calculated and simulated
electric forces is calculated as follows;

49.944−49.9
49.944+ 49.9
Percentage difference= × 100 %=0.088 %
2

11. Now compare calculated electric force values with simulated force values. Use the

following equation.

Percent difference=¿ calculated value−simulated value∨ ¿ ¿

¿¿

12. The above % difference equation will give you the difference between the calculated

force and the simulated force as a percentage. Enter % difference calculations for

each case under ‘Data Analysis’.

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57.536−57.5
57.536+ 57.5
First percentage difference= ×100 %=0.063 %
2

57.536−57.5
57.536+57.5
Second percentage difference= × 100 %=0.063 %
2

49.944−49.9
49.944+ 49.9
Third percentage difference= ×100 %=0.088 %
2

13. If the percentage is less than 10%, the two values agree within the margin of error.

If not, we must explain possible experimental errors. This explanation should be in

the Discussion.

From the above percentage differences between the calculated and the simulated electric

forces, in all the three percentage differences are below 10%, implying that the calculated

and simulated values of the electric force agree within the margin of error.

14. In each case, do your calculated values agree with simulated values? If values agree,

mention that in the Discussion.

Yes! The calculated values and the simulated values agreed due to the fact that their

percentage difference is far much below 10% which is taken to be a measure of

agreement of two values within the margin of error.

15. Write the conclusion.

In conclusion, this experiment was accurately conducted with minimal error, a scenario

that guaranteed the margin of error between the calculated values of electric forces and

simulated values of the electric forces to be much far less that 10% which is the

recommended measure of agreement between two values within the margin of error.

Therefore, the experimental objectives were achieved.

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Lab 2: Demonstrating how Static Electricity Leads to Attraction and Repulsion

Objective Statement:

To demonstrate how attraction and repulsion are caused by static electricity.

Part A:

Requirements for Attraction Experiment

a) Balloon

b) Bits of paper

c) Hair

d) Thread

e) Table surface

Procedure:

a) Using the mouth, the balloon was filled with pressure and tied using a thread at the

opening end to prevent pressure from coming out.

b) The balloon was charged by rubbing it with hair.

c) The paper bits were spread on a table surface before the balloon was brought near them.

Data:

The photo below shows the observation from the experiment.

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Data Analysis:

As it can be observed from the diagram above, the charged balloon attracted the bits of paper by

lifting them up off the table.

Discussion:

The lifting of the bits of paper by the charged balloon demonstrates the attraction phenomenon

that tends to take place or occurring between objects and neutral objects.

Conclusion:

The first experimental objective of demonstrating attraction caused by static electricity was

achieved.

Part B:

Requirements for Attraction Experiment

a) Two balloons
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b) Plastic tube

c) Synthetic fur

d) Hanging thread

Procedure:

a) Using the mouth, the balloons were filled with pressure and tied using a thread at the

opening end to prevent pressure from coming out before being hang from a common

point from the ceiling.

b) The two balloons were neutral/having same charge.

c) The plastic tube was then charged by rubbing it with the synthetic fur.

d) The plastic tube was then inserted between the balloons and observations were made.

Data:

The photo below shows the observations from the experiment.

Image 1

Image 2
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Data Analysis:

As shown from image 1 above, the balloons were hanging vertical alignment due to the fact that

they were neutrally/having same charge. Image 2 shows the impact that is caused by the plastic

tube that was inserted into the space between the two balloons.

Discussion:

Image 2 shows a repulsion that is caused by inserting a charged plastic tube into the space

between the balloons. The charge which is contained by the plastic tube is the same charge that is

present in the balloons, hence making them to repel the plastic tube as observed above.

Conclusion:

The second experimental objective of demonstrating repulsion caused by static electricity was

achieved. Therefore, this experiment was further used in proving the first law of electrostatics

which states that, “unlike charges attract, while like charges repel.”