Physlet Illustration: Electric Charge and Potential
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In this simulation, two parallel plates,
located at y= +4 mm and y= -4 mm are fixed at ± 4 Volts, respectively. The electric
field lines between the
plates are shown. A particle (m = 1 gm, q = +1 mC) is released from rest at a
point near the top (positive) plate. Its velocity is shown in m/s. Can you verify that
the total energy of the particle is conserved?
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Hints:
- The electric field between the plates is uniform. How, then, does
the electric potential vary at different points between the plates?
- Pause the animation at some point. What is the particle's position?
What is the electric potential at that position? What, then, is the
particle's electric potential energy?
- How fast is the particle moving at this point? What is its kinetic
energy ?
- What is the sum of kinetic and potential energies?
- Now, restart the animation and pause at a later time. Repeat your calculations.
Is the total energy the same?
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Reference
See Walker, Section 20-2
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Illustration written by Steve Mellema
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