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Lab report capacitance

Applied Sciences (Universiti Teknologi MARA)

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UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MARA CAWANGAN PERAK

KAMPUS TAPAH

FACULTY OF APPLIED SCIENCE

PHY150

LABORATORY REPORT

EXPERIMENT 2 : CAPACITANCE

NAME STUDENT ID
ABDUL HALIM BIN KHIMSHAMUDIN 2019214708

MUHAMMAD SYARIFUDDIN BIN ZAMRI 2019222274

MOHD NAZRAN HARRAZ BIN NAZARI 2019434476

NAJMA IWANA BINTI NADZRI 2019476146

AMNI NABILAH BT AHMAD SOBRI 2019235096

CLASS : A4AS103_5

LECTURE’S NAME : MADAM NURUL ILHAM ADAM

DATE OF SUBMISSION : 22/11/2020

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OBJECTIVE
1. To study the capacitance varies with the separation between the plates
2. To study the capacitance varies with the area of the plates
3. To study the dielectric effects on the stored charge, energy, and voltage between the plates of
the capacitor, when it is connected or disconnected from the battery

PART 1 : CAPACITANCE
PROCEDURE

Figure 1: Simulation for Capacitance against Area

Figure 2: Simulation for Capacitance against Distance

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1. “Paper” from the choice of dielectrics in the menu on the right-hand side
was selected. The dielectric was insert completely inside the capacitor. The
“capacitance” was checked to see the capacitance meter. The battery could
be either connected or disconnected for this part.

2. The value of the plates” area Ao ( initially, it should be the smallest possible),
distance between the plates do (initially, it should be the largest possible), and
corresponding capacitance was recorded.

3. The plates’ area was increased slowly and the corresponding capacitance was
measured 4 more times. The results was recorded in the table. It is recommended
to use SI units for all measurements.

4. Excel was used to plot capacitance as dependent variable against the area. Then linear
regression is being used to draw the best fil line (also called trendline) to approximate the data
with the linear model. The screenshot of the paragraph was inserted below.

5. The area to initial was restored. The separation between the plates was decreased slowly. The
corresponding capacitance was measured for 4 more times. The results has been recorded in
the table below, along with the reciprocal of the separation.

6. Excel was used to plot capacitance as dependent variable against the reciprocal of the
separation between the plates. Then, linear regression was used to draw the best fit line (also
called trendline) to approximate the data with the linear model. The screenshot of the
paragraph was inserted.

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PART 2: EFFECT OF THE DIELECTRIC ON THE CAPACITOR

Figure 3: Simulation for capacitance against the reciprocal of the separation between the plates when
battery connected

Figure 4: Simulation for capacitance against the reciprocal of the separation between the plates when
battery disconnected

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1. The value of the plates’ area and the plate separation was reverted to the original and
the dielectric was removed entirely from the capacitor. The capacitance, charge,
voltage and energy meters was shown by checking off approximate boxes on the right
side of the simulator.

2. The battery was connected and the battery voltage will be turned on about 1 V. To
measure the values effectively, the scale can be zoom in or out in some meter.

3. The dielectric was inserted slowly inside the capacitor. As the dielectric fills more
space in the capacitor, observed and recorded the change in

• Capacitance
• Charge
• Voltage between the plates
• Energy stored by the capacitor

4) The dielectric was removed entirely and the battery was disconnected. Step 3 was
repeated and the changes was recorded based on:

• Capacitance
• Charge
• Voltage between the plates
• Energy stored by the capacitor

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DATA

PART 1 : EFFECT OF THE DIELECTRIC (AREA, A)

Table 1 :
Area, A (𝑚 2) Capacitance, C (F)

0.0001 0.31 × 10−12

0.0001987 0.62 × 10−12

0.0002992 0.93 × 10−12

0.0004 1.24 × 10−12

EFFECT OF THE DIELECTRIC (DISTANCE, d)

Table 2:

