CHARGING AND DISCHARGING A CAPACITOR

Direction of
Capacitor Light Emitted
Compass
(Set-up) (Bulb)
Needle
Counter Continuous,
1. Charging
Clockwise Bright
Not Continuous,
2. Dischargin
Clockwise Bright then
g
faded
Counter
3. Charging
Clockwise
4. Dischargin
Clockwise
g
Counter
5. Charging
Clockwise
6. Dischargin
Clockwise
g

INTRODUCTION
Capacitor is a device that can store energy and consists of two conductors separated by an
insulator. When the capacitor is charged, the conductors carry charges of equal magnitude and
opposite sign. The conductors are called plates. A potential difference ∆V exists between the
conductors due to the presence of the charges. In addition, the ability of a capacitor to store
energy in the form of an electric field and to oppose changes in voltage is called capacitance. It
is measured in the unit of Farad (F). The capacitance of a given capacitor depends on its
geometry and on the material—called a dielectric— that separates the conductors. When the
voltage across a capacitor is increased and it draws current from the rest of the circuit then it is
acting as a power load. In this condition, the capacitor is said to be charging because there is an
increasing amount of energy being stored in its electric field. Meanwhile, if the voltage across a
capacitor is decreasing and the capacitor supplies current to the rest of the circuit (acting as a
power source) then it is said to be discharging.

However, the purpose of this laboratory activity is to prove whether the capacitors could store
electric potential energy. Also, to experience and explain how capacitors could store electric
potential energy.
Observation
1. In charging capacitor, the bulb is connected in a circuit across an 8.95-V potential
source. The bulb has a continuous brightness and the direction of the compass needle is
counter clockwise.
2. In discharging capacitor, the brightness of the light emitted in the bulb will fade
immediately and the direction of the compass needle is clockwise.
3. In a starting process of the charging capacitor, the needle of the ammeter is moving
faster to the right then in ongoing process, the ammeter needle go back to zero in a
gradual move. Also, the deflection of the compass needle is counter clockwise.
4. In discharging capacitor, the ammeter needle moves faster to the right then return
faster back to zero. The light bulb becomes brighter but disappear immediately and the
compass needle is clockwise.
5. In charging capacitor, the light bulb is bright but disappear instantly, the compass
needle moves in counter clockwise and the voltmeter reading is moving continuously
because it is charging until reaches the maximum of 13.30V.
6. In discharging capacitor, the voltmeter reading (13.30V) is gradually decreasing then in
ongoing process, the voltmeter reading is back to zero in an instant. The bulb has a light
but disappear immediately and the direction of the compass needle is clockwise.

ANALYSIS OF RESULTS
1. A capacitor is a device consists of two conductors separated by an insulator. When the
capacitor is charged, the conductors carries charges of equal magnitude and opposite
sign. Therefore, the net charge on the capacitor is zero.
2. The charging process is already complete when the voltage between its plates is equal
to the potential source. Therefore, when the bulb loses its light and the compass needle
stop moving, then the capacitor is fully charged.
3. The factors considered for storing great amount of charge in a capacitor are the area of
the plate, the distance between two plates and the dielectric material.
4. Discharging capacitor can be a shocking experience when you touch the terminals of a
charged capacitor and allowing the current to flow in your body.

THEORY
If the voltage across a capacitor is increased and act as a power load, then it is said to be
charging. Meanwhile, if the voltage across a capacitor is decreasing and acts as a power source,
then it is said to be discharging.

CONCLUSION

 In discharging process, it proves that the capacitors could store electric potential energy.
Through the experiment in discharging capacitor, the voltmeter still has a reading which
means the capacitor acts as a power source by supplying current as it releases stored
energy to the rest of the circuit.
 When a voltage is applied across the two plates of a capacitor, it creates potential
difference and an electric field is established where electrons move to the negative
plates from the positive plates of the capacitors. Positive charge builds up on one side
and negative charge on the other.This differential charge equates to a storage of energy
in the capacitor, representing the potential charge of the electrons between the two
plates. Therefore, the capacitors could store electric potential energy by applying the
potential difference between the two conductors and the electric field established
which can hold potential energy.

