Electric Field Mapping
We did a pretty interesting lab yesterday (3-28) although everyone thought it was rather boring. We actually mapped out an electric field in a 10 X 10 voltage matrix. In one direction (horizontal) we measured electric field lines and in the other direction (vertical) we measured equipotential lines.
The electric field lines went from the positive plate to the negative plate as in the figure below. So what is the trend of your voltage readings along your electric field lines?
Now the equipotential lines are also shown in the figure. They are vertical. Can you see a trend in those numbers?Here's another talking point: what do we mean by voltage? Every reading we took was in volts. What does it mean? What are the units of a volt? Does a volt imply anything about work?
Think about this: if you take an electron and put it next to the negative plate will you have to do a lot of work to keep it there? And what about the same thing for a proton against the positive plate?
Respond to the blog posting, first of all, by responding to the "thought" questions posed above. Along the way make sure you define the following: electric field lines, equipotential lines, and voltage. Make your response at least two large paragraphs and sign only your first name to the blog. Also, remember to respond to one other posting from one of your classmates.
Do a good job. This is a lab grade.
posted by edlegare @ 8:28 AM
1 Comments
1 Comments:
In this lab we mapped out an electric field. We measured electric field lines as well as equipotential lines. Electric field lines display the direction and magnitude of the field. These lines move away from a positive charge, and towards a negative charge. Equipotential lines are equal distance from a point charge and are perpandicular to electric field lines. In this lab the voltage along the electric field lines got larger as we moved closer to the negative side. As we moved along the equipotential lines the voltage stayed pretty consistant. Voltage is potential difference. It is measure in volts, which is work over charge. A volts units are joules over coulombs.
If we were to take an electron and put it next to a negative plate we would have to do alot of work to keep it there, because like charges repel one another. If we were to put a proton next to a positive plate they would also repel each other, because they are like charges.
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home