EXPERIMENT305:

ELECTRIC FIELDS AND EQUIPOTENTIAL LINES

SUMMARY (E305)
In Experiment 305: Electric Fields and Equipotential Lines,
we were given a conductive papers, a silver ink pen, a corkboard
surface, a push pins, a connecting wires, a circular template, a
digital multi-meter and a battery. In this experiment, we studied
the nature of electric fields by using the conductive paper in
mapping the equipotential lines and the electric lines of force.
Electric fields are created by voltage wherein higher voltage
leads to stronger electric fields. Based on Coulombs Law of
Electrostatics, same-sign charged particles repel one another,
while different-sign charged particles attract wherein the
magnitude of the repelling force is directly proportional to the
product of the two charges, and inversely proportional to the
square of the distance between them. Based on the principles of
Equipotential Lines, electric field lines are perpendicular to the
equipotential lines pointing downhill.
The Electrostatics Laws agreed with the results in our
experiment since a circle was produced by using the origin as the
point source which trapped the electric lines inside the guard ring.
The principle of Equipotential Lines also agreed with the results in
our experiment since a hyperbola was produced by the
equipotential points

ANALYSIS (E305)
1. Why is the voltage reading along an equipotential line zero?

The voltage reading along an equipotential line is zero because the

voltage is the electric potential difference between two points which lies
on the equipotential line. Since the equipotential lines are always
perpendicular to electric field lines, no work is required to move a charge
along an equipotential making the voltage equal to zero.

2. At what point is the voltage reading greatest? What is the significance

of this?

For the first part, Dipoles of Unlike Charges, the greatest voltage reading
is at the farthest coordinate from the fixed point. While for the second
part, Point Source and Guard Ring, the greatest voltage reading is closely
located to the fixed point forming a circle.
The relationship between the two is that for the second part, the distance
or the coordinates is inversely proportional to the voltage unlike for the
first part.

3. Describe the electric field inside the guard ring.

The electric field inside the guard ring travels in the same direction of the
magnetic field since a circle was produced by using the origin as the point
source. This can be explained by using Amperes rule wherein pointing
your thumb in the direction in which the current would be flowing is also
the direction of the magnetic and electric fields of the ring. Since the
guard ring was made up by silver, it conducts electricity, making the
electric lines trapped inside the guard ring. And as the distance from the
point source increases, the voltage decreases.

4. Is it possible for the equipotential lines to intersect each other? Justify your
answer.
No, it is not possible for the equipotential lines to intersect each other. In
simple words, it does not intersect because an equipotential line is the line
where voltage is constant and any point along an equipotential line must
have the same potential. So if two equipotential lines intersect, then at
the point of intersection, two different tangents can be drawn leading to
two different intensity of field at the same point.

CONCLUSION (E305)
1. Are the objectives of the experiment met? Explain.
Based on the gathered data, we were able to determine the nature of electric
fields by mapping the equipotential lines and then drawing in the electric
lines of force. We used the conductive paper as the electric field and plotted
the points wherein the potential are equal. Since a hyperbola was made by
the equipotential lines while a circle was made using the point source, we can
conclude that an electric field is an area where electrostatic force is present
while the equipotential lines are lines with equal potential.

2. Discuss the practical application of the concepts learned from the

experiment.

What I realized in this experiment is that electric field can be observed in our
daily lives. Electric field plays a vital role in our environment since electricity
is so common nowadays. I observed that our body is an electric field since
our heart pumps, our muscles move, and our brain responds due to electrical
impulses.

One of the applications of this experiment in my field is the Electric Field

Proximity Sensing or the People Detector. It is a micro-electronic based device
that can distinguish the presence of both moving and still objects through
solid materials. The sensor functions by detecting small changes in an ultralow-power electromagnetic field generated between two remotely located
antenna electrodes. The People Detectors wavelength can be adjust from
inches to over 12 feet. It can be seen in a wide variety of industrial and
commercial applications just like the detector used in the parking lot.