EXPERIMENT 305: ELECTRIC FIELDS AND EQUIPOTENTIAL LINES

Sto. Tomas, Annie Rose N., Phy11/A6

annierose03@yahoo.com

Key Words: electric fields, dipole, voltage, equipotential lines

Abstract

An electric field is a region in which electrostatic force is present. The objective of this
experiment is to study the nature of electric fields by mapping the equipotential lines and then
drawing in the electric lines of force. The materials needed used in this experiment were a silver
conductive, a conductive paper, and a digital multimeter. The electric field was initially set up
using a conductive paper and a silver ink pen to mark the electrodes. The equipotential line was
mapped using a digital multimeter to locate the points with equal potential. After setting up,
the first part was executed, that is, plotting equipotentials by touching one probe of the
multimeter to one of the electrode push pins. The other probe was used to measure potential at
any point on the paper. Meanwhile, for the second part, the process was repeated, though this
time, there is a point source and a guard ring. It was noted that the volts and coordinates were
easy to determine if the procedures were followed correctly.

Introduction

Electric field is an electric property

associated with each point in space when charge is
present in any form. The magnitude and direction
of the electric field are expressed by the value of E.
Knowledge of the value of the electric field at a
point, without any specific knowledge of what
produced the field, is all that is needed to determine
what will happen to electric charges close to that
particular point. Equipotential lines depict one-
dimensional regions in which the electric potential
created by one or more nearby charges is constant. Fig 1. An illustration of an electric field
For a single, isolated point charge, potential is surrounding a positive and negative
inversely dependent upon radial distance from the charge.
charge. Therefore, equipotential lines for a single
point charge are circular, with the point charge at
the center.

In the experiment, an electric field can be visualized on paper by drawing lines of force,
which give an indication of both the size and the strength of the field. Field lines start on
positive charges and end on negative charges, and the direction of the field line at a point tells
what direction the force experienced by a charge will be if the charge is placed at that point.
Knowing the description of equipotential and electric field line, the group drawn idea or hint
on how to locate the different coordinates of point having the same voltage.
 Methodology

The materials that we used were silver

conductive ink, conductive paper and digital
multimeter as shown in Figure 2. In Part A, we
searched for the points on the conductive paper that
possessed equal potential. Next, we marked the
coordinates (0,10) and (0,-10) of the conductive
paper using the silver pen and let it dry for 20
minutes. After drying, we placed a pin to act as a
conductor of electricity with and put the electrode
to the mark. Using the multimeter, we allocated the
different position of the same
voltage to graph the equipotential line of that
voltage. Equipotential was plotted by touching Fig 2. Materials used for E305: Electric
one probe of the multimeter to one of the electrode Fields and Equipotential Lines
push pins. The other probe of the multimeter was
used to measure the potential at any point on the
conductive paper.

A point source and a guard ring were used in Part B. In this test, we drew a 14 diameter
circle. Having its center at the origin, using the silver pen and place a mark in the origin. This
method tested the equipotential line along the guard ring. We then placed the positive electrode
in the origin and the negative electrode in the guard ring. The same procedures in Part A were
applied but this time, instead of having on a point of negative charge, we just made it surround
the positive charge. We then drew a circle served as a guard ring or as a point of origin. The
radius of the ring was set to 7 cm as seen in Figure 3.

Fig 3. Drawing a ring with a radius of Fig 4. Executing the procedures for
7cm using a conductive ink Part B: Point Source And Guard Ring
 Results and Discussion

In this experiment, our goal was to investigate the electric field around a pair of
cylindrical electrodes. Doing this, equipotential line was determined using a voltmeter. The
meter works by registering very small currents that flow as a result of the potential difference.

The air between the charged electrodes in this experiment will not conduct enough
current for the voltmeter to work. That is why we worked on a conducting paper. Conducting
papers were designed for this kind of experiment; they allow small current to flow through
them.

The electrodes were attached to pieces of metal pins which were marked with a grid. It
was measured to determine the potential difference between many different points and the
negative electrode and map points where the potential has certain values onto the graph paper.

This voltmeter was connected to a rod that was able to clamp down onto the metal
surface by an alligator clip and receive the voltage at different points of the map. The
equipotential lines were deduced by marking regions where the voltages, picked arbitrarily,
and connecting these points across the map.

The obtained electric field figure for this experiment was made possible because of the
acquiring of the points that has the same reading in the multimeter. The lines obtained were
piled up in the same paper and series of curve lines are achieved. The multimeter readings were
as written in the table below. They were arranged according to the distance nearest to the
electrode.

When an electrode is supplied at a certain conducting area, electric field is produced.

Electric field is defined to be as the electric force per unit charge. In the experiment, the
direction of electric field, which is solely perpendicular with the equipotential lines obtained.
That is outward, seems going the other point connecting each other. It only means that the two
came from one electric cell which supplies both positive and negative charges. Once electrode
is supplied on both points, negative charges will flow to the area in such a way that it attracts
each other, hence, forming a curve, connecting lines with respect to the point source. The shape
of this electric field was given in the experiment. Additionally, attraction was possible between
electric fields because of “attractive forces between the two unlike charges.

Table 1: Dipoles of Unlike Charges

Multimeter Reading Coordinates, (x,y)
9 0
1.20 [V] 10 1
11 1
11.5 0
10 2
1.50 [V] 9 1
12.5 1
 11 2
8 2
1.90 [V] 9 3
13 5
12 5
10 5
2.00 [V] 9 4
13 6
7 0
7 4
2.30 [V] 6 1
9 8
8 7

On the other hand, upon continual and successful plotting of points, equipotential lines
are observed to curve up facing the point source. As the equipotential line was getting away
from its respective point source, the graph was getting closer to being a horizontal line. Also,
by deep examination of the equipotential line, it can be noted that it is symmetrical at two axes
or at the origin.
Again, the electric field configuration was known to be perpendicular to the
equipotential and with a magnitude given by the negative change in voltage (since the
movement is from a higher to a lower voltage as it goes away from the source) divided by the
change in distance.

