1. Capacitive position sensor.

A position sensor is made as follows: Two tubes with very

thin walls are placed one inside the other so that they are concentric, separated by a
Teflon layer, and can move in or out between two preset limits x1 and x2, as shown in
Figure 1. The tubes are L = 60 mm long.
a. Calculate the minimum and maximum capacitance between the two tubes, assuming
that an electric field may only exist in that area in which the tubes overlap.
b. Show how this device can be used as a sensor; that is, calculate its sensitivity for a = 4
mm, b = 4.5 mm, x1 = 10 mm, x2 = 50 mm, and the relative permittivity of Teflon
ɛr = 2.25.

Figure 1

2. Force, pressure, and acceleration sensor. A force sensor is built as a capacitorwith one plate
fixed while the other can move against a spring with constantk [N/m]. By pressing on the
movable plate, the distance the plate moves is directlyproportional to the force. The plates have
an area S and are separated by a distanced. The permittivity of the material between the plates
is that of free space. UsingFigure 2, and assuming the plate has moved a distance x from the rest
position:
a. Find the relation between measured force and the capacitance of the sensor.
b. Plot a calibration curve for the following values: k = 5 N/m, S = 1 cm2,d = 0.02 mm.
c. How can this device be used to measure pressure? Calculate the relation between pressure
and capacitance.
d. How can this device be used to measure acceleration? Calculate the relation between
acceleration and capacitance. Assume the mass of each plate is m [kg] and that the mass of the
spring is negligible.
Figure 2