EXPERIMENT 1: ELECTRIC FIELDS AND EQUIPOTENTIOAL SURFACES

Objective

To study the electrical interactions between a different electrical charges on a plates

To study the electrical fields, from their directions to their strengths

Theory
From the definitions, electric field shapes are envisioned as families of electric lines
of force. Since a line is the path followed by a free positive test charge, the shape and
direction of a field about an isolated simple charge distribution is predictable using
Coulomb's Law. Consider an electric dipole which consists of a positive and a negative point
charge separated by some distance. Let say, a small positive charge is released near the +q
and consider the path it would follow under the two forces acting on it. The test charge is
repelled by the +q and attracted to the -q, weakly or strongly depending on the separation
distances according to Coulomb's Law. At every point along the line the net force must be
tangent to the line in order to move it along that path. In general, the field of a dipole
originates from the +q, bows outward and terminates on the -q.
Predicting the electric fields of continuous charge distributions such as charged wires or
plates is more difficult than for point charges. The methods of calculus are generally used for
continuous charge distributions and general physics texts usually provide predictions for the
more common distributions such as charged parallel plates. Consider two oppositely charged
parallel plates whose dimensions (area) are large compared to the separation between the
plates. The predicted field bows outward at the ends (called edge effects); however the more
important predictions are that, within the central region between the plates, the electric field
has a constant magnitude and is directed perpendicular to the plates from the positive to the
negative plate. Theoretically predicted diagrams are shown below.

Apparatus
Power Source, Connecting wire, 2 Electrodes, Probes, Multimeter, Conductive Paper, Plain
Paper and blalala

Procedure
1. Carbon and plain paper has placed between conducting paper and base-board.
2. Two circular electrodes was placed by 10cm apart and it was clamped firmly to the
conductive paper and board. The circuit then has been complete assembled.
3. The Voltage of power supply has been set to 4.0 V
4. With the power supply is on, the probe is placed on the conducting paper to find the
5.
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several point of same potentials reading.

The point is marked on conducting paper until a line can be formed on the plain paper.
The line is drawn smoothly connecting those point has been marked before
Several equipotential curves lines has been plot with a different voltage is used
The results has been recorded and plotted

Discussion

From the experiment, it has been proven that by what we have learned theoretically in classes
and practically by doing an experiment an electric fields is exists and it is has been
discovered that it has direction of strength. The direction of the strength could be seen after
plotting a line by marking several point of certain amount of voltage. The lines obtained is
having their own direction towards the sources which is circular electrodes. The closer the
point that have been marked towards the positive circular electrodes the greater the amount of
voltage gained and it will reach until at certain amount which the maximum amount provided
by the power source. The conductive paper used is placed on carbon and plain paper. Thus,
any point that is marked on the conductive paper will give a copy on plain paper by effect of
using carbon sheet provided. Based on our results, our team has decided to put a certain
voltage amount which is 2.51V, 3.67V and 4.35V. We have figured out the lines by marking
several points on the conductive paper. The point of same voltage amount is joined by
drawing a smooth line touching each of the point plotted. Thus a smooth lines which is an
electric fields line has been discovered.

After conducting this experiment we have figured out some of errors that may have
been done throughout this experiment. The first source of error is maybe due the missmeasurement of some of the points. The probe isnt really the most comfortable tool with
which to accurately determine the equipotential point on the sheet. Even though we did
recheck the equipotential points, there are slight errors with this measuring technique which
could cause the electric field lines to slightly differ from the most ideal and accurate electric
field lines. Others it could be some sort of attenuation or loss of energy due to attenuation or
heat came out from surrounding which could also marginally alter our results. The alligator
clip wire that has been provided to us also maybe cause of the factor of error, some of the
alligator clips that we are used are figured out damage and has been replaced by another
throughout this experiment. Some of the alligator clips maybe are too old and may affect our
results due to corroded conditions by some of it.

Conclusions

In conclusions, after conducting this experiment we have learned how the electrical
interactions between a different electrical charges on a plates and able to see the electrical
fields from their directions to their strength. Thus the objective of this experiment has been
achieved.