Name: Benedicto, Kristine C. Date: Nov.

10, 2021
Hernandez, Odrhey M.
Group No. 19 Section: ECE 2102
ELECTRIC POTENTIAL SIMULATION

Introduction
In class we learned that the electric potential is the electrostatic potential energy per unit
charge. In this online lab we will further explore the connection between the electrostatic
potential, the electrostatic potential energy and the force on charged particles.

I – Point charges
1. Open the simulation https://ophysics.com/em4.html

A. Select Two Opposite Charges. Click on the green dot (Voltage Sensor), drag it
over and place directly to the left of the blue charge and move horizontally across
until you hit the red charge.
1. How does the voltage change?
As we move the voltage sensor horizontally from blue charge to red
charge, the voltage changes from negative to positive.
2. Is there a location where the voltage is zero?
Yes, the voltage rests at zero when the sensor is placed at the center
between the blue charge and red charge.
B. Select Two Like Charges
1. What happens to the voltage as you move towards either charge?
The voltage remains positive when the charge is positive and remains
negative when the charge is negative as we move the sensor away or near from
the charge.
2. What happens to the voltage as you move away from both charges?
 The value of the voltage changes as the sensor is dragged further or
beneath the charge. Also, we can notice that the voltage decreases as the
sensor is placed away from the charge.

II. – Non-uniform Electric Fields

Open the simulation below and select the grid option.
https://phet.colorado.edu/sims/html/charges-and-fields/latest/charges-and-fields_en.html

A. Place a positive charge in the region. Use the potential difference measuring device on
the right. If you place this device on the canvas it reads the potential at that location. If
you click the pencil it will draw an equipotential line.
B. Start at a potential of 20 V and draw an equipotential line using the pencil icon in the
measuring device.
C. Now move until you hit 15V and draw another equipotential line, continue to decrease in
steps of 5V and draw equipotential lines until you hit 5 volts.
D. Insert your screenshot here:

1. What is the shape of the equipotential lines?

The shape of the equipotential lines for a single point of charge are
circular wherein the point charge is at the center.
2. Using the measuring device (tape measure icon), get the distance between the
equipotential line @20V and @5V.
Using the measuring device, the distance between the equipotential line
20 V and 5 V is 135.5 cm.

E. Now reset and place both a positive charge and negative charge into the region. Separate
the charges by a distance of 100cm.
 F. Draw equipotential lines starting at 15 V and decreasing in steps of 5V until you reach -
15V.
G. Insert your screenshot here:

3. What can you observe between the equipotential lines in both charges?
The equipotential lines in both charges are equal even though they are
opposite in charges. Also, they are perpendicular to each other.
4. If you go close to the positive or negative charge and draw an equipotential line
what shape is it?
As we go closer to the positive and negative charge, the shape of an
equipotential line is an electric dipole where it only occurs between two point
charges.

H. Reset. Click Grid. (Grid; major rulings = thicker lines and minor rulings = thinner lines)
I. Create the following charge distribution by placing a positive charge at the intersection of
every major ruling of the grid on the left side of the canvas.Go to the center most charge and
then place a negative charge 300 cm away from the central positive charge on the right hand
side of the canvas. This negative charge will also be placed at the intersection of two major
rulings.
J. Now continue to place the negative charges along a diagonal as shown in the image. They
will also be placed at the intersection of two major rulings. The uppermost and lowermost
negative charges will be 500 cm away from their positive counterpart.
H. Use the potential difference measuring device starting at 60 V (next to the central positive
charge) and draw an equipotential line (using pencil icon).
I. Now move right and decrease in steps of 10V and draw another equipotential. Make sure to
have placed ALL THE CHARGES on the grid before start to display the equipotential lines.
Continue to draw an equipotential every 10 V until you hit -40V.

The electric field and the electric potential are related by:

Focusing on the region between the positive and negative charges;

1. At which points are the equipotential lines the closest together?
The equipotential lines are closest together at a point between the positive and
negative charges.
2. At which points are they the farthest apart?
It is farthest at a point in the right direction of the negative charge.
3. At which points is the electric field the strongest?
The electric field is strongest at point between the two charges since the
equipotential lines in the point are the closest.
4. At which points is the electric field the weakest?
The electric field is weakest at point in the right direction of negative charges
since the equipotential in this point is the farthest.
5. Calculate the value of the electric field at one of the weakest locations. (N/C)
E = V /d
= 60/0.5
E = 120 V/m

6. Calculate the value of the electric field at one of the strongest locations. (N/C)
 E = V /d
= 0/1.15
E = 0 V/m
III. Conclusion