Electric Fields PhET Simulation Summary

Open the "Charges and Fields PhET Simulation'. Turn on the 'Electric Field', 'Voltage', and 'Grid' settings.

Charges on their own create electric force fields. We call these "source charges", since they are generating the field. The electric field will determine how another charge in that field will behave. This other charge is called a "test charge". The greater the charge, the stronger the force field. The closer the test charge is to the source charge, the stronger the force. This is similar to how objects with mass show gravitational force field. The greater the mass, the stronger the force of attraction. Use the earth's gravitational force field as an example.

Scenario 1:

Drag a positive charge into the field, as shown in the diagram below. Make observations and sketch the electric field that exists around the positive charge.

Observations:

Reset the simulation using the orange circle in the bottom right hand corner.

Scenario 2:

Drag TWO negative charges directly on top of each other as shown. Make observations and sketch the electric field that exists around the negative charge.

Observations:

Scenario 3:

Two positive charges are shown. Make observations and sketch the electric field that exists around the positive charges. Include any notes in the space provided for drawing electric field lines for this particular situation

Observations:

Scenario 4:

One positive charge and one negative charge is shown. Make observations and sketch the electric field that exists around the charges. Include any notes in the space provided for drawing electric field lines for this particular situation.

Observations:

Use the word bank below to fill in the blanks appropriately:

Cross

Positive

Away

Closer

Electrostatic Force

More

Stronger

Weaker

Towards

Negative

Electric fields show the direction of the _______________________ acting on a positive test charge at a specific location.

Electric field lines start at ______________ charges or infinity. Electric field lines end at _____________ charges or infinity.

Electric field lines point __________________ negative charges and __________________ from positive charges.

A denser field line indicates a __________________ field and a thinner field line indicates a __________________ field.

The _____________ an object is to the electric field source charge, the stronger the force.

Field lines never ________________________.

Stronger charges have __________________ lines entering or leaving the charge.