A Member of

La Consolacion College Tanauan Unified La Consolacion College

SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL South Luzon (ULCC-SL)
DEPARTMENT

Caopacitor
Interactive simulation
Group No./ Name:…….………………….. SECTION:………………………..

Objectives:
1. Define the electric field in terms of force on a test charge.
2. Describe and calculate the electric field produced by one or more point charges.
3. Calculate the magnitude and direction of the test charge on a positive or negative
charge placed in a specified field.
4. Interpret electric field diagrams.
Theory:
A capacitor consists of two conductors separated by a non-conductive region. The non-
conductive region can either be a vacuum or an electrical insulator material known as a
dielectric. Examples of dielectric media are glass, air, paper, plastic, ceramic, and even a
semiconductor depletion region chemically identical to the conductors. From Coulomb's
law a charge on one conductor will exert a force on the charge carriers within the other
conductor, attracting opposite polarity charge and repelling like polarity charges, thus an
opposite polarity charge will be induced on the surface of the other conductor. The
conductors thus hold equal and opposite charges on their facing surfaces, and the dielectric
develops an electric field.
An ideal capacitor is characterized by a constant capacitance C, in farads in the SI system of
units, defined as the ratio of the positive or negative charge Q on each conductor to the
voltage V between them
C=q/v
A capacitance of one farad (F) means that one coulomb of charge on each conductor causes
a voltage of one volt across the device.[23] Because the conductors (or plates) are close
together, the opposite charges on the conductors attract one another due to their electric
fields, allowing the capacitor to store more charge for a given voltage than when the
conductors are separated, yielding a larger capacitance.
Activity
Construct the following electrical circuit (Capacitor), using PhET simulation, or
using the following link.

https://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulation/legacy/capacitor-lab
 You have to play and enjoy using this simulation to be familiar with, because we
are going to use during this period. We have three parts to do using this
simulation

First Part: Capacitance and Area C=↋₀A/d:

In this part the distance, d, between the plates is kept constant d= 10x10 -3m and
the area of the plates is changed. You are to record the values for area (in m 2) and
the capacitance C (in F). Take at least eight values of A and C, and then fill the
table below:

d= 10x10-3 m
2
A (m ) C (F)
 1- Use Excel to plot the relationship between A and C.
2- Draw the best straight-line equation and determine its slope.
3- From the slope, determine the value of the permittivity of free space ↋ᵒ.

4- Determine the percentage error using the real value ↋ᵒ=8.85X10-12 C2/N.m2

Second Part: Capacitance and distance C=↋ᵒA/d:

In this part the area, A, of the plate is kept constant A= 100x10 -6 m2 and the
distance d between the plates is changed. You are to record the values for
distance (in m) and the capacitance C (in F). Take at least eight values of d and C,
and then fill the table below by calculating (1/d):

A= 100x10-6 m2

d (m) 1/d ( m-1) C (F)

1- Use Excel to plot the relationship between (1/d) and C.

2- Draw the best straight-line equation and determine its slope.
3- From the slope, determine the value of the permittivity of free space ↋ᵒ

4- Determine the percentage error using the real value ↋ᵒ= 8.85X10-12 C2/N.m2

Third Part: Capacitance and Charge &

Voltage:CV=Q
1- Connect the circuit shown in the first part.
2- Set the real value of the capacitor C=0.89x10-12F.
3- Change the value of the power supply V, then record the values for the
charge Q (in C) and the potential difference V ( in V)
 Capacitance real from PhET (0.89x10-12)F

V(Volts) Q(C)

4- Plot the relationship between Q and V (first column) using Excel, and then
determine the value of the slope.
5- From the slope determine the value of C ( in F)
6- Calculate the percentage error in your result.

Fourth Part: Voltage and Electric field V=Ed:

1- Connect the power supply across the capacitor and record it value V(in
volt)
2- Record the value of the distance d (in m) between the plates of the
capacitor.
3- Use the formula V=Ed, to determine the electric field (E) between the
plates
4- Calculate the charge Q ( in C) of the capacitor using the formula E=Q/A↋ᵒ

5- Compare the value of charge with the value shown from PhET.

C(F) V(V) d(m) E A Q

PhET
Calculations
Conclusion: