Question 1
You should never connect or disconnect components with the power supply at a high voltage
because it can damage the power supply or the electrical component, this is the same reason for
turning the voltage of the power supply down before switching it on or off.
Question 2
+0V
+1V
+2V
+3V
+4V
+5V
+4V
+3V
+2V
+1V
+0V
+5V
Question 3
Question 4
Parallel Plates
d = 0.215 m
Concentric Cylinders
Ra = 0.0195 m
Rb = 0.0894 m
Rb - Ra = 0.0699 m
The difference in potential for both electrode setups is 1V.
Question 5
Parallel Plates
Se
∆S Distance ∆V
Es Electric Sm Midpoint Voltage
Electric
Equipotential
V Potential between
Potential Field at the Between the Predicted Field
Location
(Volts)
Equipotentials Difference Midpoint Equipotentials by V(x)=5- Predicted
(meters from
(m)
(v)
(V/m)
(m)
(5/d)x
by E=5/d
0V)
0
0
0.000
0.0415
1
24.10
0.021
22.98
0.0415
1
0.954
0.0435
1
22.99
0.063
22.98
0.085
2
1.953
0.041
1
24.39
0.106
22.98
0.126
3
2.895
0.049
1
20.41
0.151
22.98
0.175
4
4.021
0.0426
1
23.47
0.196
22.98
0.2176
5
5.000
Concentric Cylinders
Es
Se
Voltage
∆S Distance ∆V
Electric Sm Midpoint
Electric Field
Equipotential V
Predicted by
between
Potential Field at Between the
Predicted by
Location
Potential
V(r)=5-(5/ln(R
Equipotentials Difference the
Equipotentials
E=(5/ln(Rb(meters from (Volts)
b-Ra))*ln(r/Ra
(m)
(v)
Midpoint (m)
Ra))*(1/r)
0V)
)
(V/m)
0
0
0 -96.36984846
0.0075
1 133.33
0.00375
0.0075
1
0.6115376946 -69.60044611
0.0105
1
95.24
0.01275
0.018
2
1.228866494 -50.1123212
0.016
1
62.50
0.026
0.034
3
1.896627057 -35.12545878
0.019
1
52.63
0.0435
0.053
4
2.46772882 -25.92016614
0.0169
1
59.17
0.06145
0.0699
5
2.861487863 -21.02026896
Question 6
You should never work alone with electronic circuits because of the risk of electric shock.
Electric shocks can be extremely dangerous and even fatal. It is important to have someone who
can help you if you are electrocuted.
Question 7
1. How do your predicted equipotental curves and experimental equipotential curves
compare? If they are different, explain in full sentences why that might be.
The predicted and actual equipotental curves were almost identical.
2. How do your theoretical and experimental equations compare? The values of the
constants? They are most likely not exactly the same. What are some reasons this could
be? Can you think of any ways to improve the accuracy of the measurements in this
experiment?
The theoretical and actual calculated values were similar but not exactly the same.
The calculated electric field was generally higher than the actual electric field. One of
the reasons for this could be the resistance of the conductors used and the fact that
energy was lost. This could possibly be taken into account so that the results are
more accurate.
3. Why do you think electric field lines are always perpendicular to those of equipotential?
Do the field lines you drew point to positive or negative charge on the electrodes?
Electric field lines are always perpendicular to equipotential lines because work done
along an equipotential path is zero. These lines help maintain the conservation of
energy. Near electrodes, field lines point from positive to negative charges. For a
capacitor, the positive plate accumulates positive charge, and the negative plate
accumulates negative charge. The direction of field lines depends on the charge
distribution on the electrodes. Field lines go from higher potential to lower.
4. If the electrodes were much taller, and instead of paper we had a conducting gel filling
the space between them, what do you think would happen with the electric field lines as
you go up from the board?
If this were the case, I think that the electric field lines would be extended upwards to
create a 3D plane or cylinder.