Virtual Activity: Equipotential Surfaces Answers
1.
What is the shape of each of these 2-D equipotentials? Circular
What equipotential shape would form if you were using 3-D space? A sphere
What equation would allow you to determine the magnitude of each equipotential? V = kq/r
Place an E-Field sensor on each equipotential line. Move the sensor to different potentials on each line. What do you notice about the orientation of the E-field in relation to the equipotential line? The E-field is always perpendicular to the equipotential line.
2.
Clear the virtual space and repeat part 1 with a negative charge. How do your answers change and how do they stay the same? None of the answers change, but one would notice that the E-field is pointing in the opposite direction.