Electric field mapping




This demonstration shows the electric field produced by a set of point charges. The user can position the charges at will and determine their signs. The field direction is evaluated on a grid and displayed as an arrow plot. The user can also probe the field direction and follow the motion of test charges.

The user can choose one of three modes of operation. In edit mode the user can add, move and delete charges by clicking and dragging (deletion is by dragging a charge out of the window); the charge sign must be chosen in advance. In probe mode an arrow that aligns with the field direction follows the cursor. In shoot mode each click launches a test charge. (Note that the test charges have mass, and that their trajectories are subject to numerical error.)


(c)   D. Rapaport