SHS

General Physics 2 Activity Sheet

Quarter 3 – MELC 18
Week 3
Direction and Strength
of Electric Field

REGION VI – WESTERN VISAYAS

General Physics 2
Activity Sheet No. 5 - Direction and Strength of Electric Field
First Edition, 2021

Published in the Philippines

By the Department of Education
Region 6 – Western Visayas

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Development Team of Physical Science Activity Sheet

Writer: Viviene B. Deni-ay

Editor: Dannie Clark M. Uguil

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Dannie Clark M. Uguil
Rusil N. Sombito
Eunice A. Malala

Division of Negros Occidental Management Team:

Marsette D. Sabbaluca
Ma. Teresa P. Geroso
Dennis G. Develos
Zaldy H. Reliquias
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Dannie Clark M. Uguil
Othelo M. Beating

Regional Management Team

Ramir B. Uytico
Pedro T. Escobarte, Jr.
Elena P. Gonzaga
Donald T. Genine
Rovel R. Salcedo
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Anita S. Gubalane
Minda L. Soldevilla
Daisy L. Lopez
Joseph M. Pagalaran
Introductory Message
Welcome to General Physics 2!

The Learning Activity Sheet is a product of the collaborative efforts of the

Schools Division of Negros Occidental and DepEd Regional Office VI - Western
Visayas through the Curriculum and Learning Management Division (CLMD). This is
developed to guide the learning facilitators (teachers, parents and responsible adults)
in helping the learners meet the standards set by the K to 12 Basic Education
Curriculum.

The Learning Activity Sheet is self-directed instructional materials aimed to

guide the learners in accomplishing activities at their own pace and time using the
contextualized resources in the community. This will also assist the learners in
acquiring the lifelong learning skills, knowledge and attitudes for productivity and
employment.

For learning facilitator:

The General Physics 2 Activity Sheet will help you facilitate the leaching-
learning activities specified in each Most Essential Learning Competency (MELC) with
minimal or no face-to-face encounter between you and learner. This will be made
available to the learners with the references/links to ease the independent learning.

For the learner:

The General Physics 2 Activity Sheet is developed to help you continue

learning even if you are not in school. This learning material provides you with
meaningful and engaging activities for independent learning. Being an active learner,
carefully read and understand the instructions then perform the activities and answer
the assessments. This will be returned to your facilitator on the agreed schedule.
Name of Learner: ___________________________________________________
Grade and Section:_______________________________Date: ________________

GENERAL PHYSICS 2 ACTIVITY SHEET No. 5

Direction and Strength of Electric Field

I. Learning Competency with Code

Infer the direction and strength of electric field vector, nature of electric field
sources and electrostatic potential surfaces given the equipotential lines
(STEM_GP12EM-IIIc-18).

II. Background Information for Learners

An electric field is a region where the
force on one charge is caused by the
presence of another charge. It exists
around any charged object. It is a vector
quantity and by convention, it emanates
from positive charges and terminate on
negative charges. The direction of the
force that is exerted on a negative charge
is opposite that which is exerted on a
positive charge. Because an electric field
has both magnitude and direction or that
is a vector, the direction of the force on a Figure 1. Electric field lines near equal but opposite charges

positive charge is chosen arbitrarily as the

direction of the electric field.
Because positive charges
repel each other, the electric
field around an isolated
positive charge is oriented
radially outward. When
they are represented by lines of
force, or field lines, electric
fields are depicted as starting
on positive charges and
Figure 2. Electric field at point charges terminating on negative
charges. The strength of the electric field depends on the source charge, not
on the test charge. The forces exerted by these fields can do work, transferring
energy from the field to another charged object. This energy is something you
use on a daily basis, whether you plug an appliance into an electric outlet or
use a battery-powered, portable device.
An electric field lines are an excellent way of visualizing electric fields.
They were first introduced by Michael Faraday. A field line is drawn tangential
to the net at a point. Thus, at any point, the tangent to the electric field line
matches the direction of the electric field at that point. Secondly, the relative
density of field lines around a point corresponds to the relative strength or
magnitude of the electric field at that point. In other words, if you see more
electric field lines in the vicinity of point A as compared to point B, then the
electric field is stronger at point A. See figure below.
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 Figure 3. Density and strength of electric field lines in patterns
Properties of Electric Field Lines
1. The field lines never intersect each other.
2. The field lines are perpendicular to the surface of the charge.
3. The magnitude of charge and the number of field lines, both are
proportional to each other.
4. The start point of the field lines is the positive charge and end at the
negative charge.
5. For the field lines to either start or end at infinity, a single charge must
be used.
Rules for Drawing Electric Field Patterns
• One common convention is to surround more charged objects by more
lines. Objects with greater charge create stronger electric fields. By
surrounding a highly charged object with more lines, one can
communicate the strength of an electric field in the space surrounding
a charged object by the line density. The convention is depicted in the
diagram below.

Figure 4. Density of lines in patterns

The density of electric field lines around the three objects reveals that the
quantity of charge on C is greater than that of B. Not only the density of lines
surrounding any given object reveal information about the quantity of charge
on the source charge but also the density of lines at a specific location in
space reveals information about the strength of the field at that location.

