UNCC

Phys 1102L

Summer 2, 2015
Online Lab #2

Lab 02: Point Charge, Electric Field and Potential

You will need to run a simulation to do the lab. Answer the following questions as you work through
the lab. Write your answers in blue. . (Note that we may miss your response if it doesnt stand out )
Re-load the file in Word or PDF format in Moodle before the due date.

Lab Objective:
1. Learn about the electric field generated by a single point charge and multiple point charges.
2. Understand the vector nature of electric field.
3. How electric potential changes with distance and about equipotential lines.

Introduction:
A point charge in space creates an electrostatic field, similar to a massive object creating a gravitational
field. In fact, this similarity extends to the mathematical relationship between electrostatic force, given by
Coulombs Law:

F=k

F=G

q1 q2
r

, and the force of gravity, given by Newtons Law of Universal Gravitation:

m1 m2
r

The electrostatic force

F in Coulombs law can be attractive or repulsive between two electric point

charges in free space. The two point charges are represented by q1 and q2 and measured in Coulombs, k =
8.988 x 109 N.m2/C2 (also called Coulombs constant of proportionality), and r is the distance measured in
meters between charges. An electric force is a vector quantity that acts along a straight line from one
charge to the other. The strength of an electrostatic field surrounding electric charges is defined as the
electrostatic force on a charge divided by that charge.

E=

F
q
=k 2
q
r

(2.1)

At a point in space, the electrostatic potential is potential energy divided by the charge associated with a
static electric field. The electric potential of a point charge in free space is defined as:

V =k

q
r

(2.2)

where q is the charge, k is Coulombs constant and r is the distance between the charge and a point at
which the potential is measured. Note that V is measured in volts (V). Note that the electric field strength E
of a point charge is related to the potential V as

Simulation created by the Physics Education Technology Project (PhET) c/o The University of Colorado at Boulder
http://phet.colorado.edu/

This lab has been modified for On-line lab course from Electricity and Magnetism, 3 rd Ed. Sokoloff, Laws and
Thornton for UNCC labs 1102L/2102L.

UNCC
Phys 1102L

Summer 2, 2015
Online Lab #2

E=

V
r

(2.3)

Note that the field strength, E can be measured in units of N/C and V/m. In this lab, familiarize yourself with
how point charges create fields and how fields from multiple charges interact.

Simulation created by the Physics Education Technology Project (PhET) c/o The University of Colorado at Boulder
http://phet.colorado.edu/

This lab has been modified for On-line lab course from Electricity and Magnetism, 3 rd Ed. Sokoloff, Laws and
Thornton for UNCC labs 1102L/2102L.

UNCC
Phys 1102L

Summer 2, 2015
Online Lab #2

Simulation: Open the simulation Charges and Fields:

https://phet.colorado.edu/sims/charges-and-fields/charges-and-fields_en.html
Take a few minutes to be familiar with the simulation. Click all the buttons, check what happens when you
add one charge, two charges, move the charge around, change the sign of the charge. Bring in the E-field
sensor, move the voltmeter. Note the numbers when you move the charge. Once you are familiar with the
simulation start the lab.

1a. Electric field generated by a single charge

Place a 1 nC positive charge and E-Field sensor (which is really a positive test charge) in the test area.
Click
around in the field

to observe the field lines in the E-field. Observe the sensors arrow as you drag it

The sensors arrow illustrates the force of attraction or repulsion at a point in an electric field.
Replace the positive charge with a negative point charge. To remove charges, drag them back into their
box.
i.

The sensors arrow points away for a positive charge and ____inward______for a negative charge.

ii.

As the sensor gets closer to a point charge, the field strength created by that field
____increasing______________.

1b. Draw electric field

Place a single point charge in the work area and observe its field with a test charge.

iii. Draw the field lines (using convention, arrows) around a positive point charge and (separately) a negative
charge. Show the directions of field lines. Draw four lines in different directions for each charge.

