PHY150: ELECTRICITY & MAGNETISM

LABORATORY REPORT

NO. EXPERIMENT : 1
TITLE : COULOMB’S LAW
GROUP : AS1203H
GROUP MEMBERS :

STUDENT NAME STUDENT ID

AISYAH SAKINAH BINTI MOHD 2019236026

YUSOFF
NUR EMY SYAFIQAH BINTI 2019203992
KAMARULZAMAN

NUR SYAFIQAH BINTI YAZID 2019225316

DATE OF SUBMISSION : 11 NOVEMBER 2020

LECTURER’S NAME : DR NUR BAIZURA BINTI MOHAMED
OBJECTIVES

1. To satisfy Coulomb’s Law experimentally

2. To study the parameters that affect the electric force
3. To find experimentally the electric constant k

THEORY

Coulomb’s Law: “The magnitude of the electric force that a particle exerts on another is
directly proportional to the product of their changes and inversely proportional to the square
of the distance between them.” Mathematically, the magnitude of this electrostatic force Fᴇ
acting on two charged particles (q 1, q2) is expressed as:

Where r is the separation distance between the charged objects and k is a constant of
proportionality, called the Coulomb constant, k = 9.0x10 9

PROCEDURE

PART 1
1. The following link is used and the charge on q1 and q2 were fixed as shown below
and their values were recorded in table 1.
(https://phet.colorado.edu/sims/html/coulombs-law/latest/coulombs-law_en.html)

2. The distance between two charges was changed as shown in table 1.

 3. The force value for each distance had been recorded in the table.
4. The table were filled by finding r2and 1/r2

PART 2
1. The same link is used in this experiment. The charge q1 and the distance,r were
fixed and their values are recorded in table 2.
2. Q1 is controlled by fixing it at 5µC and the distance between the two objects was
fixed at 6cm. The results were recorded in table 2.
3. The charge of object 2 had been changed as shown in table 2 and for each q2, the
electric force between the two objects was recorded in table 2.
DATA AND ANALYSIS

PART 1
TABLE 1

q1 = 2µC q2 = 4µC

r (cm) r2 (m2) 1/r2 (1/m2) FE (N)

10 0.01 100.00 7.190
9 0.0081 123.46 8.877
8 0.0064 156.25 11.23
7 0.0049 204.08 14.67
6 0.0036 277.78 19.97
5 0.0025 400.00 28.76
4 0.0016 625.00 44.94
3 0.0009 1111.1 79.89

1. Uses excel software and plot a graph relates F E and r. comments on the graph.

Graph FE versus r
90
80
70
60
FE (N)

50
40
30
20
10
0
3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
r (cm)

When the distance between the two charges increases, the force value between
them decreases.
 2. Uses excel and plot one more graph relates FE and 1/r2 . Use the graph to find the
electric constant k.

Graph FE versus 1/r2

90
80
70
60
FE (N)

50
40
30
20
10
0
0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200
1/r2 (1/m2)

Slope of the gradient,

79.87 − 7.19
𝑚=
1111.1 − 100
=7.19 x 10-2

F =(k)(q1)(q2)(1/r2)
F/r2 = (k)(q1)(q2)
7.19 x 10-2 = (k)(2x10-6)(4x10-6)
k = 9x109 Nm2 /C2

3. Calculate the percentage error in k (kknown=9.0 × 10 9 Nm2 /C2 )

Percentage error :
|Approximate Value − Exact Value|
× 100%
|Exact Value|

9x109 – 8.99x109 x 100% = 0%

8.99x109
PART 2

TABLE 2

q1 = 5µC r = 6 cm

q2 = (µC) FE (N)

10 124.827

9 112.344

8 99.862

7 87.379

6 74.896

5 62.414

4 49.931

3 37.448

1) Uses excel software and plot a graph relates FE and q2

2) Use the graph to find electric constant k.

3) Calculate the percentage error in k (kknown = 9.0x109)

DISCUSSION

Coulomb’s law is an experimental law of physics that quantifies the amount of force between
two stationeries, electrically charged particles. The electric force between charged bodies at
rest is conventionally called electrostatic force or coulomb force.

First and foremost, this experiment was conducted by a stimulator. This website stimulator
function is to visualize how coulomb's law works. Firstly, in this website the charge and the
distance of the two objects can be controlled. Then, the website will automatically give us the
total force value that is produced by the objects.

From the above equation that was given, it states the coulomb’s law formula. According to
coulomb’s law, the force between charged particles is affected by the individual charges and
the distance between them. However, the particles' charges and distance always work
together to affect the force. And finally, the unit of electric charge is called the coulomb.
There is a relation between the charge and force. Furthermore, when the magnitude of
electric force of attraction between two point charges increases, the product of magnitude of
charges also increases. However, the distance between them will decreases. This is proven
by table 1 and table 2 results.

From the analysis, we can conclude that in electrostatic, the electrical force between two
charged objects is inversely related to the distance of separation between the two objects.
When increasing the separation distance between the objects, the force of attraction or
repulsion between the objects will decrease. Each slope refers to the graph that was
obtained, it showed that the increase in distance will decrease the value of slope. Lastly,
from the experiment for part 1, the percentage error obtained was 0%, while the percentage
error for part 2 was 0.11%. This proven that both experiments were successful by getting a
lower percentage error.

Next, some value that was obtained in this experiment might not be exact as the theoretical
value due to some error. Errors are normally classified in systematic error and random error.
Systematic errors are due to measurement itself which leads to a situation where in the
mean of many separate measurements which differ significantly from the actual value of the
measured attribute. All measurements are prone to systematic errors. Some sources of
systematic error may be imperfect calibration of measurement instruments or changes in the
environmental surroundings which will interfere with the measuring process.

There are some solution to overcome error in this experiment. Firstly, is to use quality
equipment. By doing so, it can reduce the chances of getting systematic measurement error.
Next, make sure the device that was used is precise and updated so that it can avoid any
defects while conducting an experiment. Lastly, always double check answers and precisely
check the results that were obtained. Be alert to any mistakes while conducting the
experiment so that the results are accurate.

CONCLUSION

By virtually doing this experiment, the objectives on this experiment had been achieved
which are to satisfy Coulomb’s Law experimentally, to study the parameters that affect the
electric force and to find the electric constant k. We can conclude that force value is directly
proportional to the magnitude of the charges and inversely proportional to the distance
separation distance between the charged objects.