Activity 25.5.1. Equipotential Surfaces.
This activity uses a plastic surface, like the one in the figure, to represent the electric potential between two charged plates, one positive and one negative. A \(1 \mathrm{~cm}\) height difference corresponds to an electric potential difference of \(1 \mathrm{~V}\text{.}\)
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Rank the three marked points by the value of the electric potential from greatest to least. Explain your reasoning.
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Find three different points on the surface that are separated by equal (non-zero!) changes in potential.
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Identify (and mark) all the points with the same value of potential as your three points.
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What patterns do you notice?
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Align your surface with a contour map. How are you making this alignment? Where is the surface a good approximation of the potential? Where is the approximation less good?
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Describe the relationship between potential and distance from the negative plate.
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Propose an equation to describe the electric potential as a function of the distance, \(x\text{,}\) from the negative plate. Where did choose for the location of \(V = 0\text{?}\)
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