I.

Introduction

The purpose of this experiment

was to use a voltmeter to
locate equipotential
lines between pairs of
differently shaped conducting
regions. Using the
equipotential lines that
were found, the electric field
lines can be determined.
The purpose of this experiment
was to use a voltmeter to
locate equipotential
lines between pairs of
differently shaped conducting
regions. Using the
equipotential lines that
Physics 12 Laboratory Report
1st Semester 2019-2020
Bicol University College of Science Physics Department
1
were found, the electric field
lines can be determined.
Electricity powers many of the devices used every day. Those devices are made up of circuits, ranging
from very simple to very complex. The ability to conduct electricity is one of the many physical properties
of matter. The behavior of an object that has been charged is dependent upon whether the object is made of
a conductive or a nonconductive material. Conductors allow electricity to move through them easily, while
insulators block the flow of electricity. An occurrence of electric current will happen if a complete path is
created to allow the current to flow continuously. Several materials can be used to allow a current to flow
or to close a circuit. Materials which allow electric current to flow easily are called conductors which are
mostly metals including aluminum are good conductors of electricity while most items made of plastic and
rubber are examples of materials which do not allow electric current to flow and are known as insulators
(Pike, 2016). It is important to understand the difference between a conductor and insulator not simply for
the creation of circuits but also in the construction of our homes, cooking meals and to prevent injury when
dealing with electricity in dealing with everyday life activities.

In this experiment, observations on the ability of different materials were used such as lead nylon,
brass, glass, wood, rubber, polythene, wood and cork to conduct electricity and to know the difference
between insulators and conductors which will be determined by bringing the ends of the wire in contact
with each of the materials to be tested and by using an ammeter or also known as Ampere Meter in
measuring the current in a circuit. In hypothesis, if a conductor is added to a circuit the light bulb will light
up, but when an insulator is added to a circuit the bulb will not light up because in an insulator, the charges
are not going to the light bulb causing it to not light up but in a conductor, the charges are moving through
making the bulb light up. At the end of the experiment, students must be able to differentiate between
conductors and insulators, to know what an ammeter is, and to be able implement a basic circuit diagram.

References:
[1] Science Turns Minds On. (1995) New York: McGraw-Hill
[2] Pike, Angela, (2016). Conductor or Insulator. Retrieved from https://www.education.com/science-
fair/article/conductor-or-insulator/
[3] Ausgrid, (2017). Experiment-conductors and insulators. Retrieved from
https://www.cpalms.org/Uploads/resources/45852/2/13/docs/StudentSampleLabReport.pdf

Physics 12 Laboratory Report

1st Semester 2019-2020
Bicol University College of Science Physics Department
2