Phet Electric Field Simulator

Investigation 4
Beginning Observations
1) Go to https://phet.colorado.edu/sims/html/charges-and-fields/latest/charges-and-fields_en.html.
Play with the different aspects of the simulation. What can you change about the simulation?

As you move the negatively charged ions, the arrows are attracted to it, but they are repelled by the
positively charged ions.

2) What do the “Sensors” show? (with numbers off)

They show how much an arrow is repelled by its distance from the charge.

3) Select the box “Voltage” The darkness of the arrows show the strength of the field. How does the
length of the Sensor arrow relate to the strength of the field?

The length of the sensor becomes smaller as the distance becomes greater from the charge, this is the
same in terms of the arrow and its darkness.

4) How can you make a point charge of +2q(+2 nC)? -3q(-3 nC)?

Drag a +q charge and stack another on top. Same thing for the -3q. Take -q and stack two more on top.

Part 1 – Field around isolated point charges

5) Draw the field lines for the scenarios below. Make sure you are sketching continuous field lines.
One point charge of 4q One point charge of -2q
Part 2 – Field around two point charges in a line
6) Draw the field lines for the scenarios below. Make sure you are sketching continuous field lines.
Two unequal, unlike, point charges Two equal. alike, point charges

Place a test e-field sensor anywhere on the screen for both scenarios and draw what you see.
7) When you have two like charges in a line – where is the electric field the greatest? Is there ever a
point where the field will be zero?

They electric field is the greatest by the charges and yes.

8) When you have two unlike charges in a line – where is the electric field the greatest? Is there ever a
point where the field will be zero?

When the line is closest, the electric field is the strongest.

Part 3 – More complicated scenarios
9) For this part of the lab, create the three arrangements below and draw the field lines you see.
3 point charges, equal, like 4 point charges, 2 positive, 2 5 point charges, 3 positive, 2
charges negative, all unequal negative, all unequal,

Place at least three field sensors in each of your scenarios above and draw what you see on your
diagrams.

Part 4 – The field around charge distributions

10) Make a long line of positive charges by placing them very close together. How does the field change
as you move down the line of charges?

They continuously move outwards from the original line.

11) Construct a parallel-plate capacitor where a second line of charges equal in size and opposite in
charge are placed below the line of positive charges. Examine what the “E-field” is like between the
plates using a sensor. Include a diagram of your parallel plate capacitor.

Since the e-field is strong, the sensor indicates that they move outwards.