Experiment# 3

Capacitance
Introduction:
The purpose of this experiment is to investigate how the capacitance of a parallel-plate capacitor
varies when the plate separation is changed and to qualitatively see the effect of introducing a
dielectric material between the plates. A computer model of the system will be developed and the
student will observe some of the power of computer modeling.
Conceptual Objective:
Study the effect of capacitance of a parallel plate capacitor under the presence of a Dielectric
Material.
Questions to be prepared before coming to the lab:
1. What happens to the capacitance of a capacitor when separation between the plates increase
or decrease?
2. What happens to the voltage on the capacitor plate as the plates separation increase or
decrease?
3. Why are dielectrics used in capacitors?
4. How do dielectrics affect capacitors?
5. What happens to the capacitance of a capacitor when a dielectric is introduced?
Theory:
A capacitor is used to store charge. A capacitor can be made with any two conductors kept
insulated from each other. If the conductors are connected to a potential difference, V, as in for-
example the opposite terminals of a battery, then the two conductors are charged with equal but
opposite amount of charge Q, which is then referred to as the “charge in the capacitor.” The actual
net charge on the capacitor is zero. The capacitance of the device is defined as the amount of charge
Q stored in each conductor after a potential difference V is applied:
 𝑸
𝑪= 𝑽

Rearranging gives:
𝑸
𝑽= (1)
𝑪

The simplest form of a capacitor consists of two parallel

conducting plates, each with area A, separated by a distance
d. The charge is uniformly distributed on the surface of the
plates. The capacitance of the parallel-plate capacitor is given by:
𝑨𝛋𝜺𝒐
𝑪=
𝒅
Where κ is the dielectric constant of the insulating material between the plates (κ = 1 for a vacuum;
other values are measured experimentally and can be found in tables), and εo is the permittivity
constant, of universal value εo= 8.85 × 10-12 F/m. The SI unit of capacitance is the Farad (F).
The system we use is more complex. In addition to the two moveable parallel plates, the connecting
wires and the electrometer also have some capacitance. This capacitance is roughly equal to the
capacitance of the moveable plates when the plates are 1 cm apart and cannot be ignored. Including
this gives:
𝑨𝛋𝜺𝒐
𝑪= + 𝑪𝒔𝒚𝒔 (2)
𝒅

Where Csys is the capacitance of the rest of the system. Substitution of Equation 2 into Equation 1
yields:
𝑨𝛋𝜺𝒐⁄
𝑽 = 𝑸⁄( 𝒅 + 𝑪𝒔𝒚𝒔 ) (3)
Any material placed between the plates of a capacitor will increase its capacitance by a factor κ
called the dielectric constant where:
𝑪 = 𝛋𝑪𝒐 (4)
with Co being the capacitance when there is a vacuum between the plates of the capacitor.
Dielectric materials are non-conductive. Any dielectric material can be used to keep the plates in
a capacitor insulated from each other (preventing them from touching and discharging). To three
significant figures, κ = 1.00 for air but κ > 1for all materials. If the charge on a capacitor is kept
constant while a dielectric is inserted between the plates, Equations 1 & 4 yield:
𝑽𝒐⁄
𝑸 = 𝑪𝑽 = 𝑪𝒐 𝑽𝒐 = 𝑪⁄𝛋𝜺 𝑽 So 𝑽= 𝛋
𝒐 𝒐
Where Vo is the voltage before inserting the dielectric and V is the voltage after insertion. Since κ
> 1 always, we have;
𝑽 < 𝑽𝒐 (5)

Experiment:
Equipment:
Basic Electrometer, Basic Variable Capacitor, Electrostatics Voltage Source, 850 Universal
Interface, PASCO Capstone, Paper.
Setup:

Figure 1: Experimental Setup Figure 2: Indicator Foot

1. Move the Variable Capacitor plates so they are about 2 mm apart. Use the adjustment screws
on the back of the moveable plate to make the plates parallel. Easiest way to do this is to look
directly down from above the plates and adjust the horizontal adjust until the gap looks
uniform, then look at the gap from the side and even with the center of the plates and adjust
the vertical screw. May need to repeat the process a few times.
2. Position the movable plate so the leading edge of the indicator foot (see in Fig. 2) is at the 0.2
cm position. The gap between the two plates should be 0.2 mm all the way around. Check it
with a ruler. If the gap varies repeat step 1. If the gap is not 0.2 mm, release the holding screw
on the non-moving plate and move it until the gap is 0.2 mm and then tighten the screw back
down.
3. Attach the twin lead (red & black) connector to the Signal Input jack on the Basic
Electrometer. Route the wires as far away from where your hand and your body will be as
possible. The charges in this experiment all small so static discharge will foul things up. Also,
people are conducting plates and have a significant amount of capacitance. It is best to make
 the fixed plate ground by attaching the black wire’s spade lug to it. Attach the red spade lug
to the terminal on the moving plate. The wire must be free to move when the plate moves.
4. If you have a black banana/banana wire (not included) attach it as shown from the common
(com) terminal on the Electrostatic Voltage Source to the ground terminal on the Electrometer.
Alternately, use the provided banana/spade wire and connect the spade lead to the terminal
on the fixed plate where the other ground lead is already attached. Attach the red banana/spade
lead to the +30V terminal and leave the spade end free. Plug in the transformer and apply
power to the Electrostatic Voltage Source. Shift the switch on the back to the ON position.
The green Power ON light should glow.
5. Use the supplied adaptor cable to attach from the Signal Output on the Electrometer to the A
Analog Input on the 850 Universal Interface. It is important that it be the A input!
6. In PASCO Capstone, create a table and create a user-entered data set called Separation with
units of cm. Enter the values shown in Table I. Select the Voltage measurement in the second
column.
Table I: Air Gap Capacitor.
Separation (cm) Voltage (V)
8.0
7.0
6.0
5.0
4.0
3.0
2.0
1.5
1.0
0.5
0.3

7. Create a graph of Voltage vs. Separation.

Procedure A: The Effect of the Plate Separation
1. Set the capacitor plates 0.3 cm apart by setting the movable plate so leading edge of its
indicator foot is at the 0.3 cm mark.
2. Turn on the electrometer and set the range button to the 100 V scale.
3. Remove any charge from the capacitor by momentarily touching both plates at the same time
 with your hand.
4. Zero the electrometer by pressing the ‘ZERO’ button until the needle goes to zero.
5. Momentarily connect a cable from the +30V outlet in the voltage source to the stud on the
back of the movable capacitor plate. This will charge the capacitor. Remove the charging
cable.
6. Read the following steps. They need to be performed quickly since the charge will slowly
escape from the electrometer, especially if the humidity is high. One person should run the
computer while one moves the capacitor plate. Everyone else should stay back. Everyone
should try to be in the same position for each reading. Anybody who is close is a significant
part of the system and can make the readings change.
7. Slide the movable plate so it is at 8.0 cm (leading edge of the indicator foot). Once the plate
is in position; the person moving the plate should move away 50 cm or so and try to be in the
same position for each measurement.
8. In Capstone, click the PREVIEW button at the lower left to begin collecting data. Colored
numbers will appear in first row of the table. The person doing the computer should click the
Keep Sample (red checkmark in the lower left) button. The number in the first row will turn
black and the colored number will move to the second row. The person at the computer should
read the next separation (7 cm) out loud and wait.
9. Move the plate to 7.0 cm and repeat the process until 0.3 cm.
10. Click the STOP button to end the data collection.
11. Examine the graph. If it looks like a smooth curve, you are done. If not, repeat the process
until you get a nice looking run.
Analysis A:
𝑨𝛋𝜺𝒐⁄
𝑽 = 𝑸⁄( 𝒅 + 𝑪𝒔𝒚𝒔 ) (3)
Examination of Equation 3 from Theory A show that if Csys = 0, then V is directly proportional to
d and the Voltage vs. Separation graph on the Data page should be a straight line. This is clearly
not the case. To verify Equation 3 for the case where Csys is not zero, we need to know Q and Csys.
We determine these by fitting the math model (Equation 3) to the data.
First we note that
κεoA = (1.00)*( 8.85 x 10-12 F/m)( 2.46 x 10-2 m2) = 2.18x10-13 F m = 2.18 x 10-11 F cm
So the parallel plate capacitance when d = 1 cm is C1.0 = 2.18 x 10-11 F. Note that this value is
entered in line 2 of the Calculator.
When d is small (0.3 cm) the first term in the denominator dominates and
Q ~ V0.3(κεoA)/d = (30 V)*(2.18 x 10-11 F cm)/(0.3 cm) = 2.2 x 10-9 C
This value is entered as an initial guess for the value of Q in line 1 of the calculator. Q is constant
so when d becomes large, Csys dominates in the denominator and we have:
Csys ~ Q/V8~ 2.2x10-9 C/80 V = 2.7x10-11 F
Where V8 is the voltage when d = 8 cm. This is taken as the initial guess for Csys (= C1) on line 3
of the calculator.
Note that Csys is about equal to C1.0 at 1.0 cm. At 0.3 cm, C0.3 = 7x10-11 F, so C0.3 ~ 3 Csys and the
approximation above is decent but not great. At 8 cm, C8 = 2.7 x 10-12 F = Csys /10, so the
approximation is good, but not perfect.
1. In the Calculator, create the following calculations:

Q = 3.0*10^(-9) Unit of C

κε₀A = 2.18*10^-11 Units of F cm

C₁ = 3.6*10^-11 Unit of F

V model = [Q]/([κε₀A]/[Separation]+[C₁]) Unit of V

2. Use the Data Display button ( ) to select your best run.

3. Adjust the values for Q on line 1 of the Calculator and for C1 on line 2 to make the model
match the experimental curve as well as possible.