OBSERVATION
1. The voltmeter still has a reading even though it is only connected in capacitor.
Because when the potential source is disconnected from the circuit, the discharging
process will occur where the capacitor supplies current as it releases stored energy to
the rest of the circuit which acting as a power source.

https://www.allaboutcircuits.com/textbook/direct-current/chpt-13/electric-fields-
capacitance/

2. The voltmeter reading is gradually going back to zero in discharging capacitor.

Because when the capacitor disconnected from the Power Supply, the Capacitor is
discharging through the Resistor and the stored energy inside the capacitor is extracted
with the voltage across the capacitor decaying to zero.

https://www.electronics-tutorials.ws/rc/rc_2.html

3. The compass needle is deflected as the wire placed nearby with a current flowing
through it.
 An electric current in a wire creates a circular magnetic field around the wire and its
direction depends on the direction of the current. When the direction of the current is
reversed the deflection is also reversed. Therefore, the compass needle is deflected
because instead of being attracted by the magnetic field of the earth, it is being
attracted by the more powerful nearby magnetic field created by the current flowing
through the wire.

http://www.physicsdemos.juliantrubin.com/physics_videos/electricity_magnetism.html

4. The bulb loses its light when the capacitor is fully charged.
Because when the Capacitor is connected to the potential source, the light bulb will
glow as current flows through the light bulb. Both Plates get the equal and opposite
charges and an increasing Potential Difference is created while the Capacitor is charging.
Once the Voltage at the terminals of the Capacitor is equal to the Power Supply Voltage
the Capacitor is fully charged and the Current stops flowing through the circuit that is
why the light bulb is no longer glowing.

http://macao.communications.museum/eng/exhibition/secondfloor/MoreInfo/2_3_5_C
hargingCapacitor.html

5. The ammeter is connected in series in charging and discharging capacitor.

An ammeter is connected in series with the circuit, so that maximum current can pass
through it, for accurate measurement of current. Since the ammeter is a low impedance
device, connecting it in parallel with the circuit would cause a short circuit, damaging
the ammeter and/or the circuit. Therefore, when the ammeter is connected across
capacitor with load, the ammeter needle deflects to maximum and returns gradually to
zero, hence no reactions are made with the load.

http://er-suvasvora.blogspot.com/2012/03/why-ammeter-is-connected-in-series-
with.html?m=1

6. In charging capacitor, the direction of the compass needle is always counterclockwise in

starting process.
Because when you turn on the switch, the lights will flash as current flows to charge the
capacitor. Current ceases once the capacitor is charged. Therefore, the capacitor will
deflect counterclockwise.

https://www.khanacademy.org/science/in-in-class-12th-physics-india/in-in-
electrostatic-potential-and-capacitance/in-in-circuits-with-capacitors/a/capacitors-
article
 7. In discharging capacitor, the direction of the compass needle is always clockwise in
starting process.
Because when the potential source is disconnected from the circuit and the free ends of
the wires are connected to each other, the capacitor will discharge and the current will
flow in the opposite direction so the compass will deflect the opposite direction,
clockwise.

https://www.coursehero.com/file/13988754/5-11/

QUANTITATIVE
1. The bulb is connected in a circuit across an 8.95-V potential source.
The bulb has a continuous emitted light. Since, the voltage is the representation of the
electric potential energy—the potential energy stored in the form of an electric charge
imbalance and capable of provoking electrons to flow through a conductor. Therefore,
the 8.95V is the stored energy of the potential source which allow the bulb to emit a
continuous light.

https://www.coursehero.com/file/p6ccl43/26-Voltage-and-current-1-An-imbalance-of-
charge-manifests-itself-as-an/

2. The maximum voltmeter reading is 13.30V then gradually return to 0.

In charging capacitor, the maximum voltmeter reading is 13.30V and when the potential
source is disconnected from the circuit, the voltmeter reading is gradually going back to
zero until it reaches the zero. Since, 13.30V is the maximum voltmeter reading, it is the
capacity of the capacitor to supplies current as it releases stored energy to the rest of
the circuit—that is why when it reaches zero volts across its terminal, the capacitor is
fully discharged.

https://www.allaboutcircuits.com/textbook/direct-current/chpt-16/capacitor-transient-
response/