Place two point charges side by side in the work area and observe the electric field.

iv. Draw the field lines around pair of charges shown below.
Simulation created by the Physics Education Technology Project (PhET) c/o The University of Colorado at Boulder
http://phet.colorado.edu/

This lab has been modified for On-line lab course from Electricity and Magnetism, 3 rd Ed. Sokoloff, Laws and
Thornton for UNCC labs 1102L/2102L.

UNCC
Phys 1102L

Summer 2, 2015
Online Lab #2

(a)

(b)
Click on show
charge.

(c)

numbers and tape measure to measure the distances from a field creating charge to a test

The tape measure can be dragged to a specific distance and placed anywhere on the field
When measuring field strength, click

to show the equipotential lines.

1c. Measuring electric field strength:

v.

Using E-field sensor, measure the electric field strength of a 1nC positive charge:
(a)

at 0.87 m 11.9 V/m

(b)

at 1.5 m 4.0 V/m

vi. Using the E-field sensor, measure the electric field strength of a 1 nC positive charge at a distance of 1m.
Add another 1nC positive charge right on top of the first. What is the electric field strength now at 1m?
Add two more charges (for a total of 4 nC) and measure the field strength at 1m? How is the field
strength changing? (e.g. becomes half, or doubles, triplesetc.)
E (1nC charge) = _____ same _______
E (2nC charge) = ______ doubles ________
E (4nC charge) = _______4 times__________
The field strength changes as ___change changes_______

2a. Measuring electric potential

vii. Using plotter create three equipotential lines around a 1nC positive charge at 0.5 m, 1 m, and 1.5 m. what
are the voltmeter readings?
V (at 0.5m) = ___18.0V___

V (at 1.0 m) = _9.0V____

V (at 1.5m) = _6.0 V____

Simulation created by the Physics Education Technology Project (PhET) c/o The University of Colorado at Boulder
http://phet.colorado.edu/

This lab has been modified for On-line lab course from Electricity and Magnetism, 3 rd Ed. Sokoloff, Laws and
Thornton for UNCC labs 1102L/2102L.

UNCC
Phys 1102L

Summer 2, 2015
Online Lab #2

From the above data, what relation do you observe between voltage and distance? ___inversely_____

2b. Show that V/m = N/C :

V/m =unit of (( energy/ Q))/m =( N*m/C)/m=N/C

Simulation created by the Physics Education Technology Project (PhET) c/o The University of Colorado at Boulder
http://phet.colorado.edu/

This lab has been modified for On-line lab course from Electricity and Magnetism, 3 rd Ed. Sokoloff, Laws and
Thornton for UNCC labs 1102L/2102L.

UNCC
Phys 1102L

Summer 2, 2015
Online Lab #2

3a. Compare electric field and electric potential:

Consider a positive point charge, complete the table below:

Charge Used: 1 nC
Distance from charge (m)

Field strength (V/m)

Potential at location (V)

2.1

2.0

4.3

0.90

11.1

10.0

1.0

9.0

9.0

0.3

77.4

26.4

2.9

1.1

3.1

0.6

27.0

15.6

3b. Electric field vs. electric potential due to multiple charges (two positive):
Place two +1nC charges about 2 m apart (use the grid). Move the E-field sensor along the line joining
these charges and see how the strength of the field changes (start to the left of the charge on the left and
go all the way to the right of the second charge). Is there a spot on this line where the E-field is 0? Sketch a
diagram showing its location. Measure the potential along this line too.
viii.

The spot where E-field is zero: ___1_____m from the left charge

ix.

At the midpoint between the two charges is the potential maximum

x.

Potential at the midpoint: ______18.0_______ V

Sketch:

Simulation created by the Physics Education Technology Project (PhET) c/o The University of Colorado at Boulder
http://phet.colorado.edu/

This lab has been modified for On-line lab course from Electricity and Magnetism, 3 rd Ed. Sokoloff, Laws and
Thornton for UNCC labs 1102L/2102L.