Part A determines the kind of equipotential line

formed in this position. This type of test is called the
dipole of unlike charges. When the points of the same
voltage have been allocated, it was found out that the
equipotential lines have smaller interval when it come
closer to the other charge and they do not intersect. The
graph had a larger space when the charge is far away
from the other charge. When the electric field was
drawn using the equipotential line, the results were
perpendicular lines which represent the electric field.

From the results gathered, voltage reading is

Fig 5. The red lines represent the greatest at the point near the electrode because the
equipotential lines while black points near the electrode experience greatest voltage
lines represent electric fields. reading since it is near the source while the points farther
from the source will have a weaker voltage reading. The
reading along an equipotential line was zero because voltage is the electric potential difference
in electric potential energy of a unit test change transported between two points expressed in
volts. There was no potential difference since the points were on a line of equipotential.

In part B, a point source and a guard ring were used. After plotting the points, a circle
was formed like the guard ring. This implies that the voltage around the system will form a
circular pattern when the equal negative electrode charge is around the positive electrode. The
electric field inside the guard ring will travel in the same direction like the ring since it is in a
circular shape. Thus, the electrical field inside the guard ring is roving exclusively inside it
without outpacing.

Table 2: Point Source and Guard Ring

Multimeter Reading Coordinates, (x,y)

0 4
1.80 Volts 4 0
0 -4
-4 0
-6 0
1.60 Volts 0 6
6 0
0 -6
2 0
2.20 Volts 0 2
-2 0
0 -2
1 0
2.60 Volts 0 1
-1 0
0 -1
3 0
1.90 Volts 0 3
-3 0
0 -3

The data gathered in the first part of the experiment shows that the farther the coordinate
is from the fixed point the higher is its voltage. This is both true to the different points given in
the positive and negative coordinates as shown in the table. However, the data in part B shows
that distance is inversely proportional to the voltage. Thus, the higher the voltage, the bigger
the equipotential line produces by that voltage, therefore the outcome of the experiment will
be more efficient. In the first experiment, there is a presence of dipole, hence interaction occurs.
While on the other hand, in this part, since only one charge is present, it implies that there is
no interaction of charges and no disturbance in the graph formed.

The figure formed and obtained is somewhat like that of

Figure 4. It is not possible for equipotential lines to
intersect other due to the fact that a specific voltage will
produce another equipotential line that is around the charge
ion. A specific voltage will create a line around the charge
ion and that is the equipotential line.If this means voltage
potential it is a conservative force so it is path independent,
much like gravity. It doesn't matter how something got to
where it is it will still have the same potential at that height.
So, if it has two different potential lines crossing it would
be much like an object having different potential energies
at one point in space, that would be impossible. Also, they Fig 6. Graph in Table 2
do not intersect because there is a different energy in an
area. If you look at the map you will see equipotential line
within an area that does not intersect.

Understanding these concepts makes a major breakthrough like the MOS-power

transistors with edge termination with small area requirement. The purpose of the invention is
to provide a MOS transistor which guarantees a voltage as high as possible, has a required area
as small as possible and which enables the integration into integrated smart power circuits. A
MOS power transistor having a drain and a source and being adapted and suitable for high rated
voltages above 100V, comprising an isolating trench in an edge area of the transistor for
preventing an early electrical breakthrough below the rated voltage, which the isolating trench
being provided with an isolating material and a filler material, wherein the isolating trench is
arranged to terminate the power transistor to neighboring areas.

Conclusion
In this experiment, we aimed to determine and to study the nature of electric fields by
mapping the equipotential lines, then drawing the electric lines of force. The objectives were
met because the group was able to locate the different coordinates of points having same
voltage and was result to a map having minimal error.

It can then be concluded that electric field is always perpendicular to the equipotential
line. In other words, having a value of equipotential line, electric field can be easily obtained
using their relationship. Also, dipoles of unlike charges will form an equipotential line that has
a small interval when it comes closer to another charge and form a large space when it goes
farther away from the charge. Furthermore, a guard ring can get same voltage in a circular
pattern like the guard ring.

It was also found out that the equipotential lines are perpendicular to the line of force
and voltage reading along it is equal to zero. The reason for this is that electric potential along
the equipotential lines are always equal and its potential difference (voltage) will result to zero.
Moreover, it was observed that as the point gets closer to the point of source the voltage reading
increases.
 The following recommendations must be considered in performing this
experiment. The field generated in the experiment is produced from the special conductive
paper, thus causing or making a hole in the paper would inevitably produce errors in the
experiment. It is also a keen idea to take exact and precise measurements in order to make the
graph as round as possible.

In terms of accuracy of the experiment, we can say that it is a poor on, since we are
using only a ruler in measuring the location of points in space. We can say that this inaccuracy
brought a graph that is not perfect as expected. Aside from that, the points required in making
one equipotential line are not enough to make the actual curve. Because of that, the graphs are
somewhat chaotic. However, through the use of Microsoft excel, we can have the best fit of
the graph.

For the systematical error, it can be seen on the instability of the reading in the
multimeter. To fit points, it was necessary to introduce ±0.0009 𝑉 uncertainty value. If it’s not
present, points at space far from the point source is not possible because it is impossible to
achieve. The reading varies approximately by around 0.5-1.0 millivolts for every 1 mm
movement. Another error produced is from the measuring of particular point in space. It can
be reduced by using an accurate instrument or by using graphing utilities which offers the best
fit of the given collection of points on a certain curve.