Documente Academic
Documente Profesional
Documente Cultură
221-01
Lab 4: Capacitors
Part 1
Capacitor Color
Blue
32.8
Small Yellow
21.9
Big Yellow
67.2
Capacitance
( Experimental
Theoretical Capacitance ) * 100 =
1
0.091
= 10.9 nF
3.66%
Distance (cm)
Trial 1
Trial 2
Trial 3
0.5
88.7
84.4
60.4
1.5
50
48.8
45.5
45.6
2.5
42.6
43.1
40.6
38
36.6
35.6
34.9
34.9
34.9
35.2
34.3
34.3
33.5
33.7
12
33.1
33.1
33.5
31.8
61.1
41.5
60.4
40.8
55.1
40.9
37
36.5
36.9
36.7
36.0
The values of capacitance calculated using equation 1 provided capacitance within 2% error of the
experimental capacitance.
2. Calculate the dielectric constant for the paper used. How do your values compare with the listed value
from the table above?
Number of Paper Sheets
Distance (cm)
Capacitance (pF)
62.1
10
58.9
3. Calculate the dielectric constant for the transparency sheets. Does the capacitance of the parallel plates
depend on the thickness of the dielectric?
Number of Transparent Sheets
Distance (cm)
Capacitance(pF)
68.8
66.1
Diameter of Plates: 20 cm
Equation 1: C = C0 = VQ o = eA
d
66.1 = *(20.1)
transparency = 3.29
The literature value of transparency sheets is between 2.9 and 4.5. The experimental dielectric constant
was 3.29, which falls within this range.
Capacitance is dependent on the material of the dielectric, the distance between the parallel plates, and the
area of the plates. The capacitance of the parallel plates does not depend on the thickness of the dielectric,
however, if the thickness influences the distance between the plates then the capacitance will depend on
the distance caused by the thickness of the dielectric material.
1 2
4. Show that the capacitance for the setup in Figure 4 is given by C = 2eA
d 1+ 2
Distance (mm)
Capacitance (nF)
Polystyrene
0.224
Nylon
0.361
Both
0.153
1 2
C = 2eA
d 1+ 2
1 = Polystyrene = 2.5
2 = Nylon = 3.5
C=
2e(0.04) (3.5)(2.5)
0.003 (3.5+2.5)
Cboth = 0.196 nF
The calculated capacitance of polystyrene and nylon using equation 4 provided a 28% error from the
experimental capacitance of the two materials.
6. The dielectrics you insert between the parallel plates may have excess charge. What happens when you
charge the plates, if this turns out to be true?
Because dielectrics resist the flow of electricity, the surface of a dielectric may retain stranded excess
electrical charges. This may occur accidentally when the dielectric is rubbed (the triboelectric effect). A
spark could result from electrostatic discharge, or the charge on the plates will be higher than they would
be given uncharged dielectric material.
7. For Part 2b, create a plot of V vs d. What does the slope represent?
Power Supply Voltage (V)
Distance (cm)
15
0.3
12.1
15
0.5
15
15
18
15
1.5
19.2
15
20.3
15
2.5
21.5
The slope of the line formed plotting voltage against distance is the electric field, E in ( Vm or
8. How much charge is found on the plates in Part 2b?
N
C
).
C=
Q=
Q=
Q
eA
V o = d
eA
d * V0
e(0.04)
(0.01) *(18-15)
Q 0.489 nC
References
The TriboElectric Series. (n.d.). Retrieved September 27, 2016, from
http://www.trifield.com/content/tribo-electric-series/