Report on the energy storage capacitor experiment

What can you learn from a capacitor lab?

In this lab, you will learn about the behavior of capacitors in series and parallel, and how voltages are distributed in capacitor circuits. You will be provided with 3 different capacitors, jumping wires, a breadboard, a multimeter, and a capacimeter to complete the tasks.

What is the variable capacitor's separation distance measured in?

The variable capacitor consists of two parallel aluminum plates which can be adjusted to various separations. The movable plates are mounted on a calibrated slide ruler, giving the separation distance in cm.

How do I measure stray capacitance?

To account for stray capacitance in the wire, zeroize the capacimeter by disconnecting one of the wires, but leave it near the binding post. Make sure your hands are not near the wires while zeroing. Don't forget to measure the diameter of the plates.

What can you measure with a capacimeter?

You will be given a capacimeter to use in this part of the lab. This device can measure the capacitance of a capacitor. Along with the capacimeter, you will also have access to 3 different capacitors, jumping wires, a breadboard, and a multimeter.

How do you discharge the capacitor?

To discharge the capacitor, momentarily touch the (-) lead from the power supply to the terminal of the xed plate capacitor.

What happens when a capacitor is charged?

During charging, an electric field is created which in turn result into electrostatic charges being created. As a result, the charges stored in the capacitor grows exponentially. The reverse process happens during the discharging of the capacitor. Two or Half-life (experimental), t❑ 12 (exp) (s) Run #1 10 k Ω 330 μF 9 8 4.