LD

Electricity
Physics
Electrostatics
Leaflets P3.1.7.3
Plate Capacitor

Determining the capacitance of

a plate capacitor

Measuring the charge

with the I-Measuring Amplifier D

Objects of the experiment

g Measuring the charge as function of the applied voltage
g Measuring the charge as function of the plate spacing
g Determination of the capacitance

Principles
If an electric conductor carries the charge +Q and on another
electric conductor is charged by the charge –Q, then a poten-
tial difference U exists between these conductors:
Q = C ⋅U (I)
The proportionality factor C is called capacitance. The capaci-
tance C depends on the geometrical arrangement of the
conductors and the − non conducting − material between
these conductors. The arrangement of the conductors is
called capacitor. The simplest design of a capacitor is that of
two parallel plates. The capacitance of a plate capacitor is
given by
A
C = εr ⋅ ε 0 (II)
d
As
εr = 8.85 ⋅ 10 −12 permittivity of free space,
Vm
εr: permittivity due to the material
A: area of the plates
A A
d: distance between the plates
+
+ Equation (II) holds only as long as the distance between the
+ plates is much smaller than the dimensions of the plates and
+ εr the electric field E between the plates can be considered to
+Q + -Q be homogeneous. The permittivity εr describes the change of
the capacitance relatively to the vacuum value caused by the
+ introduction of the material.
d In this experiment relation (I) is studied. The charge is meas-
ured by the I-Measuring Amplifier D as function of the applied
voltage U for various plate distances d. The capacitance C is
then determined as the slope of the straight line through the
origin and through the data points. Additionally, the variation
Bi 0106

of the distance d between the plates allows to confirm the

proportionality
U 1
C∝
d

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P3.1.7.3 -2- LD Physics leaflets

Carrying out the experiment

Apparatus
a) Measuring the charge as function of voltage
1 Parallel plate capacitor ...................................... 544 22
1 Tube power supply 0 to 500 V ........................... 521 65 - Set the plates of the capacitor d = 2 mm apart.
1 Two-way switch ................................................. 504 48 - To charge the plates apply a voltage of 50 V to the setup
1 I Measuring amplifier D...................................... 532 00 as depicted in Fig. 1.
1 Multimeter LDanalog 20..................................... 531 120 - Ground the I-Measuring amplifier D with the zero button 5
1 Multimeter LDanalog 30..................................... 531 130 (see Fig. 1 and also instruction sheet 532 00).
1 Measuring resistor 100 MOhm........................... 536 221
- Disconnect the red cable from the fixed plate and connect
3 Pair cables 50 cm, red/blue ............................... 501 45
the coaxial cable BNC/4mm to the plate (Fig. 2).
1 Pair cables 100 cm, red/blue ............................. 501 46
1 Connecting Lead 50 cm Red ............................. 500 421 Note: Instead of disconnecting the red cable from the fixed
plate and connecting the coaxial cable BNC/4mm in its place
an alternative setup may be used under certain circum-
stances. This setup is described in chapter supplementary
information.
- Measure the output voltage of the I-Measuring amplifier D
and determine the charge. Repeat this step several times
and determine the average values.
- Repeat the measurement for other voltages, e.g. 100 V,
150 V, 200 V, 250 V and 300 V.
- Repeat the measurement series for different plate dis-
tances d.

b) Measuring the charge as function of plate spacing

- Set the plates of the capacitor d = 2 mm apart.
- To charge the plates apply a voltage, e.g. 100 V, to the
setup depicted in Fig. 1.
Setup - Ground the I-Measuring amplifier D with the zero button 5
(see Fig. 1 and also instruction sheet 532 00).
Set up the experiment as shown in Fig. 1.
- Disconnect the red cable from the fixed plate and connect
Note: The movable plate is connected to the earth socket of the coaxial cable BNC/4mm to the plate (Fig. 2).
the power supply and the I-Measuring amplifier D. The iso-
lated plate is connected via the resistor 100 MΩ to the posi- - Measure the output voltage of the I-Measuring amplifier D
tive socket of the power supply. and determine the charge. Repeat this step several times
and determine the average values.
For measuring the charge on the capacitor the I-Measuring
Amplifier D is switched to the range 10-8 As. The 3 V or 10 V - Repeat the measurement for the plate distances 4 mm,
DC range may be selected at multimeter. Then, for example, 6 mm, 8 mm, 10 mm and 12 mm.
an output voltage of 3 V corresponds to 3⋅10-8 As.

A V As A V As
-6 -6
10 0 10 10
-6
0 -6
10
-7 2 -7 -7 2 -7
10 10 10 10 10 10
-8 1 -8 -8 1 -8
10 10 10 10 10 10
-9 0 -9 -9 0 -9
10 10 10 6 20 30 200 300 10 10 10 6 20 30 200 300
5.5 6.5 5.5 6.5
-10 -1 -10 -1
10 10 10 10
5 7 10 40 100 400 10 40 100 400
10
-11
10
-2
10
-11
10
-2 5 7
0 0
4.5 7.5 0 50 0 500 4.5 7.5 0 50 0 500
6.3V 4.5...7.5V 0...50V 0...500V 6.3V 4.5...7.5V 0...50V 0...500V
U 1A 5A 10mA 50mA U 1A 5A 10mA 50mA

I,Q I,Q
1V(max.10Vs) ~ - + - + - + 1V(max.10Vs) ~ - + - + - +
100MΩ 100MΩ

5 532 00 521 65 532 00 521 65

OFF
O FF
531 120
531 120

3
OFF
531 120
V 30
10
100µ
1m A OFF V 10
3
100µ
1m A
10m AC 531 120 30 10m AC
100 100m 100 100m
300 1
300 1
300 3
3 300 3
V 30
10
100µ
1m A 100 3
V 10
3
100µ
1m A 100 3
10m AC 30 1
30 10m AC 30 1
100 100m 10 100m 100 10
3 100m 100m
300 1 10m DC 3
1300m 1m 300 1 10m DC
300 100µ 1300m 1m
3
100 3 V 100m
A 300
100
3
3 V 100m
100µ
A
30 1
10 30 1
100m
3 10 100m
10m DC
1 1m 3 10m
300m DC
100µ 1 1m
300m
V 100m
A V 100m
100µ
A

Fig. 1: Experimental setup (wiring diagram schematically) for charg- Fig. 2: Experimental setup (wiring diagram schematically) for meas-
ing the capacitor. uring the charge on the capacitor.

