Lab #2 - Electric Fields & Electric Potential PDF

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Lab 2: Electric Fields & Electric Potential (Virtual) Objective: We will be using PHET online simulation entitled “Charges and Fields” to study how point charges have effects on the electric fields and electric potentials at any given space around them. To use this interactive simulation, you will need to have Adobe Flash (version 8 or later I believe) to run the simulation. For today's interactive lab on electric fields, please direct yourself to the online simulator found using the following link: https://phet.colorado.edu/sims/html/charges-and-fields/latest/charges-and-fields_en.html (Links to an external site.) You should see the following image once you access the website.

Experiment #1- Two Positive Charges Set up two positive test charges of 1nC to be separated by 400cm as shown below (or as close to 400cm as possible). First, enable the grid by checking the grid box in the top right and uncheck the electric field box. Drag the +1nC to the grids and use the measuring tape tool to help you quantify the separation distance along the positive ‘x’ axis.

Question #1) Drag the yellow sensor to a spot on the grid where the electric field value is zero. Type out what the grid coordinate is. If you want, you can state how many small grid squares away in the 'x' and 'y' direction from either charge (just make sure you reference which one).

Question #2) Using the yellow sensor, determine the location of the maximum electric field. Is it where you thought it would be? Why? (Hint: Think of an equation for electric field....)

Experiment #2- Electric Dipole Now set up a positive 1nC charge to the left and a negative 1nC charge to the right, again separated by a distance of 300cm as shown below. Simply click and drag the positive 1nC charge on the right down to the legend box to get rid of it. Replace it with the negative charge.

Question #3) Using the yellow sensor, find the position where the electric field has a minimum value and type it out.

Question #4) Based on this setup, annotate where the "sensor" would be pulled directly to the left? (Hint: There are two general regions)

Experiment #3- Electric Potential Set up your two point charges as shown in the figure below. You can use the tape measure to help you get the two charges (Q1: positive to the left / Q2: negative to the right) to be separated approximately 200cm. Notice the voltage sensor on the right side of the page. You can click and drag to find the potential value at the crosshairs. Each tiny grid square represents a 10cm by 10cm block.

Question #5) Usi Using ng Q1 (positive char charge) ge) as the point of origin, identi identify fy a coordinate (x,y) where the potential is measured to be zero.

Keep your sensor at that location. Next, set up another negative point charge 'Q3' Q3' 100cm to the left and 100cm down from the positive charge Q1 as shown in the image below.

Question #6) Wh What at is the new re reading ading on your volt voltage age sensor?

Now place a positive charge 'Q4' 100cm to the right and 100cm up from the negative charge Q2 as shown in the image below. Also, place your voltage sensor 400cm below that new charge Q4 as shown below.

Question #7) W What hat is the new read reading ing on your voltage senso sensorr at this location?

Finally, move the voltage sensor 200cm below the charge 'Q3' as shown in the image below. You will now need to move a new positive charge 'Q5' to get the voltage sensor to read 0 volts. Use the crosshairs of the voltage sensor as the origin of your coordinate system for this question.

Question #8) Id Identify entify the coordinate coordinatess of Q5 to ma make ke the voltage sensor in this position read 0 volts....