0.

10
F
0.10
F
0.22
F
0.10
F
0.10
F
0.22
F
LAB 5
Capacitors
OBJECTIVES
1. Predict and measure the equivalent capacitance of capacitors connected in series
and parallel.
2. Predict and measure the voltages across capacitors in series and parallel.
3. Investigate the capacitance of the electrometer.
EQUIPMENT
Capacitors (two each 0.0! F" 0.10 F# one 0.22 F and one 120 pF$" electrometer" %C
power suppl&" %''" (read(oard.
THEORY
)n& arrangement that stores charge can properl& (e called a capacitor. *he capacitance of
a capacitor is a measure of how much charge can (e stored on the capacitor for a
given potential difference (voltage$. *he relation (etween charge q" voltage +" and
capacitance C is given (&
q C+. =
,hen two or more capacitors are connected together" the& ma& (e replaced (& a single
capacitor that has the same capacitance (Ceq$ as the com(ination of capacitors. For two
capacitors connected in parallel" the equivalent capacitance is given (&
eq 1 2
C C C = +
.
For two capacitors connected in series" the equivalent capacitance is given (&
eq 1 2
1- C 1- C 1- C = +
.
If a capacitor C1 is connected to a power suppl& with voltage +0" it will acquire a charge q
given (& q . C1+0. If that capacitor is then disconnected from the power suppl& and
connected in parallel to an initiall& uncharged capacitor C2" the original charge q on
capacitor 1 is split (etween the two capacitors. ,e therefore end up with the relation q . q1
/ q2" where q1 and q2 are the final charges on capacitors 1 and 2. 0ince capacitors 1 and 2
are in parallel" the& must have the same voltage +. *he relationship q . q1 / q2 therefore
(ecomes C1+0 . C1+ / C2+.
PROCEDURE
Part 1 E!"i#a$%&t Capacita&c%
a. 'easure the individual capacitance values (using a %''$ of the following five
capacitors 0.0! F (two of them$" 0.01 F (two of them$ and 0.22 F.
(. 1sing the measured capacitance values" predict the equivalent capacitance (Ceq$th& of
Capacitors 0.01 F and 0.01 F in series
Capacitors 0.01 F and 0.01 F in parallel
) com(ination of two 0.10 F capacitors in series and parallel with a third 0.22 F
) com(ination of two 0.10 F capacitors in parallel in series with a third 0.22 F
capacitor
c. 'easure the equivalent capacitance (Ceq$e2pt using a %''. Compare (Ceq$th& and
(Ceq$e2pt using a percent difference. 3ow do
the& compare4
Part ' T(% Vo$ta)% across Capacitors
*o measure the voltage across an initiall& uncharged capacitor" use the following procedure
Connect a 0.0! F capacitor to a 10+ power suppl& and charge it up (one or two
seconds$. %isconnect the power suppl& from the capacitor and *% car%+"$ &ot to to"c(
%it(%r si,% o+ t(% capacitor or -o" .i$$ ,isc(ar)% it/ Chec5 the voltage of the
capacitor and power suppl& using a electrometer.
,ith the charged 0.0! F capacitor" connect a second initiall& uncharged capacitor in
parallel and charge it up.
1se the electrometer to measure the voltage across the initiall& uncharged capacitor
after the two capacitors are connected in parallel/ Ma0% s"r% t(at -o" co&&%ct t(% 1
t%r2i&a$ o+ t(% %$%ctro2%t%r to t(% 1 p$at% o+ t(% 3/35 4 capacitor5 ot(%r.is% -o"
.i$$ ,isc(ar)% t(% capacitor/ %ischarge all capacitors (& touching (oth plates of each
capacitor at the same time with &our fingers.
For each of the capacitor configurations listed (elow" predict (+th&$ and measure (+e2pt$ the
voltage across the initiall& uncharged capacitor will read after the two capacitors are
connected in parallel. Compare +th& and +e2pt using a percent difference.
a. *he initiall& uncharged capacitor is a single 0.0! F capacitor.
(. *he initiall& uncharged capacitor is a single 0.10 F capacitor.
c. *he initiall& uncharged capacitor is two 0.10 F capacitors in parallel.
d. *he initiall& uncharged capacitor is two 0.10 F capacitors in series.
Part 6 Pr%,icti&) a&, M%as"ri&) t(% E!"i#a$%&t Capacita&c%
1sing the procedure of Part 2" predict the equivalent capacitance (Ceq$th& (& measuring the
voltage across the initiall& uncharged capacitor after the two capacitors are connected in
parallel. Compare (Ceq$th& and (Ceq$e2pt (from Part 1$ using a percent difference.
a. *he initiall& uncharged capacitor is a com(ination of two 0.10 F capacitors in series
and parallel with a third 0.22 F capacitor.
(. *he initiall& uncharged capacitor is a com(ination of two 0.10 F capacitors in parallel in
series with a third 0.22 F capacitor.
Part 7 Capacita&c% o+ t(% E$%ctro2%t%r
a. 3old a 1'3 p4 capacitor as shown (& the instructor and then connect the capacitor to
the power suppl&. )fter the capacitor is full& charged (one or two seconds$" disconnect
the power suppl&.
(. Predict what the voltage across the 120 pF capacitor will (e when &ou read the voltage
using the electrometer.
c. 1se the electrometer to measure the voltage across the 120 pF capacitor. ,as &our
prediction correct4 6eport on &our results and an& possi(le reasons for the
discrepanc&.
d. 1se &our results from part (c$ to calculate the capacitance of the electrometer.
e. ,h& didn7t the capacitance of the electrometer have a noticea(le effect on the results
from Parts 2 8 34
Predict and measure the voltage across the initiall& uncharged 0.10 F capacitor will read
after the two capacitors are connected in parallel. Compare +th& and +e2pt using a percent
difference.
c. Predict (+th&$ and measure (+e2pt$ the voltage across the two initiall& uncharged 0.10 F
capacitor will read after the two capacitors are connected in parallel. Compare +th& and
+e2pt using a percent difference.
d. Predict (+th&$ and measure (+e2pt$ the voltage across the two initiall& uncharged 0.10 F
capacitor in parallel will read after the two capacitors are connected in parallel.
Compare +th& and +e2pt using a percent difference.
e. Predict (+th&$ and measure (+e2pt$ the voltage across the two initiall& uncharged 0.10 F
capacitor in series will read after the two capacitors are connected in parallel. Compare
+th& and +e2pt using a percent difference.