Experiment 14: Electric Fields and

Potentials

Figure 14.1: Electric Fields and Potentials

Power Supply: Always connect the red lead to the red post and the black lead to the black post. Turn the power
supply off and get a TA to check the circuit prior to plugging in the power supply.

Digital Multi-Meter (DMM) as a Voltmeter: Connect the red lead to the V /Ω jack and the black lead to the COM
jack. Turn the dial to 20V DCV and turn on. You will need to adjust the voltmeter scale (turn the dial) as you
perform experiment. Adjust the scale so that you obtain the most significant figures possible without incurring an
overflow symbol (”1.”).

EQUIPMENT

Conductive/Resistive Paper (2)

Electric Fields Circuit Board
(2) Point Charge Connectors
(2) Parallel Plate Connectors
(4) Posts (2 Red, 2 Black)
Tip Holder
Digital Multi-Meter (DMM)
Power Supply
Grease Pencil (or white colored pencil)
(4) Wire Leads

71
72 Experiment 14: Electric Fields and Potentials

Advance Reading

Text: Electric field, electric potential energy, equipo-

tential, voltage.

Objective

To map equipotential lines and electric field lines of

two charge arrangements; to measure the electric field
strength of each arrangement.

Theory

Electric potential at a point is defined as the amount

of potential energy per coulomb of charge placed at that Figure 14.2: Point Charge Arrangement
point. Voltage is only defined as a difference in poten-
tial between two points. This change in potential, ∆V ,
is equal to the negative of the work per charge done
by the electric force to move a charge from one point
to another:

∆V = Vb − Va = −W/q (14.1)

An equipotential surface is defined as a surface

where all points on the surface have the same electric
potential. To move a charge around on such a surface
requires no work. In two dimensions, the equipoten-
tial surfaces are equipotential lines. How close the lines
are to each other is an indication of the strength of the
corresponding electric field.
Figure 14.3: Parallel Plate Arrangement
An electric field, E, at a point is defined as the force
per coulomb exerted on a charge at the point:

~ = F/q
E ~ (14.2)

Electric fields push positive charges toward a lower

state of potential energy, or towards a lower equipoten-
tial. Thus, electric field lines are always perpendicular
to equipotential lines.

Electric field can also be measured by how quickly

voltage is changing at that point, in volts/meter. A
stronger electric field indicates electric potential is
varying more rapidly over a particular distance.

The two conductive patterns we investigate for this

experiment, point charges and parallel plates, are on Figure 14.4: Tip Holder
conductive/resistive paper.
Note the 3 holes for positioning tips of wire leads.
Prelab 14: Electric Fields and Potentials 73

Name:

1. Define electric potential. State the units. (15 pts)

2. What is an equipotential surface? (20 pts)

3. Define electric field. State the units (both that are listed in the text). (20 pts)

4. Complete the statement: Electric field lines are always to equipotential surfaces.
(10 pts)

5. Calculate the electric field strength of the following

arrangement. Assume the leads are 1.00 cm apart
and the electric potential difference measured with
the voltmeter is 0.673 V. Refer to the procedure.
(20 pts)

Figure 14.5: Electric Field Strength Arrangement

 74 Experiment 14: Electric Fields and Potentials

PROCEDURE Electric Field Strength

Digital Multi-Meter as Voltmeter 14. Measure the electric field strength (∆V /∆x) at the
3.0 V equipotential, at the center of the paper:
1. Connect a black lead to the COM jack and a red
lead to the V /Ω jack. (a) Measure the change in voltage between two
points placed closely together, on either side
2. Turn the dial to 20V DCV and turn on the DMM
of the 3.0 V line. Use the clear plastic tip
(it is now acting as a voltmeter).
holder to maintain a measurable separation of
the leads (the holes are about 1 cm apart).
(b) Calculate the field strength, in V/m, at this
PART 1: Setup and Connections
location. Record it in the table provided.
3. Place the conductive/resistive paper on the circuit (c) Mark the location on the conductive paper and
board. Poke two holes in the paper matching the label the strength of the field.
holes in the circuit board as shown in Fig. 14.2.
4. Place a point charge connector over each hole; affix
them with one red post and one black post. Electric Field Lines

