SP212 Lab: One  Electrostatics
Version: January 21, 2015
PHYSICS II
LAB 2
SP212
ElectricFieldMini‐LabPre‐LabAssignment
1. Three separate lab stations turned in the following data without their graphs. In
addition, the students failed to label the data as to which electric field experiment
it belonged to. Graph the following data in Excel (or other graphing program) and
determine to which experiment the data belonged based on the relationship
between distance (r) and the resulting electric field (E): (1) a point charge, (2) a
very long line of charge, or (3) a dipole.
Lab Group A
r (m)
E (V/m)
0.5
22.2
1.0
2.5
1.5
0.7
2.0
0.3
2.5
0.2
3.0
0.1
3.5
0.06
Lab Group B
r (m)
E (V/m)
0.5
36.9
1.0
9.3
1.5
4.1
2.0
2.3
2.5
1.5
3.0
1.0
3.5
0.7
Lab Group C
r (m)
E (V/m)
0.5
242.3
1.0
118.0
1.5
74.3
2.0
63
2.5
42.2
3.0
45.8
3.5
37.7
Attach the appropriately labeled graphs (including the trend line/curve equation). Include
an explanation as to why you associated each lab group with the experiment you chose on
the graph.
2. If instead of the data above, lab group A submitted the data below. What would
you tell them about the sensor sensitivity? How could this skew your analysis of
the proportionality relationship between distance and the electric field?
Lab Group A
r (m)
E (V/m)
0.5
22.2
1.0
2.5
1.5
0.7
2.0
0.3
2.5
0.2
3.0
0.1
3.5
0.1
4.0
0.1
4.5
0.1
Page 1 of 2 SP212 Lab: One  Electrostatics
Version: January 21, 2015
3. Using your knowledge of electric field lines, on the below diagram draw in your best representation of the electric field lines of the three charged particles (Q1, Q2, and Q3, not the puck) each of equal charge magnitude. Now using those field lines draw in your predicted trajectory of the puck. Explain why. Q1 Q3 Puck Q2 Page 2 of 2