LD Didactic GmbH . Leyboldstrasse 1 . D-50354 Huerth / Germany . Phone: (02233) 604-0 . Fax: (02233) 604-222 . e-mail: info@ld-didactic.de

©by LD Didactic GmbH Printed in the Federal Republic of Germany

Technical alterations reserved
LD Physics leaflets -3- P3.1.7.3

90
Measuring example
80 d = 2 mm

a) Measuring the charge as function of voltage 70

60

charge Q / nAs
Table 1: Charge Q (average over 3 measurements) as func- 50
4 mm
tion of the applied voltage U for fixed plate distances d.
40
U Q Q Q
30
V nAs nAs nAs
20 6 mm
(d = 2 mm) (d = 4 mm) (d = 6 mm)
10
50 12.0 6.8 4.5
0
100 24.0 13.0 9.0 0 50 100 150 200 250 300
voltage U / V
150 35.5 19.7 13.9
200 48.0 26.5 18.3
Fig. 3: Charge Q as function of the applied voltage U for various
250 61,5 33.3 23.0 plate distances d The straight line corresponds to a fit
through the origin according equation (I).
300 74.0 40.0 27.9

b) Measuring the charge as function of plate spacing

b) Measuring the charge as function of plate spacing
Table 2: Charge Q (average over 3 measurements) as func-
tion of the plate distances d for the applied voltage U = 100 V.
The capacitance is determined by equation (I). 250
d Q C
mm nAs pF 200
capacitance C / pF

2 24.0 240
4 12.8 128 150

6 9.0 90
100
8 7.1 71
10 6.0 60 50
12 5.2 52
0
0 2 4 6 8 10 12
plate distance d / mm

Evaluation and results Fig. 4: Capacitance C as function of the plate distances d for
U = 100 V.

a) Measuring the charge as function of voltage

Fig. 3 summarizes the result of table 1. The straight lines
correspond to fits according equation (I). From the slopes the Fig. 4 summarizes the result of table 2. In accordance with
capacitance is determined to: equation (II) the capacitance decreases with increasing plate
distance d.
C = 244 pF (d =2 mm) In Fig. 5 the capacitance is plotted versus the inverse values
of the plate distance d to confirm the proportionality:

C = 133 pF (d =4 mm)
1
C∝
d
C = 92 pF (d =6 mm)

The deviations are due additional capacities in measuring

setup and an increasing region of the inhomogeneous electric
field on the bothers of the plates.

LD Didactic GmbH . Leyboldstrasse 1 . D-50354 Huerth / Germany . Phone: (02233) 604-0 . Fax: (02233) 604-222 . e-mail: info@ld-didactic.de

©by LD Didactic GmbH Printed in the Federal Republic of Germany

Technical alterations reserved
P3.1.7.3 -4- LD Physics leaflets

250

200
capacitance C / nF

150

100

50

0
0,0 0,1 0,2 0,3 0,4 0,5
-1 -1
d / mm

Fig. 5: Capacitance C as function of plate distances d The straight

line corresponds to a fit through the origin according equation
(I).

Performing a fit according equation (II) the permittivity ε0 (εr ≈

1) can be determined form the slope (Fig. 5). Taking into
account the inevitable additional capacities (order of magni-
tude 15 pF) the slope has been determined to:
Slope: s = 451⋅pF⋅mm
-2 2
Area of the plates: A = 5.1⋅10 m
s -12 As
ε0 = = 8.83⋅10
A Vm

Supplementary information
Using the two-way switch (504 48) the two steps charging the
capacitor (Fig. 1) and measuring the charge on the capacitor
(Fig. 2) can done in one step conveniently. However, this
setup depicted in Fig 6 may not work properly at ambient
conditions with high humidity due to leakage currents.

A V As
-6 -6
10 0 10
10-7 102 10-7
-8 1 -8
10 10 10
10
-9
10
0
10
-9

100MΩ 5.5
6
6.5
20 30 200 300
10-10 10 -1
-11 -2 5 7 10 40 100 400
10 10
0
4.5 7.5 0 50 0 500
6.3V 4.5...7.5V 0...50V 0...500V
U 1A 5A 10mA 50mA

I,Q
1V(max.10Vs) ~ - + - + - +

532 00 521 65

OFF
531 120

3
OFF
531 120
V 30
10
100µ
1m A
10m AC
100 100m
300 1
300 3
3
V 30
10
100µ
1m A 100 3
10m AC 30 1
100 100m 10 100m
300 3 10m
1 DC
1300m 1m
300 3 100µ
100 3 V 100m
A
30 1
10 100m
3 10m DC
1300m 1m
100µ
V 100m
A

Fig. 6: Alternative experimental setup (wiring diagram schemati-

cally), compare Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, respectively.

LD Didactic GmbH . Leyboldstrasse 1 . D-50354 Huerth / Germany . Phone: (02233) 604-0 . Fax: (02233) 604-222 . e-mail: info@ld-didactic.de

©by LD Didactic GmbH Printed in the Federal Republic of Germany

Technical alterations reserved