Physics Laboratory Report

Title PHYS 121A – Electric

potential and electric field.
Lab number and Title: LAB 203
Electric Potential and Electric
Field.
Name: Alvaro Heredia Gil Group ID:

Date of Experiment: 02 /22/ 2024 Date of Report Submission: 02 /29/ 2024

Course & Section Number: Instructor’s Name: Matias Daniel de

Almeida
Phys121A-032
Partners’ Names: Marwa Ibrahim,
Daniel Chica and Nick Davis.

1. INTRODUCTION
1.1 OBJECTIVES
The objectives of this experiment are:

1. Using MATLAB, calculate the electric potential and further the electric
field due to three different charge configurations. Draw a contour and
surface plots of the electric potential. Also draw the electric field and
field lines.

2. For these three different charge configurations, experimentally measure

the electric potential and find the equipotential lines and further draw
the electric field lines.

3. For the two-line configuration, experimentally calculate the electric

field by the actual measured electric potential and plotting the graph of
electric potential vs. position.

1.2 THEORETICAL BACKGROUND

Because the electrostatic force is a conservative force, similar to the concept

of potential energy in the cases of other conservative forces such as
gravitational force and elastic force due to a spring, when dealing with the
electrostatic phenomena, we also introduce the concept of electric potential
energy and the associated electric potential defined as the electric potential
energy per unit charge. Because the electric potential at any point in an
electric field is a scalar quantity, we can use it to describe electrostatic
phenomena more simply than if we were to rely only on the vectors like electric
field and electric forces. What's more, the concept of electric potential is of
great practical value in the operation of electric circuits and devices. (1) is
the formula to calculate the electric potential created by a charge q at a
distance r. k is Coulomb’s constant.
 (1)

The electric potential due to a system of point charges is equal to the sum of
the point charges' individual potentials due to the scalar nature of the
electric potential. So for two charges q and q2 located at (x1, Y1) and (x2,
y2), respectively, as shown in Figure 2, the scalar electrostatic potential V
at point (X, y) is given by:

For a continuous linear charge distribution, the potential at a point in space

is calculated by integrating the contributions of differential charge elements
along the length of the distribution.

=Q/L (3)

In this equation, 'λ' represents the linear charge density, 'Q' is the total
charge, and 'L' is the length over which the charge is distributed. Equation
(3) is utilized to express the linear charge density in the calculation of
electric potential.

2 EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE

In this experiment, we are going to study three different charge configurations

(two point charges separated by a distance, one point charge and one uniform
line charge separated by a distance, and two parallel uniform line charges). We
are going to theoretically calculate the electric potential and electric field
as a function of position using MATLAB, the electric field lines will also be
drawn and displayed. Experimentally, we are going to get the equipotential
lines using a voltmeter, and further draw the electric field lines. For the
configuration of two parallel uniform line charges, we will also manually
calculate the electric field by the actual measured electric potential and
plotting the graph of V vs. position. The theoretical calculations and
experimental measurements will be compared.

For the experiment we will use the following, Computer with MATLAB installed,
An Electric Field Mapping Apparatus consisting of a field mapping board, a U-
shaped probe (wand), three Field plates including Two-Points, Parallel Plate
and Point-Plate templates and two Plastic templates, a DC Power Supply, a
Voltmeter, Red and Black Leads, Graph papers, and a Flexible Curve.

In the first part of the experiment we will use Matlab to visualize the
following three cases:

1. Two point charges of q1 = 1*10° C and q2 = -1*10% C are located at (a, 0)

and (-a, 0) in the x-y plane. With a = 1, you are asked to compute the
electric potential resulted from these two charges and plot its contour,
 surface, and vector field plots. To make the plots you have to calculate
electric potential at 484 points (22x22) for x = -2.1 to 2.1 with
increment of 0.2 and y = -2.1 to 2.1 with increment of 0.2.

2. A point charge q1 = 1*10^-3 C located at (0, a) with a = 2.2 and a rod

charged with Q2 = 1*10^-3 C and with length of 4m on x axis around (0, 0).
Linear density 2 of the charge for the rod is defined as Q/L, where Q is
the value of charge and L is the length of the rod. You are asked to
compute the electric potential resulted from the point charge and line
charge and plot contour, surface, and vector field plots.

3. Two charged rods with the separation of 2 m which are facing each other in
parallel to x axis in x-y plane. Each of the rods has the length of 4 m
and charged with 1*10" C. One negatively charged is located around (0, 2)
and the other positively charged is located around (0, 0). You are asked
to compute the electric potential resulted from the point charge and line
charge and plot contour, surface, and vector field plots.

In the second part of the experiment, we will experimentally find the

equipotential lines and draw the electric field lines for three different
cases.

1. Two point charges configuration.

2. Point-line charge configuration.
3. Two parallel-line charge configuration.

For the experiment we use a 5V power supply.

3 RESULTS
3.1 EXPERIMENTAL DATA

Part 1

1.
2.

3.

Part 2

1.
 2.

3.

4 ANALYSIS and DISCUSSION

Q1. Is it possible for two different equipotential lines or two electric force
lines to cross? Explain.

No, equipotential lines and electric field lines cannot cross. Each point in
space can have only one value of electric potential and one direction of
electric field. Crossing lines would mean multiple values or directions at a
point, which is not possible.

Q2. Explain, with the aid of a diagram, why lines of electric force must be at
right angles to equipotential lines.

Lines of electric force, which represent the direction of the electric field,
are always perpendicular to equipotential lines. An equipotential line is a
path along which the electric potential is constant. If the electric field
lines were not perpendicular to these equipotential lines, there would be a
component of the electric field along the equipotential line. This would mean
that a charge moving along the line would experience a force and hence would do
work, which contradicts the definition of an equipotential line where no work
is done in moving a charge. Therefore, for the potential to remain constant
along an equipotential line, the electric field lines must intersect it at
right angles, ensuring that no component of the electric field exists along the
direction of the equipotential line itself.
 Q3. In the region between two line charges, what is the direction of the
electric field? Is the electric field uniform?

In the space between two line charges, the electric field direction is defined
by vectors that originate from the positively charged line and terminate at the
negatively charged line. If both line charges carry uniform linear charge
densities (of equal magnitude and opposite sign), the electric field in the
region directly between them will be uniform. This uniformity is characterized
by electric field lines that are equidistant and parallel to each other,
indicating that the magnitude and direction of the electric field are constant
in that region. However, if the charge distribution is not uniform, the
electric field will vary accordingly.

Q4. Compare your MATLAB simulation results with your experimental results, are
they similar?

Yes, they are similar.

To sum up, we have observed the potential and the electric field numerically in
MATLAB and experimentally, obtaining very similar results. In this way we have
fulfilled the objectives of the laboratory as well as having a better
understanding of the concepts of electric potential and electric field and how
they are related.

5 CONCLUSIONS

The lab experiment made it clear how electric fields and potentials work. We
saw that potential lines go from positive to negative charges and that lines
with the same potential are always straight and don't cross. This hands-on
experience showed us these concepts in action. It was straightforward and
effective, and I'd keep it the same for others to learn too.