Equipotential lines are lines with equal electric potential (for example, all the points with an electric potential of 5.0 V). Using the plot tool that comes with voltmeter (pencil icon) make two equipotential lines at r=0.5 m and r=1.5 m. Enable electric field vectors in the simulation. Put an electric field sensor at different points on the equipotential line and note the direction of the electric field vector. What can you conclude about the direction of the electric field vector in relation to the equipotential lines?Equipotential lines are lines with equal electric potential (for example, all the points with an electric potential of 5.0 V). Using the plot tool that comes with voltmeter (pencil icon) make two equipotential lines at r=0.5 m and r=1.5 m. Enable electric field vectors in the simulation. Put an electric field sensor at different points on the equipotential line and note the direction of the electric field vector. What can you conclude about the direction of the electric field vector in relation to the equipotential lines?

Electric field lines go from a positive charge to a negative charge, the specific shape of these lines depends on the charge distribution, let's look at two specific cases:

* in the case of point charge the lines are radial

* In the case of electric plates, they are lines perpendicular to the plates.

Equipotential surfaces are related to the elective field by

Ex = - dV / dx

Ey = -dV / dy

Ez = -dV / dz

E = Exi ^ + Ey j ^ + Ezk ^

remember electric potential is a scalar and the electric field is a vector quantity, therefore the equipotential lines or surface are perpendicular to the electric field. Specifically for

* point charge the equipotential surfaces are concentric with the charge

* For electrical plates equipotential lines are parallel to the plates.