Consider the object shown below.

Two different circular cross-sections
are drawn at different distances from
the source charge. These cross-
sections represent regions of space
closer to and further from the source
charge. The field lines are closer
together in the regions of space
Figure 5. Line density of electric field closest to the charge and they are
spread farther apart in the regions of
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 space farthest from the charge. Based on the convention concerning line
density, one would reason that the electric field is greatest at locations closest
to the surface of the charge and least at locations further from the surface of
the charge. Line density in an electric field line pattern reveals information
about the strength or magnitude of an electric field.
• A second rule in drawing electric field lines involves drawing the lines
of force perpendicular to the surfaces of objects at the locations where the
lines connect to object’s surfaces. At the surface of both symmetrically shaped
and irregularly shaped objects, there is never a component of electric force
which is directed parallel to the surface. The electric force and the electric field
are always directed perpendicular to the surface of an object.
• A final rule for drawing electric field lines involves the intersection of
lines. Electric field lines should never cross. This is particularly important when
drawing electric field lines for situations involving a configuration of charges. If
electric field lines were ever allowed to cross each other at a given location,
then you might be able to imagine the results. Each electric field lines reveal
information about the direction and the strength of an electric field within a
region of space. If the lines cross each other at a given location, then there
must be two distinctly different values of electric field with their own individual
direction at that given location. This could never be the case. Every single
location in space has its own electric field strength and direction associated
with it. Consequently, the lines representing the field cannot cross each other
at any given location in space.

Equipotential Line
An equipotential line is a line joining points having the same potential.
The equipotential lines can be drawn by making them perpendicular to the
electric field lines. The potential is greatest near the positive charge and least
near the negative charge. Field lines show direction from the + to the - plate,
but equipotential lines have no direction.
Equipotential surfaces are surfaces which have the same potential.
At any point on an equipotential surface, the potential is the same. In two
dimensions, equipotential surfaces become equipotential lines. It is important
to note that any radial line or field line is perpendicular to all equipotential
surfaces around a point charge.

Figure 6. Equipotential lines Figure 7. Equipotential lines and field lines

3
Note that where the field is
uniform, the equipotentials are
evenly spaced, but in a non-
uniform field, equipotentials get
further apart as the field
decreases in strength.

Figure 8. Equipotential lines (dotted lines) and field lines (full lines)

Figure below shows an isolated point charge Q with its electric field lines
(arrow) and equipotential lines (circle). The potential is the same along each
equipotential line, meaning that no work is required to move a charge
anywhere along one of those lines. Work is needed to move a charge from
one equipotential line to another. Equipotential lines are perpendicular to
electric field lines in every case.

Figure 9. Isolated point charge with its electric field lines and equipotential lines

For example, an important application of electric fields and equipotential

lines is in the field of medicine like the normal function of the heart. The heart
relies on electrical signals to maintain its rhythm. The movement of electrical
signals causes the chambers of the heart to contract and relax. When a
person has a heart attack, the movement of these electrical signals may be
disturbed. An artificial pacemaker and a defibrillator can be used to initiate the
rhythm of electrical signals. The equipotential lines around the heart, the
thoracic region, and the axis of the heart are useful ways of monitoring the
structure and functions of the heart. An electrocardiogram (ECG) measures
the small electric signals being generated during the activity of the heart.

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III. Activity Proper

Activity 1. Draw Me…

1. Draw the vector representations of the following sources.

A. B.

+ -

2. Draw the electric field for a pair of opposite charges.

+ -

3. Draw the electric field lines and equipotential lines for a charged pair.

+ -

Guide Questions

1. What is the direction of the electric field vector in a positive charge?

______________________________________________________________

2. What is the direction of the electric field vector in a negative charge?

______________________________________________________________

3. Compare and contrast electric field lines and equipotential lines.

______________________________________________________________

Activity 2. Am I Strong or Weak?

Study and analyze the figures below.

A. B.

Questions
1. Which of the two figures represents a weaker field? A stronger field?
Explain your answer.

5
 6
Guide Questions
Activity 1.
The direction of the electric field vector in a positive charge is oriented outward.
The direction of the electric field vector in a negative charge is oriented inward.
An electric field is a region in space where one charge experiences a force from another
charge. It begins on positive charges and radiates away toward negative charges, where they
terminate while Equipotential lines are lines connecting points of the same electric potential.
All electric field lines cross all equipotential lines perpendicularly.
Activity 2.
Figure A represents a weaker field while figure B represents a stronger field since it has
more electric field lines than figure A. The density of lines at a specific location in space
reveals information about the strength of the field at that location.
3. 2.
B. 1 A.
Activity 1
Answer Key V.
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
1 thing I want to know more:
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
2 things I want to be clarified:
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
3 things I learned in this activity
Reflection IV.
VI. Reference
Allister, W. (2013) Grade 12 Physics (40S); A Course for Independent Study;
Manitoba Education.

Eurone, P.P. (2020), Physics; Houston Texas; Openstax.

Weik M.H. (2000) electric field strength. In: Computer Science and
Communications Dictionary. Springer, Boston, MA.