Distance, d (m) The reciprocal of the Capacitance, C (F)

separation between the
1
plates, 𝑑

0.01 100 0.31 × 10−12

0.009 111.11 0.35 × 10−12

0.008 125 0.38 × 10−12

0.007 142.86 0.44 × 10−12

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PART 2: EFFECT OF THE DIELECTRIC ON THE CAPACITOR

Table 3: Connected to battery

OBSERVATION

Capacitance Increase

Charge Increase

Voltage between the plates Unchanged

Energy stored by the capacitor Increase

Table 4: Disconnected to the battery

OBSERVATION

Capacitance Increases

Charge Constant

Voltage between the plates Decreases

Energy stored by the capacitor Decreases

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DATA ANALYSIS

PART 1 : CAPACITANCE

Capacitance against Area

1.4

1.2
Capacitance, C ( x 10^-12)

𝐾 𝜀𝑜
1 𝑚1 =
𝑑
0.8

0.6

0.4

0.2

0
0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350 400 450
Area, A

Graph 1: Capacitance, C against Area, A

From the graph capacitance against area, its shows a linear graph. As the area increases,
the capacitance increases. The capacitance is directly proportional to area.
To calculate k, dielectric constant:

𝑘𝜀0
𝑚1 =
𝑑
𝑦2 − 𝑦1 𝑘𝜀0
=
𝑥2 − 𝑥1 𝑑

(1.24 𝑥 10−12 ) − (0.31𝑥 10−12 ) 𝑘 (8.85𝑥10−12 )

=
(4𝑥10−4 ) − (1𝑥10−12 ) 0.01

𝑘 (8.85𝑥10−4 )
3.1𝑥10−9 =
0.01

k = 3.50

|𝑒𝑥𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑣𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑒 − 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑜𝑟𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑙 𝑣𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑒 |

𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑎𝑔𝑒 𝑒𝑟𝑟𝑜𝑟 = 𝑥 100%
𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑜𝑟𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑙 𝑣𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑒

3.5−3.5
= 3.5
𝑥 100%

= 0%

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PART 2: EFFECT OF THE DIELECTRIC ON THE CAPACITOR

Capacitance(C) against 1/d

0.5
0.45
𝑚2 = 𝐾𝜀0 𝐴
Capacitance, C(x10^-12)

0.4
0.35
0.3
0.25
0.2
0.15
0.1
0.05
0
0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160
1/d

1
Graph 2 : Capacitance against 𝑑

1
From the graph capacitance against 𝑑, its shows a linear graph because the graph has been
1
inverted. As 𝑑 increases, the capacitance decreases. The capacitance is inversely proportional
1
to 𝑑

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DISCUSSION
Based on the graph, Capacitance, C, against Area, A, it’s shown that the graph is increasing linearly.
When the area of the plates increases, the capacitance of the parallel-plate capacitor increases, it is
because a larger area of the plates are allowing more charge to be held by the plates. Therefore, a larger
area able to stored more charged. Moreover, based on the graph, Capacitance, C, against the reciprocal
of the separation between the plates. It’s shown that the graph also is increasing linearly. When the
separation between the plates decreases, the capacitance of the parallel-plate capacitor increases, it is
because the positive charges on one plate exert a stronger force on the negative charges on the other
plate, enable more charge to be held by the plates.

Using the slope of the one of the graphs, we calculated k, the dielectric constant of paper, the calculation
is as shown in data analysis above. The percentage error of k, dielectric constant of paper between
experimental value and theoretical value given by the simulator is 0%. The accuracy of k, dielectric
constant of paper between experimental value and theoretical value has proven the calculation to be
correct. Therefore, the dielectric constant of paper, k is 3.50.

When dielectric is inserted inside the capacitor, polarization of atoms and molecule occurs, the
unpolarized atoms and molecules in the dielectric are going to stretch and orient themselves so that the
negatives are facing the positive plate and the positives are facing the negative plate, causing the
contributions from some of the charges to being partially cancelled which will reduces the voltage
between the parallel-plates capacitor. Therefore, will increase the capacitance of the capacitor based on
the equation below;

