Download E-field PhET Lab

http://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulation/charges-and-fields
When working with static electric charges, like charges _____________ while opposite charges _____________. These charges can
be as large as clouds of ionized gas in a nebula one million times the size of the earth, or as small as protons and electrons. The rule
remains the same. In this lab, you will investigate how a charge creates a field around itself.

Place a 1 nC (nanoCoulomb) positive charge and E-Field sensor in the test area. Click
the boxes as shown to observe the field lines in the E-field. Observe the sensor’s arrow as you drag it around
the in the field.

Replace the positive charge with a negative point charge. To remove charges, drag them back into their box.
By convention, field arrows point ______________ a positive charge and ______________ a negative charge.
1.
Closer to a point charge, the electrostatic field created is stronger / weaker.
2.
Placed exactly between two equal like charges, the sensor will show zero / minimum / maximum field strength.
3.
Using arrows to represent the electric field, draw the electric field around a single positive charge, and a
single negative charge.
4.
Add a ‘+’ charge to simulation area so that there is both a ‘+’ and a ‘-’ charge. Move the charges to change the distance between
and the orientation of the charges.
5.
Draw a diagram that shows the electric field lines between a positive and a negative charge.
6.
Place two positive charges and one negative charge at locations so that they form the vertices of an equilateral triangle. Draw the
electric field lines around the charges. Indicate the location where the net electric field due to all the charges is zero.
7.
Place three positive charges at locations so that they form the vertices of an equilateral triangle. Draw the electric field lines
around the charges. Indicate the location where the net electric field due to all the charges is zero.