UNCC
Phys 1102L

Summer 2, 2015
Online Lab #2

Simulation created by the Physics Education Technology Project (PhET) c/o The University of Colorado at Boulder
http://phet.colorado.edu/

This lab has been modified for On-line lab course from Electricity and Magnetism, 3 rd Ed. Sokoloff, Laws and
Thornton for UNCC labs 1102L/2102L.

UNCC
Phys 1102L

Summer 2, 2015
Online Lab #2

3c. Electric field vs. electric potential due to multiple charges (one positive and one
negative):
Repeat the above process for a +1nC (at a point that you can label as the origin) and a -1nC charge placed
about 2m right of it.
a. Is there a spot along the line joining these charges where the E-field is 0? No
b. Is the E-field at the midpoint minimum or maximum? minimum
c.

Is the potential to the left of the +1nC charge positive or negative? positive

d. Is the potential to the right of the -1nC charge positive or negative? negative
e. Sketch on a diagram the spot along the line joining the charges where the potential is zero.

3d. Electric field vs. electric potential due to multiple charges (one positive and
four negative):

Place a +1nC charge (consider this point the origin) and 2m to its right place a -4nC charge (four -1nC
charges).
Using the E-field sensor and the plotter (voltmeter), observe how the E-field and potential
vary along the line joining the two charges.
Sketch the spots along this line where E-field is zero and potential is zero in the diagram
below (do this approximate to scale). Do these points overlap?
The location of zero E-value is at 1 m left from the +1nC charge
The location of zero V-value is at 3 m left from the +1nC

Simulation created by the Physics Education Technology Project (PhET) c/o The University of Colorado at Boulder
http://phet.colorado.edu/

This lab has been modified for On-line lab course from Electricity and Magnetism, 3 rd Ed. Sokoloff, Laws and
Thornton for UNCC labs 1102L/2102L.

UNCC
Phys 1102L

Summer 2, 2015
Online Lab #2

4a. Electric Field and Equipotential Lines:

Drag several charges into the simulation window and observe the resulting electric fields.

Using at least three charges (positive and negative), plot a minimum of ten equipotential lines. Make
sure to draw some lines near each charge and some at a distance. Do you see a pattern? Describe
your observation below (write a minimum of three sentences).

i.

Do the equipotential lines intersect? Is this expected according to the theory? (Note: there is a
difference between the lines actually intersecting and lines getting very close, but not intersecting.)

ii.

What is the approximate angle between the electric field line and the equipotential surface?

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 opposite point
charges is minimum .
3. The electrostatic force on a test charge placed in the midpoint between two equal and like point
charges is zero

force.

4. Along the line joining a +1nC and -4nC charge, the electric field is zero at a point that is situated to the
left of the positive charge A balloon charged to 1.0 C. A second identical balloon with -2.0 C charge
is placed 10 cm away from the first one. The force between the two charges will be:

5. A balloon charged to 1.0 C. A second identical balloon with -2.0 C charge is

placed 10 cm away from the first one. The force between the two charges will be:

Is the force attractive or repulsive?

6. Calculate the acceleration of the one balloon (mass = 0.06 Kg) above, if it is free to move. Does it
move toward or away from the other balloon?

Simulation created by the Physics Education Technology Project (PhET) c/o The University of Colorado at Boulder
http://phet.colorado.edu/

This lab has been modified for On-line lab course from Electricity and Magnetism, 3 rd Ed. Sokoloff, Laws and
Thornton for UNCC labs 1102L/2102L.

UNCC
Phys 1102L

Summer 2, 2015
Online Lab #2

Simulation created by the Physics Education Technology Project (PhET) c/o The University of Colorado at Boulder
http://phet.colorado.edu/

This lab has been modified for On-line lab course from Electricity and Magnetism, 3 rd Ed. Sokoloff, Laws and
Thornton for UNCC labs 1102L/2102L.