Capacitance

Purpose
Examine the factors that affect the capacitance of a parallel-plate capacitor and find the permittivity of free space.

Capacitance:


 – charge, in
 – potential difference, in


Parallel-plate capacitor:


 – area, in
 – distance between the plates, in
 – permittivity of free space

Procedure

Go to:
https://phet.colorado.edu/sims/html/capacitor-lab-basics/latest/capacitor-lab-basics_en.html

To change the separation of the plates, click on the arrows next to “Separation” and drag them up or down.
To change the area of the plates, click on the arrows net to “Area” and drag them.

Part 1: Capacitance and Area

  1. Choose a value for the distance between the plates and record in the Data Table. You will not change this distance for Part 1 of the lab.

  2. Change the area of the plates and record the area and capacitance in the Data Table. Take 8 different measurements.

  3. Use Excel or Google Sheets to plot  vs . Label your axes and provide a meaningful title for your graph.

  1. Add a trendline (use linear fit) and display the equation of line on your graph. Take a screenshot of the graph and include in the lab report.

  2. What does the slope represent?
  1. Use the slope to find the permittivity of free space. Show your work.
  1. Calculate the percent error.
  1. In a sentence or so, give the relationship between capacitance and area of the plates.

Part 2: Capacitance and Plate Separation

  1. Choose a value for the area of the plates and record in the Data Table. You will not change the area of the plates for Part 2 of the lab.

  2. Change the distance between the plates and record the distance and capacitance in the Data Table. Take 8 different measurements.

  3. Use Excel or Google Sheets to plot  vs. Label your axes and provide a meaningful title for your graph.

  1. Add a trendline (use power fit) and display the trendline equation on your graph. The equation should be in the form:  where  is capacitance and  is plate separation. Take a screenshot of the graph and include in the lab report.

  2. Using that the coefficient  and , find the permittivity of free space . Show your work.
  1. Calculate the percent error.
  1. In a sentence or so, give the relationship between capacitance and plate separation.

Part 3: Charge and Potential Difference

  1. Choose a value for the capacitance and record in the Data Table. You will not change the capacitance of the capacitor for Part 3 of the lab.
  1. Change the value of the power supply. Measure the potential difference between the plates using a voltmeter. Record the potential difference and the charge on the plates in the Data Table. Take 8 different measurements.

    A close up of text on a white background Description automatically generated
  • Use Excel or Google Sheets to plot  vs . Label your axes and provide a meaningful title for your graph.

  1. Add a trendline (use linear fit) and display the equation of line on your graph. Take a screenshot of the graph and include in the lab report.

  2. What does the slope represent?
  1. Use the slope to find the capacitance. Show your work.
  1. Calculate the percent error, using the value of  from the simulation as the accepted value.

Data Sheet: Capacitance


Part 1: Capacitance vs. Area

distance between the plates,




 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 

Equation of trendline: ________________

 (from the equation of trendline)

 (show work)

Percent error: _______________ (show work)

Part 2: Capacitance vs Plate Separation

area of the plates,




 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 

Equation of trendline: ________________

 (from the equation of trendline)

 (show work)

Percent error: _______________ (show work)

Part 3: Charge and Potential Difference

capacitance,




 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 

Equation of trendline: ________________

 (from the equation of trendline)

 (show work)

Percent error: _______________ (show work)

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