Mapping electric potential and electric field distribution in saltwater and investigating the effect of distance from source

Abstract

When two opposite point charges are placed near each other, the equipotentials of the system are roughly circular around the charges, roughly linear in between the charges, increase in magnitude closer to the positive point charge, and run perpendicular to the electric field lines between the two charges. To simulate two point charges near each other in a conductive medium and test if this hypothesis is true, we placed two leads in saltwater and measured the voltage at a predetermined set of points. Our results confirmed the hypothesis, showing a gradual decrease in electric potential with distance and the formation of consistent equipotential lines. This experiment demonstrates how the principles of electric fields and conservation of energy apply in a physical system, providing a hands-on understanding of how electric potential behaves in different regions of space.