4. Answer the first four questions on the conclusions page.

Procedure B: The Effect of a Dielectric Between the Plates

1. In PASCO Capstone, create a table and create a user-entered data set called Paper Position
with no units. Enter the values shown in Table II. Select the Voltage measurement in the second
column.
 Table II: Paper Dielectric
Paper Position Voltage (V)
1 out
2 in
3 out
4 in
5 out
6 in
7 out
8 in
9 out

2. You will use paper as the dielectric to be inserted between the plates. Get a stack of paper
about 1 cm thick.
3. Position the movable plate of the capacitor at 8 cm.
4. Turn on the electrometer and set the range button to the 100 V scale.
5. Remove any charge from the capacitor by momentarily touching both plates at the same time
with your hand.
6. Zero the electrometer by pressing the ‘ZERO’ button. The needle must be at zero.
7. Use the red cable connected to the +30V outlet in the voltage source and momentarily touch
the free end to the back of the movable capacitor plate. This will charge the capacitor. Remove
the charging cable.
8. Click on the PREVIEW button.
9. One student holds the stack of paper directly above the gap between the capacitor plates so
that the long side of the paper is vertical. Hold the paper with one hand and keep the other
hand on the metal connector attached to the signal input of the Electrometer so that there is
no static charge on the student holding the paper. Press the Keep Sample button to record the
voltage when the paper is not between the plates.
10. Lower the paper between the two plates until it touches the base. Do not let the paper touch
either plate! Keep your hand as far above the plates as possible. Press the Keep Sample button
to record the voltage when the paper is between the plates.
11. Pull the paper back above the plates and repeat steps 8 and 9 several times.
12. Click the STOP button to stop monitoring the data.
13. If the final voltage with the paper out is much different from the initial paper out value, you
probably touched the plates and should repeat the experiment.
Conclusions:
1. What happened to the voltage as the plates got closer together (d decreasing)?
2. What happened to the capacitance of a capacitor when separation between the plates
increased?
3. Examine Table II. Does the data agree with Equation 5? What does a dielectric do?
 National University of Technology
(NUTECH)
Initial Lab Report
Course: Applied Physics Lab (PHY1302)
Batch: Fall 2023
Department: Computer Engineering

Initial Lab Report

Experiment No. 3 Date:

Experiment Title:

Name: _______________________________

NUTECH ID: _________________________

Instructor: ____________________________

Signature (Instructor):

1. Experiment Objectives:

2. Basic Equations of Experiment Theory:

3. Observations and Calculations:
A. Measurement of Voltage on Capacitor Plate Due to Plate Separation:
Table I: Measurement of the voltage on capacitor plate by varying the distance between the plates
Separation (cm) Voltage (V)
8.0
7.0
6.0
5.0
4.0
3.0
2.0
1.5
1.0
0.5
0.3

Note: Plot the graph of Voltage vs. Separation on the graph paper.
B. Measurement of Voltage on Capacitor Plate Due to Dielectric Between the Plates:
Table II: Voltage measurement due to Paper Dielectric
Paper Position Voltage (V)
1 out
2 in
3 out
4 in
5 out
6 in
7 out
8 in
9 out
4. Results and Analysis:
 Final Lab Report Template
Title Page
The title page of your Lab report should include the following information:
a) NUTECH Logo
b) No. and Name of the Experiment
c) Submitted To: Name of the Instructor
d) Submitted By: Individual Member Name with respective registration No.s
e) Date of Experiment Performed

1. Objective:
Objective of the practical will be explained in this section. For example, this practical is used to determine different
types of strength.
2. Apparatus:
Write the name of the apparatus used in the experiment.
3. Theoretical Explanation:
Explain the theory behind the practical or experiment. It can include ideal diagrams used in theory and graphs etc.
4. Explanation of Procedure:
Pre explanation of the practical
5. Observations and Calculations:
The Calculation and observation during the experiment which includes reading and noting down the measurements,
draw concerned tables shown in the demonstration and class lecture.
6. Results and Analysis:
In this portion, you will describe what is achieved during experiment. Analyze and discuss the practical. Use
graphical representation if any. All calculation using formulas and demonstration of graphical portion of the
practical should be explained in this section.
7. Precautions:
Note the necessary precautions of respective practical.
8. Comments:
a) Comments about the result.
b) Whether we have achieved the desire result or not. Deduction of the practical.
c) Conclusion of the practical.