Lab 205 Parallel Plate Capacitor
docx
keyboard_arrow_up
School
New Jersey Institute Of Technology *
*We aren’t endorsed by this school
Course
121A
Subject
English
Date
Apr 3, 2024
Type
docx
Pages
7
Uploaded by CountGerbilMaster998
Lab 205: Parallel Plate Capacitor Group ID: 6
Date of Experiment: 10/19/2021
Date of Report Submission: 10/26/2021
Phys 121A 001 Instructor: Sandun Amarasinghe
1. Introduction 1.1 Objectives -
To understand the principle of a parallel plate capacitor, to investigate how the capacitance of parallel plate capacitor varies as the plate separation changes and to measure the dielectric constant of a material. 1.2 Theoretical Background
-
The objective of this lab is to understand the functions of a parallel plate capacitor and to measure the value of its capacitance using software.
2.
Experimental Procedure
Part I: Capacitance as a function of plate separation
Measure the capacitance of the parallel plate
Part 1 Data:
Separation [mm]
0.9000
1.5000
1.9500
2.5125
3.0375
3.9000
6.1500
8.0625
Capacitance
[pF]
547.00
239.00
165.00
121.00
97.00
89.00
53.00
38.00
Plot a function for the experimental data
Digital Vernier Caliper
Parallel Plate Capacitor Rotary Motion Sensor
Universal Interface
Dielectric plate
Capacitance meter
Banana Plug Test Leads
Fixed plate
Movable plate
Part II: Capacitor with Dielectric
Measure the thickness of the dielectric plate.
Measure the capacitance of the parallel plate for different plate separations.
Plug the values into the table
Part 2 Data:
Distance of
air gap [mm]
0.000
1.012
1.425
1.912
2.588
3.000
3.975
6.037
7.912
Total capacitance
[pF]
137.00
98.00
85.00
73.00
62.00
57.00
48.00
36.00
30.00
Plot
k = 2.915
3.
Results
3.1 Experimental Data Measurement of plate: 6.3mm
Diameter of plate: 20cm
Area: 0.03104m
Your preview ends here
Eager to read complete document? Join bartleby learn and gain access to the full version
- Access to all documents
- Unlimited textbook solutions
- 24/7 expert homework help
3.2 Calculations
C = Q/V
C = kA
ϵ0/d
1/Ct = 1/C1 + 1/C2
4. Discussion Questions: Part I:
a. What is the % difference between the two slopes (theory and experiment)?
Theory: 1.35 x 10^12pf
Experimental: 1.37 x 10^12
-
The % difference = 1.48% error b. What is (are) the reason(s) for the difference?
- Could be a lack of precision and accuracy on the machine, but more likely due to human error miscalculating or mishandling the plate.
c. Which range of the separations (smaller or larger) in your measurement has larger difference in capacitance values between theoretical and experimental ones?
- Range 1 has the largest difference between 507 to 308
Part II:
a. Why is the electric field inside the dielectric smaller than the one in air between the plates?
- The electric field within the dielectric is smaller than the air in between the plates of metal since the air has less molecules to transfer electrons. b. What is the direction of the electric field inside the dielectric when the dielectric is placed inside the charged parallel plate capacitor?
Your preview ends here
Eager to read complete document? Join bartleby learn and gain access to the full version
- Access to all documents
- Unlimited textbook solutions
- 24/7 expert homework help
- The electric field inside the dielectric is opposite the external one. This is clear by thinking at all the dielectric electric dipoles orientating in the external E field.
5. Conclusions
-
In these experiments we learned about the Parallel Plate Capacitor and how it functions as an energy storage device. It is made up of two conductors and charge is deposited on one of the two parallel plates which then establishes and electric field. With C we are able to calculate the distances between each plate, and with that data, plot the points and compare it to theoretical data.