To gain an understanding of the electric fields for point charge and superposition of electric field due a distribution of charges.
Use the site https://phet.colorado.edu/sims/html/charges-and-fields/latest/charges-and-fields_en.html (Links to an external site.)
A) Electric field for a point charge:
First turn on the Grid and turn off all the other options in the simulation. Each small square box is 10 cm on each side.
Choose a coordinate system so that you can conveniently find all four quadrants.
Place a +1nC point charge at the origin. Using the sensor, find out the magnitude of the electric field at (120,200) cm, (-300,100) cm, (-50,-50) cm, (400, 150) cm and (300, -100) cm. Calculate the distances and plot the magnitude of electric field (E) vs the LaTeX: frac{1}{distance^2}(frac{1}{r^2}) 1 d i s t a n c e 2 ( 1 r 2 ) . Find out the slope of the graph. Take the ratio of the slope with the point charge. Explain your result.
Note down the directions of the electric field at each point. How would you describe the direction of the electric fields for all the points with a simple statement?
Take a screenshot and add in your report.
B) Electric field for a dipole:
Choose a coordinate system so that you can conveniently find big enough first quadrant.
Place a +1nC and a -1nC point charges at the origin, 10 cm apart from each other along x axis. Using the sensor, find out the magnitude of the electric field at (0, 250) cm, (0, 200) cm, (0,300) cm, (0, 350) cm. Calculate the distances and plot the magnitude of electric field vs LaTeX: frac{1}{distance^3}(frac{1}{r^3}) 1 d i s t a n c e 3 ( 1 r 3 )
. Curve fit with the best fitting trendline using Microsoft excel (verify with your instructor). Find the slope and take a ratio with the point charge. Compare with the result of part (A). Is it same? If not, by what factor it is different? explain your result.
Note down the directions of the electric field at each point. How would you describe the direction of the electric field?
Take a screenshot and add in your report.
C) Electric field for a dipole:
Choose a coordinate system so that you can conveniently find big enough first quadrant.
Place a +1nC and a -1nC point charges at the origin, 10 cm apart from each other along the x axis. Using the sensor, find out the magnitude of the electric field at (250, 0) cm, (200, 0) cm, (300, 0) cm, (350, 0) cm. Calculate the distances and plot the magnitude of electric field (E) vs LaTeX: frac{1}{distance^3}(frac{1}{r^3}) 1 d i s t a n c e 3 ( 1 r 3 )
. Curve fit with the best fitting trendline using Microsoft excel (verify with your instructor). Find the slope and take a ratio with the 1 nC charge. Compare with the result of part (A). Is it same? If not, by what factor it is different? explain your result.
Note down the directions of the electric field at each point. How would you describe the direction of the electric field?
Take a screenshot and add in your report.
D) Distribution of charges:
The charges shown are held in electrostatic equilibrium and are centered at the origin of an XY system.
Draw the electric field vectors at the center on a piece of paper, showing the field vectors due to each charge and the net electric field. Be neat, explain your steps, making arguments where needed. Discuss the symmetry (if any) of the distribution.
Choose the values a = 0.60 m, b = 1.0 m, and q = 1.00 nC.
four charges.png
Calculate the net electric filed at the origin, and compare this quantitative result with your qualitative result from part 1.
AFTER you have sketched the lines to the best of your ability, go to the Phet simulation and create the charge configuration shown in the figure. Screenshot and paste the result in your report. https://phet.colorado.edu/sims/html/charges-and-fields/latest/charges-and-fields_en.html (Links to an external site.)
Discuss any differences you may have between your drawing of the electric field and the simulation. Dont cheat!
Part E: Electric Field Hockey:
Beat the Game! Copy and paste images of your victory using print screen into your lab report. Shrink them so they all fit on one page.
https://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulation/electric-hockey (Links to an external site.)
Take a screenshot and add in your report.
