Experiment 1c

Class:

Name:

) Date:

1c Electric field patterns

Objective
To study the electric field patterns between electrodes.

Background information

Semolina is used
for making puddings
and is available from
supermarkets. The
semolina used must be
light and small in size.
If they are too large in
size, grind them into
smaller pieces.

An electric field can be represented by a series of field lines going

from a positive charge to a negative charge.

Tiny non-conducting particles (e.g. semolina) can line up under the

influence of electric field. The lines of particles show the electric field
lines.

Apparatus
1 electric field apparatus

castor oil

1 EHT power supply unit

semolina

1 overhead projector

several connecting leads

Procedure
Safety precaution
Do not touch the
electrodes after they are
connected to the EHT
supply.

Set up an electric field apparatus on an overhead projector. Pour

castor oil into the dish of the apparatus and dip a pair of electrodes
in the oil (Fig 1c-1).

castor oil
EHT power supply unit
with negative
terminal earthed
semolina
electrodes
electric field apparatus on overhead projector

Fig 1c-1

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Class:

Name:

Note
When the electrode is
connected to the positive
terminal of the EHT
power supply, it will be
charged positively, and
likewise the negative
terminal.

Safety precaution
You must turn off the
EHT supply before
changing the electrodes.

Experiment 1c

) Date:

Connect the electrodes to an EHT power supply unit. Earth the

negative electrode.

(a) Sprinkle some semolina on the oil.

(b) Switch on the power supply and set the voltage to 5 kV. Note
that the semolina particles line up to show the electric field
pattern.

(c) Observe the electric field pattern and sketch it in Figure 1c-2.

Repeat with electrodes of other shapes as shown in Figure 1c-2.

Sketch the electric field patterns observed in the figure.

Fig 1c-2

After a while, the

semolina particles
become soaked with
castor oil and sink to
the bottom of the dish.
Therefore use a new
dish of castor oil when
changing the electrodes.

Discussion
Explain why the non-conducting semolina particles move and line up

to show the electric field pattern.

The non-conducting semolina particles are charged by induction. They experience the
electric field and hence, the electric forces which make them move into positions and
line up to show the field pattern.

electric field
1 A charged object sets up an ________________________
in the

region around it.

pattern
2 The electric field ________________________
between charged

objects depends on the shape and arrangement of the objects.

New Physics at Work (Second Edition)

Oxford University Press 2007

11

Experiment 1c

Class:

Name:

) Date:

Further thinking
It is extremely dangerous to conduct the experiment by replacing the

non-conducting castor oil with conducting liquids such as water.

Explain the reason.
If water is used, the EHT supply will be short-circuited. If someone touches the water
accidentally, large amount of current will pass through his/her body to the earth. This
may kill!

What will happen if the polarities of the electrodes are reversed?

Explain your answer.
The distribution of the semolina particles (i.e. electric field pattern) will not change as
interchanging the polarities will only reverse the directions of the electric field which
cannot be shown by the particles.

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New Physics at Work (Second Edition)

Oxford University Press 2007