𝑘𝑄
𝐶=
∆𝑉

However, because the battery is connected, more charge are produced and separated from the battery
to the parallel-plates capacitor in order for the voltage across the capacitor to have an equivalent voltage
as the voltage of the battery,∆𝑉. Since the dielectric reduced the voltage by cancelling the contributions
from some of the charges, the battery will just donate even more charges to get separated to the parallel-
plates capacitor in order to maintain constant voltage. Energy stored is equal to the work required to
move charge from a lower to a higher potential which is from the negative plate to positive plate. The
parallel-plates capacitor stores energy in the electrical field between its plates. As the battery donate
more charge to the capacitor, more work is done to move charge onto plates. Thus, more electrical field
builds up. Because of this, when the charge are increasing, the energy stored by the capacitor will
increase, however the voltage between the plates will be unchanged.

Next, the battery is removed and dielectric is inserted. Polarization of atoms and molecule occurs. The
unpolarised atoms and molecule stretches and the negatives in the atoms and molecules are going to

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face the positive capacitor plate and the positives in the atoms and molecules are going to face the
negative capacitor plate. Therefore, will partially cancelling the contributions from some of the charge
which will reduces the voltage between the parallel-plates capacitor. Thus, increasing the capacitance
based on the equation;

𝑘𝑄
𝐶=
∆𝑉

𝐶 = 𝑘𝐶𝜃

According to the equation, the capacitance is multiplied by the factor k, dielectric constant when the
dielectric fills the region between the parallel-plates. Moreover, when the battery is removed, there will
be no charge supply to maintain the constant voltage. The charge will remain on the each plates,
therefore, the charge on the parallel-plates is going to be unchanged. As stated in previous equation,
since the dielectric reduced the voltage reduced the voltage by cancelling the contributions from some
of the charges, the battery will not be able to donate charge since it has been removed. Thus, the voltage
between the plates decreases. Energy stored is equal to the work required to move charge from a lower
to a higher potential which is from the negative plate to positive plate. The parallel-plates capacitor
stores energy in the electrical field between its plates. Since the battery is removed from the capacitor
and the contributions from some of the charge is partially cancelled when dielectric is inserted. There
is no charge being added to maintain the constant voltage and less work is required to move the charge
onto plates. Thus, fewer electrical field are build. Therefore, when the charge remain constant, the
energy stored by the capacitor will decrease and the voltage between the plates will be decreases.

If the battery is connected, the energy-battery system is conserved throughout the process of inserting
the dielectric. Because energy stored is equal to the work required to move the charge onto plates. Thus,
work done on a charge by electric forces is related to the change in electrical potential energy of the
charge. From the equation below;

𝑊 = −∆𝑃𝐸

𝑊 =𝑈

𝑈 = −∆𝑃𝐸

Since electric potential energy is the energy that is required to move a charge against an electrical field.
Thus, energy is stored in capacitor as electric potential energy when dielectric is inserted. Therefore,
the energy battery-system is conserved.

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When the battery is disconnected, there is no path for charge to flow from capacitor plates so the charge
will remain constant. From the equation,

𝑄2
𝑈=
2𝐶

We can see energy stored, U, is inverse proportion to capacitance, C. We can conclude when the
capacitance increases, the energy stored will decreases.

CONCLUSION

The objective is to study the capacitance varies with the separation between the plates is done
by following the methodology given. The formula that we used to explain this experiment is
𝜀0 𝐴
𝐶=𝑘 . Capacitance, C, is inversely proportion to distance, d. As the result when the
𝑑

distance, d, decreases, the capacitance, C, increases. Next is to study the capacitance varies
𝜀𝑜 𝐴
with the area of the plates, we can explain this using the formula 𝐶 = 𝑘 and we understand
𝑑

that capacitance, C is directly proportion to area, A. As the result, when the area, A, is increases,
the capacitance, C, increases. In addition, the objective is to study the dielectric effects on the
stored charge, energy, and voltage between the plates of the capacitor, when it is connected or
disconnected from the battery. When it is connected to battery, the capacitance, charge and
energy stored increase while voltage between the plates remain unchanged. When it is
disconnected, the charge is constant but the voltage between the plates and energy stored
decreases as the capacitance increases. The percentage error between experimental value and
theoretical value in is 0% because we are using simulation.

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