Physics 205L

Capacitance and Dielectric Constant Measurement

Date: 25th March 2009
NAME: ALI ALAWIEH
PARTNERS NAME: RIDA DAHIR
SECTION NUMBER & NAME OF INSTRUCTOR: SECTION 5 LAMIS ZAIDOUNY
(A) Unknown capacitors and combination
Nominal Values: Cx: 0.470 nF

Cy: 2.200 nF Cz: 56.00 nF

Note the manufacturers rated tolerances

Measured Value,
Cx
Cy
Cz
CxCyCz
CxCy
CyCz
CxCz
Cx//Cy//Cz
Cx//Cy
Cx//Cz
Cy//Cz
Cx(Cy//Cz)
(CxCy)//Cz
Cx//( CyCz)

Cm
0.481 nF
2.268 nF
54.47 nF
0.406 nF
0.401 nF
2.184 nF
0.480 nF
57.21 nF
2.747 nF
54.94 nF
56.73 nF
0.481 nF
54.84 nF
2.624 nF

Calculated
(From measured values)

------------------0.393 nF
0.397 nF
2.177 nF
0.477 nF
57.22 nF
2.749 nF
54.95 nF
56.74 nF
0.477 nF
54.87 nF
2.658 nF

N.B. You must use the measured value for Cx, Cy and Cz in your calculations ( indicates
a series connection while // indicates a parallel connection). Comment on your results;
agreements must be noted and discrepancies explained.
According to the calculations where in paralleh Ceq=C1 + C2 and
in series: (1/Ceq) = (1/C1) + (1/C2), the values calculated and measured is slightly
different and this difference may be due to some random errors.

(B) Parallel Plate Capacitor

Diameter D
Separation d (spacer )
Capacitance Cair (calculated)
Cair (measured)
Cd (meas. W/dielectric)

Measured Values
15 cm
3.7 103 inches
1.667 nF
1.486 nF
1.614 nF

Uncertainty on values
0.05 cm
5 105 inches
0.0316 nF
0.001 nF
0.001 nF

Use the measurements of the diameter and the separation to calculate the value of C air.
How does this value compare to the measured one?
2
D 2 0.15
A r 2

0.0177 m 2
4
4
0 A ( 8.85 1012 0.0177 )
Cair=
=
=1.67 nF
d
3.7 103 25.4 103

To calculate error: C=
C

d
d

r 2
0 2 d
d

C
r
r

0 A 0 r 2
=
d
d

2 0r

r
d

(8.85 10 12 ) (7.5 10 2 ) 2

(5 10 5 25.4 10 3 )
6 2
(93.98 10 )

2(8.85 10 12 ) (7.5 10 2 )

(5 10 4 )
6
(93.98 10 )

(5.057 10 22 ) (4.923 10 22 ) 3.159 10 11 F 0.03nF

We check if C measured is within the range [C c , C c ]
[(1.67 0.03)nF , (1.67 0.03)nF ]
That is if it belong to: [1.64nF ,1.70nF ]

Cmeasured = 1.486 nF which doesnt belong to the range so we check if it belong to the
range:
[C 2 c , C 2 c ]
[1.61nF ,1.73nF ]
This is also untrue so most probably there is systematic error.

Find the dielectric constant (/0) of the material used and its uncertainty using the
theory of propagation of errors.

C d=k C air = k =
k
C
Cd
C d

Cd 1.614
=
=1.083
Cair 1.486
2

k

Cair
C air

1
1.614

0.001
0.001
1.486
1.486

0.0013

So k=(1.0830 0.0013) Dielectric constant of paper:

Repeat the above measurement for a sheet of paper from your notebook
Measured Values
Uncertainty on values
Diameter D
15 cm
0.05 cm
3
5
Separation d (spacer )
3.6 10 inches
5 10 inches
Capacitance Cair (calculated)
1.713 nF
0.024 nF
Cair (measured)
1.528 nF
0.001 nF
Cd (meas. W/dielectric)
3.034 nF
0.001 nF
Use the measurements of the diameter and the separation to calculate the value of C air.
How does this value compare to the measured one?
2
D 2 0.15
A r 2

0.0177 m 2
4
4
0 A ( 8.85 1012 0.0177 )
Cair=
=
=1.713 nF
d
3.6 103 25.4 103

To calculate error: C=
C

d
d

r 2
0 2 d
d

C
r
r

0 A 0 r 2
=
d
d

2 0r

r
d

(8.85 10 12 ) (7.5 10 2 ) 2

(5 10 5 25.4 10 3 )
6 2
(91.44 10 )

2(8.85 10 12 ) (7.5 10 2 )

(5 10 4 )
6
(91.44 10 )

(5.672 10 22 ) 0.024nF

We check if C measured is within the range [C c , C c ]

[(1.713 0.024)nF , (1.713 0.024)nF ]
That is if it belong to: [1.689nF ,1.737 nF ]
Cmeasured = 1.528 nF which doesnt belong to the range so we check if it belong to the
range:
[C 2 c , C 2 c ]
[1.665nF ,1.761nF ]
This is also untrue so most probably there is systematic error.

Find the dielectric constant (/0) of the material used and its uncertainty using the
theory of propagation of errors.
C d=k C air = k =
k
C
Cd
C d

k
Cair
C air

0.001
1.528

Cd 3.034
=
=1.986
Cair 1.528

3.034

0.001
1.528

0.0021nF

So k=(1.986 0.0021) nF (C) Coaxial cables

You will possibly get two types of cables with the following specs (dimensions are in
inches):
Cable

Inner conductor
diameter (a)
0.018
0.037

RG 174
RG58

Cadapter
Cable #1 RG 174
Cable #2 RG 174
Cable 1 + Cable 2

Shield
inner diameter (b)
0.061
0.110

Length
(m)

Capacitance
with adapter

--------

0.004 nF

142.4c
m
106.9c
m
--------

0.154 nF
0.110 nF
0.265 nF

Capacitance
Without
adapter
----------

Outer diameter
0.110
0.195
Capacitance/length
(F/m)
--------

--------

0.150 nF

1.053x10-10 F/m

0.106 nF

0.992x10-10 F/m

0.261 nF

----------------------

Determine from your measurements the dielectric constant of the material used in each of
the two cables.

C 2k 0

L
b
ln
a

C
b
ln
L
a
So, k
2 0
0.15 10 9
0.061
ln

1.424
0.018

k1
2.312
12
2

(
8
.
85

10
)
For cable 1:
0.106 10 9
0.061
ln

1.069
0.018

k2
2.176
12
2

(
8
.
85

10
)
For cable 2:

Note that the connector between the two cables has a small capacitance. Determine the
capacitance of the connector: Cconnector= (C1+C2)-C1-C2=0.265-0.110-0.154=0.001nF
Upon connecting the two coaxial cables with the BNC connectors, can you tell whether
the cables in parallel or in series? Explain.
Since (C1 + C2)measured = 0.265 nF is approximately equal to C1measured+C2measured=0.264nF
So they are connected in parallel since in parallel Ceq = C1 + C2
If they were in series: 1/Ceq=1/C1 +1/C2, So Ceq=(C1xC2)/(C1+C2) = 0.064 nF which
is not the case.
They are connected in parallel.