Aim:

The experiment consisted of two parts, the first is to determine the charges on capacitor plates as a
function of the applied voltage by measurement. The second part of the experiment is done by
measuring the charge as function of the distance between the plates.
Theory:
The Capacitor is a passive circuit element that can be used to store energy in the form of an electric
field. In the simplest case, a capacitor is a set of parallel metal plates separated by a dielectric
substance. Any arrangement of two conductors separated by an electric insulator (i.e., dielectric) is a
capacitor [1]. Electric charges (Q) build up on the opposite plates as a voltage is applied to the
capacitor this because when an electric charge deposited on one of the conductors induces an equal
charge of opposite polarity on the other conductor. This causes an electric field to exist between the
two the conductors which results in a potential difference (V).
The electric field anywhere between the conductor surfaces is directly proportional to the
magnitude of the charge Q on the conductors. And the potential difference V is also directly
proportional to the charge Q. The ratio Q/V is thus a constant for any electric field distribution as
determined by the shape of the conductors, the distance of separation, and the dielectric in which
the field exists [2]. The ratio is called the Capacitance (C):

The electric flux density (2) and electric field strength (3) is given by:

Electrostatic theory suggests that the ratio of electric flux density to electric field strength is the
permittivity of free space:

The above equations can be combined and solved to give the capacitance of a parallel plate
capacitor as:

In the practical that will be conducted the student will investigate the eq. 1 and eq. 2





Method

Figure 1: Experimental setup for (a) charging and (b) measuring of charge of capacitor
Part 1: Measuring charge on plates as a function of applied voltage, Q (V)
The student will set the plates of the capacitor to a distance of d = 2 mm. To charge the capacitor,
the student will use Fig 1 (a). Applying a potential of 50V to the capacitor as shown in Fig 1(a). The
student will ground the I-measuring amplifier with the zero button (5) shown in Fig 1(a). Disconnect
the cable attached to the fixed plate and reconnect the BNC cable as shown in Fig. 1(b). Release
button nr (5) and measure the output voltage of the I-measuring amplifier and calculate the charge.
Repeat steps b to e, three times and determine an average value. Repeat steps a through e for 100,
150, 200, 250 and 300V. Set the plate distance to 4mmand repeat steps b to f. Set plates to 8mm
and repeat steps b to f.
Part 2: Measuring charge on plates as a function of the plate spacing, Q (d)
The student will set the plates of the capacitor to a distance of d = 2 mm. Use Fig. 1(a) and charge
the capacitor with 100V. Ground the I-measuring amplifier with the zero button (5) shown in Fig
1(a). Disconnect the cable attached to the fixed plate and reconnect the BNC cable as shown in Fig.
1(b). Release button nr (5) and measure the output voltage of the I-measuring amplifier and
calculate the charge. Repeat steps b to e, three times and determine an average value. Repeat steps
b through f, with plate distances of 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 and 16mm [3].

References:
[1] Dorf, Richard C.; Svoboda, James A. (2001). Introduction to Electric Circuits (5
th
Ed.). New York:
John Wiley & Sons
[2] Purcell, Edward M; Morin, David J. Electricity and Magnetism (3
rd
Ed.). Massachusetts: Cambridge
University Press
[3] C. Sheppard, Physics 2A Practical Guide, 2014