A Map Quest

The purpose of this experiment is to observe the nature of electrical potential by creating electric potential maps of dipoles of opposite charge and of parallel plates.

Equipment:
-Multimeter
-Power Supply
-Electric Field Mapping Kit
-Conductive Paper

Part One: Two Dots
Using the Electric Field Mapping Kit, we secure the conductive paper with two dots on the corkboard using pins. We set the power supply to 20V and confirm the correct voltage using the multimeter. The leads were then reverse and checked to get  -20V voltage. Then the positive lead of the power supply was connected to one dot and the negative lead was set to the other. We then checked to get a 20 V reading across with the multimeter. Keeping the negative lead to the voltage, we use the positive lead to take readings at each coordinate point every 4 cm.

Data:

Using Excel, we then plotted a 3D plot of the the data. 


Questions:

1. Describe what the contour plot tells you about the electrical potential associated with the two dots.

      -The contour plot shows the voltage across the conductive paper. It shows the higher voltage potential over the positive dot and low voltage potential over the negative dot.

2.  Describe the similarities between the 3D surface plot you created and the map of Easter Island.

      - The 3D surface is similar to a contour map of Easter Island because the higher positive potential appears to be a mountain on the map.

Part Two:

 Like part one, we set up the conductive paper with tow lines. The positive lead of the power supply to one line and the negative to the other. We again measure the 20V across the lines.

Data:

Using Excel, we then plotted a 3D plot of the the data.  

Conclusion:

I think this is a good activity for a Physics 2BG class, but not so much for a Physics 4B class because this lab only shows to the positive and negative potential on the conduction paper.The background of this lab to to compare the the contour plot of a map to a 3D plot of the voltage potential across conducting paper. This lab confirms that there is a higher voltage potential over the positive line or dot and a lower voltage potential over the negative line or dot. In 4B we focus more on the equi-potential lines and the electric field lines across the conduction paper, which this line doesn't include. In conclusion, I believe this lab is too basic for a 4B student.