Lab Physics report on Electric Potential and Field Mapping 5 pages max! College level

Experiment 9

The Current Balance

By:

PHY 2092

Experiment Performed: 11/01/19

Report Submitted: 11/08/19

Lab Partner:

Introduction

The purpose of this experiment was to apply current to two wires. That current will generate magnetic field in each wire. Because of the formation of the wires, the current flows in opposite directions. Consequently, the magnetic fields will repel each other. A proportional relationship between the strength of the magnetic field and the inverse of the distance from the wire’s center is evident. The current is squared and graphed versus weight. The experimental value of is to be calculated and compared to a given theoretical value. No deviations from the procedures were recorded as performing this experiment.

Data

· See datasheet attached to the end of this report.

Data analysis

D =

d =

=

Discrepancy =

= =

Discussion

Physics of experiment

When an electric current is run through a wire, it generates a magnetic field in the surroundings of the wire, which takes on the shape of circle that is concentric with the wire. The magnetic field is stronger closer to the center of the wire and vice versa. Therefore, there is a proportional relationship between the magnitude of the magnetic field and the inverse of the distance away from the center of the wire (1/r). Using the right-hand rule, the direction of the magnetic field can be determined. In case of the usage of more than one wire, whether the different wires’ magnetic field attract of repel each other depends on how the wires are connected and the feature of the current flowing movement. The way wires are arranged in this experiment, grants the current to run in opposite directions. So, the generated magnetic field will wind up repelling each other. To calculate the magnetic field produced by a long, straight current that is a distance d apart from the current, the equation is to be used.

Sources of error

As in every experiment, several error sources were present in this experiment. To mention a few, first was a systematic error, which was caused by the friction in the upper rod’s pivot. Second was a random error in measurement, which occurred while the values measured by the meter stick/ ruler were read off and recorded. The third error source of this experiment was an intrinsic systematic error which was entitled into using measuring devices like the Vernier Caliper. Finally, the effect of the earth’s magnetic field on the magnetic field produced in the experiment is a considerable source of errors. The failure of this experiment may be caused by the whole of all those errors which have definitely produced imprecise results.

Question

The vertical component of the Earth’s magnetic field causes a force on the upper rod, which acts toward the root of the rod. To compensate for the mentioned force, friction comes into the picture as the force in the apparatus. Due to the very small value in the error of the Y-intercept of the line, it is close to zero.

Conclusion

In this experiment, the students attempted to generate magnetic field after allowing current to go through an upper and a lower rod in opposite directions. The experimental value was obtained as the slope of the line of the current squared versus weight graph. When running the comparison between the discrepancy and the error in discrepancy, we notice that the discrepancy was , whereas the error in discrepancy was . Since the discrepancy was greater than the error in discrepancy, the experiment is a success. My partner and I worked together in performing this experiment.