5. Connect the power supply to the point charge posts, 15. Place the DMM leads in each end of the tip holder.
black-to-black (ground) and red-to-red (positive). Place the positive lead immediately next to the
6.0 V point charge, slightly off-center of a line that
6. Connect the voltmeter to the point charges, on top would connect the two point charges. Hold the posi-
of the power supply leads. tive lead steady and pivot the ground lead around it,
noticing the ∆V readings on the voltmeter chang-
7. Ask your TA to approve your circuit. Then, plug in
ing.
the power supply and set the voltage to 6.0 V.
16. Pivot the black lead until you find the maximum
8. Label the point charges with a grease pencil (the
reading on the voltmeter. Mark the location of the
ground lead is at 0.0 V, the positive lead is at 6.0 V).
black lead by pressing the tip into the paper to make
an indentation.
17. Move the red lead to the indentation made by the
PART 2: Point Charges black lead. Pivot the black lead around this location
as before, finding the direction of greatest voltage
Equipotential Lines change.
9. Remove the voltmeter positive lead from the point 18. Continue to “walk” the leads across the paper un-
charge and drag it across the conductive paper. til you reach the 0.0 V point charge. Connect the
Bring it closer to the ground lead until the volt- dots with the grease pencil. The resulting line is an
meter reads 1.00 V. (Adjust the voltmeter scale to electric field line.
give the most significant figures without getting an
overload symbol, “1.”) 19. Have your partner repeat this process, Step 15 -
Step 18, beginning from a different position on the
10. Mark a dot at this location with the grease pencil. 6.0 V point charge. Remove the point charge posts
Move the voltmeter lead around the paper until you and conductive paper. Keep the paper as data.
locate eight points where the voltmeter reads 1.00 V
and mark each of them.
11. Connect the dots with the grease pencil to create an PART 3: Parallel Plates
equipotential line. Label this line with its voltage.
20. Affix a new sheet of conductive paper to the circuit
12. Have your partner repeat this process to locate the board using four posts as shown in Fig. 14.3. Use
2.0 V equipotential. red posts for one parallel plate and black posts for
the other.
13. Take turns with your partner to locate the 3.0 V,
4.0 V, and 5.0 V equipotentials. 21. Outline the parallel plates with the grease pencil.
 Experiment 14: Electric Fields and Potentials 75

Equipotentials QUESTIONS
22. Locate the 2.0 V equipotential (as in Part 2). Con- 1. Refer to Table 14.1. Show that the electric field unit
nect the dots and label its voltage. Extend it at of N/C equals V/m.
least three points past the ends of the plates.
23. Have your partner repeat this process for the 4.0 V Current Amp [A] Coulomb/second
equipotential.
Potential Difference Volt [V] Joule/Coulomb
Electric Field Strength Power Watt [W] Joule/second
24. Measure the field strength at the center of the pa- Resistance Ohm [Ω] Volt/Amp
per, between the plates (as in Part 2). Mark the
position and field strength on the paper.
Table 14.1: Electric Quantities and Units
25. How does this compare to the average electric field
between the two plates? Calculate the average elec-
tric field (∆V /∆x) between the plates, then find the
percent difference of your measured value.

Electric Field Lines

26. It is known that the electric field between two plates
is a series of parallel lines going straight from one
plate to the other. Locate and draw two of the field
lines outside of the ends of the parallel plate con-
figuration.
27. Unplug and organize the equipment on your ta-
ble. Keep the conductive paper as data. Staple
one of the charge arrangements to the back of your
datasheet; staple the other to your lab partner’s
datasheet.