Lab #: 2

Topic: electric field

Aim: To draw electric fields lines to represent the electric field around several
symmetric charge distributions.
Apparatus: simulation software and computer
Procedure:
1. Open MS INTERNET EXPLORER.
2. Go to the site ELECTROSTATICS SIMULATION. http://www.falstad.com/emstatic/
3. The simulation should be open to a single source.
4. Deselect Draw equipotentials
5. Select E lines/rho/i
6. Under Setup select the charge distribution for the simulation to show the resultant Electric Field
7. Explore a number of different charge distributions.
8. On the Lab Report draw at least five (5) electric field lines to represent the Electric Field of the
following charge distributions:

Single positive charge

Single negative charge (not shown in simulation)
Double positive charge
Positive and negative charge (dipole charge)
Parallel plates (conducting planes)

Result:

Discussion:

Why do electric field lines never intersect?

What is meant by the concept that charge is quantized?

Lab#:3
Topic:electricfield
Aim:Toinvestigatetherelationshipbetweenforceanddistance.
Apparatus:simulationsoftwareandcomputer
Procedure:
1.OpenMSINTERNETEXPLORER.
2.GotothesiteELECTROSTATICSSIMULATION.http://www.falstad.com/emstatic/
3.Thesimulationshouldbeopentoasinglesource.
4.DeselectDrawequipotentials
5.SelectElines/rho/i
6.UnderSetupselectthechargedistributionforthesimulationtoshowtheresultantElectric
Field
7.Exploreanumberofdifferentchargedistributions.
8.Settheelectricfieldoptionformorethanonchargesatthesamepost.
9.Findtheelectricfieldatdifferentpointsonthesimulation.
10.Completethetablebelow.
11.Plotagraphofforceontheyaxisanddistancesquareonthexaxis.

Result:
Completethetable
Distance(m)
Electricfield

force

1
2
4
5
Whatdothegraphsayabouttherelationship?
Findthegradientoftheline.
Whatdoesitrepresents?
Discussion:

Distance
square

Lab#:4
Capacitor Lab
Objectives:

1. Explore the effect of plate area, plate separate and dielectric materials on the
capacitance of a parallel plate capacitor.
2. Develop an expression for the capacitance of a capacitor.
3. Explore the effects of voltage, plate separation and a dielectric on the electric
field strength between two charged plates.
4. Explore the effects of voltage and capacitance on the quantity of charge
stored on a capacitor plate and energy stored in the capacitor.
5. Develop an expression for the quantity of charge stored on a capacitor plate.
6. Develop an expression for the energy stored in a capacitor in a circuit.

Materials:

Capacitor Lab applet at http://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulation/capacitor-lab

(click Run Now!)

Procedure & Analysis:

The following procedure for your reference only

Do not copy or cut & paste into your lab journal
Discuss your own procedure in detail in your lab journal
Include sketches or screen shots where necessary and construct your own
data tables

1. The applet allows you to examine various properties of a parallel plate

capacitor. You will need to continually measure the voltage, capacitance,
charge on the top plate and the energy stored by the capacitor. Click the
appropriate boxes and position the meters to correctly do so. Take a moment
to get used to the controls and how to read each of the meters.
2. Switch to the Dielectric tab. On this tab you will investigate the effect of
plate area, separation and dielectric materials on the capacitance of the
capacitor. You should investigate the effect of each variable qualitatively at
first and classify each relationship as either direct or inversely proportional.
Then make quantitative measurements to develop an expression for the
capacitance of the capacitor. Your expression should be justified by solid
data.
3. Also while youre on this tab, examine how voltage, plate separation and the
dielectric medium affect the electric field strength between the parallel
plates. Diagrams of the electric field vectors may be helpful in justifying your
conclusions.
4. Switch back to the Introduction tab. Now that you know what affects the
capacitance, you can see what effect capacitance and voltage have on the
charge stored on the capacitor plates. As before, begin with a qualitative
analysis before proceeding to conduct a more detailed quantitative

investigation. Use your data to develop an expression for the charge stored
on the capacitor plate.
5. Likewise, perform a similar experiment to develop an expression for the
energy stored in the capacitor.

Conclusion:

Summarize what youve learned about capacitors from this investigation.