Analysis

An electric field is the region where electrostatic force is present, surrounding

electrically charged particles and time-varying magnetic fields. An Electrostatic
force is the phenomenon that results from slow-moving or stationary electrical
charges. Its strength at any particular point is defined as force divided by the
charge:

F
E=
q

Where:
F - Electric force experienced by the test particle
q - Charge of the test particle in the electric field
E - Electric field wherein the particle is located.
Electric field E is a
vector quantity. It is
defined as the force
per unit charge that
would act upon a unit
positive test charge if
the

charge

were

placed at the point in

question. A line of force
or electric field line is the path a charge would follow if it were allowed to move
along in exactly the direction of the force acting on it. By conclusion, the sense of
E is the direction of the force on a positive test charge.

In this experiment, we will study these

electric fields by mapping conductive paper
using silver conductive ink and locating
points using the digital multimeter. In
locating the points, we were supposed to get
the points with the same readings which will
turn out to be equipotential lines. Each
equipotential line or surface is specified by
the same single value of the voltage that all
its points have with respect to the conductor.
The goal is to locate points at each desired
potential

in

order

to

trace

corresponding equipotential line.

out

the

Figure 1. Conductive Paper

Equipotential lines are like contour lines on a map which trace lines of equal
altitude. In this case the "altitude" is electric potential or voltage. In this
experiment, there will be marks on the conductive paper and when connected,
forms line traces like the one shown above.
Equipotential lines are always perpendicular to the electric field.
In three dimensions, the lines form equipotential surfaces. Movement
along an equipotential surface requires no work because such movement
is always perpendicular to the electric field. It is important to understand
that you are modelling three-dimensional systems in only two
dimensions. The paper and conductors represent the cross-section of
objects that are cylindrically symmetrical rather than spherically
symmetrical. For example, the field of a dot and a circle on the paper will

be identical to that of a line and a cylinder in space, not of a point charge and a
sphere.

This experiment is all about electric fields

equipotential lines. The
Figure 2. Silver ink pen

purpose

of

and

this

experiment is for

us

to

study the nature of electric fields by mapping the

equipotential lines and then drawing in the electric
of

force.

materials

lines
The
needed

in doing the
experiment

Conductive Paper

Corkboard Surface

are:

Conductive
Push Pin
Silver
Ink Pen

Connecting
Circular Wires
Template

Digital Multimeter

Battery

The experiment has two parts, Dipoles of unlike

Charges and Point Source and Guard Ring. For the first part
of the experiment, the conductive paper was pinned in the
corkboard for stableness. From point 0, points 10 and -10 in the
x axis were marked by a silver pen. Those points were covered
with the pins like shown.

Multimeter Reading
1.459 volts

1.570 volts

1.864 volts

2.160 volts

2.400 volts

After

Coordinates(x,y)
0
1
1.25
1.30
0
1.4
1.95
2.2
0
1.6
2.2
2.8
0
1.9
2.9
3.7
0
2.1
3.65
4.60

9
9.5
10
10.5
8
8.5
9
9.5
7
7.5
8
8.5
6
6.5
7
7.5
5
5.5
6
6.5

that, the connecting lines were connected to the battery then the other

ends were connected to the pin. After that, in the positive side of the setup, 9 points
are going to be used starting from point 9 up to point 5 from the 0 reference point.
In point 9, using the digital multimeter, we chose a desired reading and began to
map out the closest location with the same reading as the desired reading.

The same procedure is repeated for points 8 to point 5. After finishing the
mapping of points, we tried to get each points x and y coordinates.

Table A: Dipoles of Unlike Charges

After that, using a computer, we tried to plot the acquired points, connected
the dots, and mirrored the curves on each quadrant. For part two, the procedure
does not differ from the first part. The only difference is that the setting of the
charge in the paper is circular like shown in figure

Computer Visualization for Table A:

The same with part 1, connection wires were

connected to the reference point 0 and point 7. Then, again from point 2 to point 6,
we chose a desired reading charge using a digital multimeter around the area of the
positive side and map out the rest of the same charges.

Multimeter Reading

Coordinates(x,y)

3.70 volts

0
2
1
1.5
1.4
1
1.6
0.5
4.0 volts
0
3
1
2.5
1.5
2
1.8
1.5
4.65 volts
0
4
1.4
3.5
2
3
2.2
2.5
4.90 volts
0
5
1.5
4.5
2.2
4
2.5
3.5
5.12 volts
0
6
1.7
5.5
2.2
5
2.8
4.5
The same procedure is repeated for points 2 to point 6. After finishing the mapping
of points, we tried to get each points x and y coordinates.

Table B: Point Source and Guard Ring

After that, using a computer, we tried to plot the acquired points, connected
the dots, and mirrored the curves on each quadrant. For part two, the procedure
does not differ from the first part. The only difference is that the setting of the
charge in the paper is circular like shown in figure

Computer Visualization for Table B

Conclusion

Experiment 305, which is entitled Electric Fields and Equipotential Lines,

aims to consider the nature of electric fields by mapping the equipotential lines and
then drawing in the lines of electric lines of force.An electric field is an area where
electrostatic force is present.On the other hand, equipotential lines are lines with
equal potential.
In the experiment, we used the conductive paper as the electric field. We
plotted the points wherein the potentials are equal. The resulting figure was a
parabola. We plotted the same coordinates on the negative x-axis. After doing five
trials, we connected the five parabolas with a line intersecting perpendicularly.
This is the electric line of force with direction from the positive to negative x-axis.
We also plotted the points with equal potential on a guarded ring. Using the
origin as our point source, we produced circles. This means that the electric lines
are trapped inside the guard ring. The reason for this is that the guard ring can
conduct electricity since it is made up silver. As we increase the distance from the
point source, the voltage decreases.
In this experiment we can see that
the equipotential lines generated are proportional in strength with
respect to their distances from the point source,
We can assume that the strength of the electric charge is proportional
to its distance.