DAR-ES-SALAAM INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

COMMUNICATION SYSTEM TECHNOLOGY

GROUP 1 ASSIGNMENT
LAB 3 REPORT
NAME REG NO.
SULEIMAN NASSOR 200621224209
SEAN JACKSON 200611220597
JORDAN JOHN 200611220522
 CAPACITOR PROPERTIES AND CONNECTIONS

INTRODUCTION
The aim of this experiment is to define the properties of a capacitor and
its connections.
Objective
Capacitor properties are investigated. Capacitance as a function of plate
separation, plate area and dielectric constant are investigated. Capacitor
connections are investigated. Equivalent or resultant of a multi capacitor
circuit is calculated and checked with simulated results.
PROCEDURES
i. Capacitance and electric field as a function of plate separation is
studied in table1 and 2
ii. Fixed the plate area to the highest values in the simulator.
iii. Start the plate separation from the lowest value in the simulator
and observe the capacitance and electric field between capacitor
plates.
iv. Repeat the last two procedures by slowly increasing plate
separation in steps till the table-1 and 2 is completed.
v. Include the picture of this part in the procedure section.
vi. Capacitance as a function of plate area is studied in table-3.
vii. Fixed the plate separation to the lowest values in the simulator.
viii. Start the plate area from the lowest value in the simulator and
observe the capacitance.
ix. Repeat the last two procedures by slowly increasing the plate area
in steps till the table-3 is completed.
x. Include the picture of this part in the procedure section.
 xi. Effect dielectric medium inside the capacitor plates is studied in
table-4.
xii. Fixed the plate separation into lowest value and the plate area into
highest value in the simulator.
xiii. Select the medium with lowest dielectric constant and insert it fully
into the capacitor. Observe the capacitance and electric field inside
the capacitance.
xiv. Repeat the last procedure by changing the dielectric medium by
using the selection tool in the right-hand side of the simulator.
xv. Include the picture of this part in the procedure section.

xvi. Capacitor connections (series and parallel) are studied table-5.

xvii. Calculate the equivalent capacitor for each combination of serial,
parallel and mixed combination of capacitors.
xviii. Observe and record the equivalent capacitance from the
simulation.
xix. Include the picture of this part in the procedure section.

PRE LAB QUESTIONS

1) Describe the capacitance of a capacitor?
-Capacitance is the ability of a capacitor to store charge.
2) Describe the electric field inside the capacitor?
-
3) Describe the effect of dielectric medium in capacitor?
4) Describe threshold breakdown voltage and electric field of
capacitor?
TABLE 1:Capacitance as a function of separation
Area= 400mm square
Plate separation Capacitance Capacitance PD between
observed calculated Cobs & Ccal
(Mm) (pF) (pF) ( V)
10 0.35 0.35 1.5
8 0.44 0.44 1.5
6 0.59 0.59 1.5
4 0.89 0.89 1.5
2 1.77 1.77 1.5

GRAPH OF C_cal Vs PLATE SEPARATION

TABLE 2:Electric filed Analysis
Plate separation Electric Field Energy density Electric field PD between
Observed Observed Calculated Eobs and Ecal
(mm) (pC) (pJ) (pC) (V)
10 0.53 0.40 0.53 1.5
8 0.66 0.50 0.66 1.5
6 0.89 0.66 0.89 1.5
4 1.33 1.00 1.33 1.5
2 2.66 1.99 2.66 1.5

TABLE 3:Capacitance as a function of area plates

Distance of Separation=2mm
Plate Area Capacitance Capacitance PD between the
Observed Calculated Cobs and Ccal
(mm square) (pF) (pF) (V)
400 2.66 2.66 1.5
300 1.99 1.99 1.5
200 1.33 1.33 1.5
100 0.66 0.66 1.5

GRAPH OF C_cal Vs PLATE AREA