Electric Fields

Central Questions What are the shapes of equipotential lines? What is the shape and strength of an electrical field?

Equipment Ripple tank Graph paper Electrodes – point and line Power supply Multimeter

Procedure Set up the data sheet.

Procedure Set up the field. ▫Fill the tank with water to a depth of about ¼ “. ▫Put the electrodes (bolt heads) at opposite ends of the grid, on the indicated places above the grid. ▫Connect one electrode to + and the other to – on the power supply. ▫Plug the power supply in, switch it on, and dial it all the way up.

Connecting the Pieces

Setting the Multimeter

Collect Data While keeping the – probe in the same location, move the + probe to each location on the grid. For each location, record the voltage.

Mapping the Data