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/ 2020

‫المملكة العربية السعودية‬ KINGDOOM OF SAUDI ARABIA

‫جامعة اإلمام محمد بن سعود اإلسالمية‬
‫قسم الفيزياء‬-‫كلية العلوم‬ Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University
College of Science

Physics Lab Sheet: 1

Experiment: Determining the capacitance of a plate capacitor

Name: ---- ---- ------

Academic No: --------

College: Science

Section No: ----------

Date: ----/---/2020
6 5 4 3 2 1

Calculation and Conclusion Graph Tables Theory Objective and Apparatus Cover page

[Score: ]

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1. Experiment objectives:
Measuring the charge “Q” on a plate as a function of the applied voltage “V”.

2. Apparatus:
Equipment list

2 demountable capacitors 544 23

1 power supply 450 V 522 27
1 two-way switch 504 48
1 Voltmeter, DC, range U = ± 8 V e.g. 531 100
1 Voltmeter, DC, range U  300 V e.g. 531 100
1 electrometer amplifier 532 14
1 STE capacitor 10 nF, 630 V 578 10

Figure 1. Schematic diagram for measuring the charge on CR

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3. Experiment Theory:

The simplest design of a capacitor is that of a plate capacitor. Its capacitance “C” is equal to

Q
C= (1)
V
Where Q is charge on the capacitor and V is applied voltage. Capacitance depends on the
area A of the plates, the distance d between the plates.
The capacitance of a plate capacitor is

A
C=ϵ (2)
d
Where ϵ=ϵ r ϵ 0 is the permittivity of the dielectric
The Unit of the permittivity of free space ϵ 0 is F/m, ε0 = (8.8510-12 F/m
Where ϵ r is dielectric constant or relative permittivity

From the reference use a capacitance CR=10nF, the charge QR is written as

Q R=C R V 2 (3)
We have two capacitances C1 and CR connected in series.
C1 C R
C eq=
C 1+C R
Consider the circuit shown in Figure, where C1 represents the capacitance of a plate capacitor.
Capacitor C1 is first charged by the closing of switch S 1. Switch S1 is then opened, and the charged
capacitor is connected to the uncharged capacitor CR by the closing of S2.

The charge on CR is written as

Qeq =
[ C1CR
]
V
C1 +C R 1
(4)

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4. Experiment Setup

Figure 2. Experimental setup for the determination of the capacitance of a

plate capacitor.

4.1. Table:
The charge QR recorded as a function of the applied voltage V1 with different areas A of the plates
A = 800cm2
No. of reading V1 /Volts V2 / Volts
Q R=C R V 2 (Coulomb)× 10−9

1 50

2 100

3 150

4 200

5 250

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5. Graph:
Prepare a sheet of graph paper for plotting QR versus V1

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6. Calculation and Conclusion:

Slope from theory:

From equation (4) [ C1CR

Slope = C + C
1 R
] (i)

Slope from Graph:

[ ]
Δy
Slope = Δx = (ii)

Slope C R
From (i) and (ii), we get: C 1, exp=
C R−Slope , use the value of slope to

the result.

Error percent:

C_ (1,exp)−C_(1, Theo)
% error=| |×100
C_ (1, Theo)

Conclusion:
Discuss your results

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Parallel Plate Capacitor