Laplace Applet
This applet uses uses Laplace's method to calculate electric potentials in a 2-D area. It models how electric potentials spread from sources of high potential to source of low potential. The default drawing simulates a capacitor (and how potentials interact in this configuration).
Interpreting Information
The drawing on the right shows how potentials spread over an area.
Red indicates a field of positive potential. As the color fades to white, the potential nears zero.
Green indicates a field of negative potential. As the color fades to white, the potential nears zero.
The plots on the right half of the applet show a 3-D representation of potentials. The Contour plot can show equipotential lines. These lines are indicated areas of equal color. The final plot, Grid, shows a similar representation of equipotential lines.
Interaction
As a user, you can draw your own source of potential by selecting either +100V or -100V. You can also see the E-Field lines by pressing the E Field button. This shows the direction that the electric field lines are spreading. By pressing the run button, you can see the spread of potentials.
The copy button can be used make copies of the plots to the right. You can use this to interpret how potentials spread.