How is your map of the equipotential lines similar to a topographic map? How do

Question

How is your map of the equipotential lines similar to a topographic map? How do you determine the location of the steepest terrain on a topographic map? How does this compare with locating the regions of strongest electric field on your equipotential map? How much work is required to transfer 1 C of charge between the electrodes in your experiment? Would you expect the equipotential lines to be perpendicular or parallel to the surface of a conductor? Explain. Make a sketch of the electric field lines for each of your sketches from part C of the experiment.

Explanation / Answer

1) Equipotential surfaces can be shown as lines in two dimensions to provide a quantitative way of viewing electric potential. Every point on a given line is at the same potential. Such maps can be read like topographic maps.

2) All points on the same line are at the same elevation, just as all points on the same equipotential line are at the same voltage. Water flows downhill, so the rivers are always perpendicular to the contour lines on the topographic map. This is similar to the way electric field lines are always perpendicular to equipotential lines. When contour lines are close together, the slope is steep, e.g. a cliff, just as close equipotential lines indicate a strong electric field. Lakes are at the same elevation, in the same way conductors are at the same potential.

3)   Work required to transfer 1 C of charge between electrodes = 1 * 10

                                                                                                        = 10 J

4)   Equipotential lines are parallel to surface of conductor .Electric field lines are perpendicular to the equipotential lines, and point from higher potential toward lower.

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