Point Charge, Electric Field and
Potential
1a. Electric field generated by a single charge
1. The sensors arrow points away(outward) for a positive charge and
towards(inward) for a negative charge.
2. As the sensor gets closer to a point charge, the field strength created
by that field
increases.
1b. Draw electric field
iv. Draw the field lines around pair of charges
1c. Measuring electric field strength:
(a) at 0.87 m , Electrical Field Strength is 10.80V/m
(b) at 1.5 m Electrical Field Strength is 2.33 V/m
(c) E (1nC charge) = 8.2 V/m
E (2nC charge) = 16.4 V/m
E (4nC charge) = 32.8 V/m
The field strength becomes double as we increase the positive charge.
2a. Measuring electric potential
V (at 0.5m) = 5.6 V
V (at 1.0 m) = 4.2 V
V (at 1.5m) = 3.1 V
From above data, it is clear that voltage decreases as the distance
increases.
2b. Show that V/m = N/C :
As we know
1 V = Joules / Coulomb = J/C
We also know that by the work formula:
Work(joules) = Force(Newton) * distance(meters)
so we can say that....
Joules = Newton * meters = N.m
Now we can plug in the units back in to substitute for volts:
1 V/m = (Newton * meter) / (Coulomb * meter)
1 V/m = N.m / C.m
the meter's cancel out on top and on bottom so we get....
1 V/m = 1 N/C
3a. Compare electric field and electric potential:
Charge Used: 1nC
Distance from Field strength Potential at
charge (m) (V/m) location (V)
2.1 2.04 4.3
0.90 9.88 8.9
0.89 10.11 9.0
0.223 118.38 26.4
2.7 1.1 3.1
0.53 27.0 14.3
3b. Electric field vs. electric potential due to multiple charges (two
positive):
viii. The spot where E-field is zero: 1m from the left charge
ix. At the midpoint between the two charges is the potential zero.
x. Potential at the midpoint: 0V
At Mid-Point
3c. Electric field vs. electric potential due to multiple charges (one
positive and one negative):
a. There is no spot joining these two charges where E-field is zero.
b. The E-field is minimum at the midpoint.
c. The potential is positive to the left of the + 1nC.
d. The potential is negative to the right of the 1nC.
e. The potential is zero at midpoint as shown below:
Zero Potential
3d. Electric field vs. electric potential due to multiple charges (one
positive and
four negative):
The E-field value is zero at 2m to the right of the + 1nC.
The V-value is zero at 0.58m to the right of the + 1nC.
4a. Electric Field and Equipotential Lines:
I drop three positive and three negative charges in the test area. After that
by using plotter ( voltmeter ) I plot several equipotential lines. These lines
drawn separately around positive and negative charges in according to a
pattern. As the distance increases the pattern made is bigger around both
positive and negative charges.
Do the equipotential lines intersect? Is this expected according to
the theory?
The lines are not intersecting each other. They gets very close to each other
but not intersects each other. And also this could not be possible according
to theory.
What is the approximate angle between the electric field line and
the equipotential surface?
There are different angles between the electric filed lines and the
equipotential surface. As there are so many electric field lines with several
equipotential surfaces, so no specified angle can be there.
5a. Conclusion Questions and Calculations:
1. Closer to a point charge, the electrostatic field strength is stronger.
2. The electrostatic force on a test charge placed in the midpoint between two
equal and like point charges is minimum force.
3. The electrostatic force on a test charge placed in the midpoint between
two equal and like point charges is zero
1. The electric field is zero at a point that is situated to the left of the
positive charge
1. Solution:
As we know F = k (q1 q2)/r2
F = 8.9 x 109 ( 1 x 10-6 . 2 x 10-6) / (10 x 10-2 )2
F = 1.8 N (Force would be attractive)
Acceleration
F = ma
a = F/m
a = 1.8/0.06
a = 300 m/s2
*It is move towards the other balloon.
