Scribd
Upload
191 views3 pages

Lab Electricfieldandpotential

1) The objective of the lab is to explore electric fields and electric potential using a PhET simulation with different charge configurations. Students will place positive, negative, and mixed charges at various distances and calculate the electric field and potential at points between the charges, checking their work with sensors. 2) Students create different charge configurations including two positive charges, two negative charges, and a positive and negative charge at the same distance. They also combine multiple positive charges into a single large charge. 3) Additional steps include finding the points of zero electric field and zero electric potential and comparing results from single charges to combined charges. Students summarize patterns in their results and discuss sources of error.

Uploaded by

jose taco
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
191 views3 pages

Lab Electricfieldandpotential

1) The objective of the lab is to explore electric fields and electric potential using a PhET simulation with different charge configurations. Students will place positive, negative, and mixed charges at various distances and calculate the electric field and potential at points between the charges, checking their work with sensors. 2) Students create different charge configurations including two positive charges, two negative charges, and a positive and negative charge at the same distance. They also combine multiple positive charges into a single large charge. 3) Additional steps include finding the points of zero electric field and zero electric potential and comparing results from single charges to combined charges. Students summarize patterns in their results and discuss sources of error.

Uploaded by

jose taco
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 3

Lab: Electric Fields

The objective of this lab is to explore electric field and electric potential based on
different charge configurations.
Groups of 1-2. You may choose your group.
Background information on field theory:
In an electric field theory, a charge affects the space around it, creating a field. Another charge
entering this space is affected by that field and experiences a force. In this scenario, the two
charges do not directly interact with each other; one charge creates a field and the other charge
interacts directly with that field. The direction of the electrical force on a charge is along the
direction of the field.
Open up the PhET simulation titled Charges and Fields.
Explore the simulation so you can understand the different options. Dont spend too much time
exploring.
Set up:
1. Check the gird, Show numbers, and tape measure boxes in the bottom right
green box.
2. You can use the tape measure to measure distance between charges. When you
measure distances, use the two red cross hairs.
3. The simulation should look like this, (but without the two charges in the middle):

Procedures:
1. Set two positive charges directly horizontal from each other, at a certain distance
away from each other. (Now your lab should look similar to the diagram above.)
2. Using the tape measure, measure and record the distance between them.

Lab: Electric Fields


The objective of this lab is to explore electric field and electric potential based on
different charge configurations.
3. Using that distance, calculate the electric field strength from each charge at a
distance halfway between the two charges. Record these 2 electric field strengths in the
same data table (for this lab, have 1 data table per trial).
4. Now calculate the total electric field strength at that point and record it in your
table.
5. After you have calculated the electric field strength, drag an orange E-field
Sensor to a point halfway between the charges to check your answer. Record this value
in your table.
6. Repeat steps 2-3 with electric potential (voltage).
7. Drag the equipotential meter so the cross hairs are on that point to check your
answer. Record this value in your data table.
8. Take a screen shot of your lab.
9. Repeat steps 2-8 with two negative charges at the same distance apart. Record this
data (including the charge and distance between them) in a new data table. Make sure
you have taken a screen shot.
10. Repeat steps 2-8 with a positive and a negative charge at the same distance apart.
Record this data (including the charge and distance between them) in a new data table.
Make sure you have taken a screen shot.
11. Put 2 positive charges a set difference away from each other. Place more positive
charges on top of one of them (this will effectively create one large charge). If you want
to create 2 large charges you may do so, but make sure they have 2 different amounts of
charge. Record what each total charge is.
12. Repeat steps 2-8. Make sure you have taken a screen shot.
13. Calculate where the total electric field will be zero. Use the E-field Sensor to
check your answer. Record the actual position of zero electric field strength. Take a
screenshot of your lab set up.
14. Calculate where the total potential will be zero. Use the equipotential meter to
check your answer. Record the actual position of zero electric potential. Take a
screenshot of your lab.
**Note: You should have a total of 6 screen shots. Make sure these are well labeled in your lab
report.
Conclusion:
1. Summarize your results from the lab.
2. What connections can you make? What patterns can you see?
3. What did you notice when you had a larger charge?
4. How did your results from step 12 compare to the results from the first
experiment? Is there a factor that your answer changed by?
5. Where you surprised by any of your results?
6. Give 1 possible source of error for this simulated lab.

Lab: Electric Fields


The objective of this lab is to explore electric field and electric potential based on
different charge configurations.
7. Give 1-2 sources of error/precautions you would have to take into account if you
had done this lab in real life.
8. Give 1-2 real life applications of electric fields and electrical potentials.
In writing your lab report: You may work on the lab report with your partner. (One option would
be to create a combined document for your group.) But you must each have your OWN
conclusion written. (If you write one combined lab report, make sure you label whose conclusion
is whose.)
Your lab report is due on Monday.

You might also like