Abstract

In order to visualize equipotential and electric field lines in a medium with an applied direct current voltage, one needs to sample potential values from uniform grids in the medium. The equipotential lines are then constructed by locating points with equal potential and connecting them together. Finally, electric field lines are obtained by drawing lines perpendicular to these equipotential lines. These experimental procedures take time and are prone to errors when performed in a student laboratory. To integrate computers and microcontroller systems with physics experiments, we have developed a prototype 'automatic sampling system'. The system consists of a microcontroller and its peripherals to control mechanical parts which move the probe to locations within the sampling area, read potential values from those locations and send them back to a computer for analysis. The system together with a computer program can be effectively used to experimentally study an electric field mapping in different configurations of electrodes.