Capacitor Lab: Basics: Inquiry into Capacitor Design

This lab uses the Capacitor Lab: Basics simulation from PhET Interactive Simulations
at University of Colorado Boulder, under the CC-BY 4.0 license.

https://phet.colorado.edu/sims/html/capacitor-lab-basics/latest/capacitor-lab-basics_en.html

Learning Goals:
Students will be able to:
● Identify the variables that affect the capacitance and how each affects the capacitance.
● Determine the relationships between charge, voltage, and stored energy for a capacitor.
● Relate the design of the capacitor system to its ability to store energy.
● Explain how to use a capacitor to light a bulb.
● Describe what happens as charge drains away from a capacitor into a light bulb

Develop your understanding: Open the Capacitance screen, then explore to develop your
own ideas about how a capacitor is designed.

Explain your understanding: Use your own words and captured images from the simulation
to show you can:

1. Identify what features of a capacitor can be maximized or minimized to make a capacitor

with the greatest capacitance.

a. What features of the simulation did you use to help you?

2. Design experiments to find the relationships between charge, voltage, and stored energy
for a capacitor. Summarize your experimental procedures and findings.

a. What features of the simulation did you use to help you?

3. If you wanted to design a capacitor system to store the greatest energy, what would you
use?

Develop your understanding: Explore the Light Bulb screen to investigate how to use a
capacitor to turn on a light bulb.

Explain your understanding: Use your own words and captured images from the simulation
to show you know how to use a capacitor to light a bulb.

4. What are the required components to use a capacitor to light a bulb and how does the
system operate?

5. How would using a capacitor to light a bulb compare to using just a battery as shown:
 a. Use Circuit Construction Kit Intro screen to test your ideas and provide
supporting evidence.

6. Describe what happens as charge drains away from a capacitor into a light bulb. Include
the use of as many tools in the simulation as possible in your observations.

a. What features of the simulation did you use to help you?

7. Research to find a practical application where the energy stored in a capacitor is used.
(cite references)
CONSTRUCT THE FOLLOWING ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT (CAPACITOR), USING PHET
SIMULATION, OR USING THE FOLLOWING LINK.

https://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulation/legacy/capacitor-lab
Today we will be exploring the energy stored in a capacitor, behavior of capacitors with and without
dielectrics, and the capacitor connection (series and parallel). You will complete the virtual lab using the
Capacitor Lab from Phet, data analysis software (Excel) and this document. Each member of the lab
group must complete this important assignment.

First part
Energy stored in the capacitor versus Voltage
1- Open the (https://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulation/capacitor-lab)
2- Set the plates to the minimum area (400.0 mm2), maximum separation (5.0 mm) and maximum
3- Using the provided meters ( charge, energy, Electric field E, and voltmeter) in the simulation
complete the following data table

4- Calculate the capacitance using , this the real value.

 5- Increase the voltage from the battery and record the values of the voltage across the capacitor(V),
Charge on the plate(Q), and energy stored (U)

Separation d ( m) Plate Area A ( m2) Capacitance ( F)

Trial Potential Charge Q Stored Electric Field V2 ( volt)2 Q2 (C2) E2(V/m)2 Stored Energy
difference V (C) Energy U (J) between plates E Density
(V) (V/m) u(J/m3)

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10

6- Use Excel to plot the relationship between (V2, U), using V2 in the most left column in Excel.

7- Use the equation , to determine C0 using the slope of the graph.

8- Compare this value of C0 with C0 in the table. Calculate the percentage error.

9- Attach the graph to your data report.

10- Use Excel to plot the relationship between (Q2, U), using Q2 in the most left column in Excel.

11- Use the equation , to determine C0 using the slope of the graph.
12- Compare this value of C0 with C0 in the table. Calculate the percentage error.

13- Attach the graph to your data report.

14- Use Excel to plot the relationship between (E2, u), using E2 in the most left column in Excel.

15- Use the equation , to determine using the slope of the graph.
16- Compare this value of with =8.85x10-12 F/m. Calculate the percentage error.

Second part
Dielectrics and Capacitance
1- Open the (https://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulation/capacitor-lab)
2- Click on the “Dielectrics” tab.
3- Set the plates to the area A between (195- 205 mm 2), separation d between (7.5- 8.5 mm),
maximum positive battery voltage (1.5 V) and minimum dielectric constant (1) with zero offset to
begin. See fig. below.

4-

Determine the value of and compare it to the value from the par chart.

5- Insert the dielectric material in the capacitor, and determine the value of the capacitance C (in F)

6- Change the value of the dielectric constant K then complete the following data table (keep the
plate separation and area constant through all trials)

C0 = F
 Dielectric Constant Capacitance (F)
Trial
K C

1 1
2 1.5
3 2
4 2.5
5 3
6 3.5
7 4
8 4.5
9 5

7- Draw the best fit using Excel between (K, C), and find the slope of the line.
8- Attach the graph to your lab report.
9- Use the equation , determine C0 and compare it to the value.

10- Calculate the percentage error in C0.

Third part
Dielectrics and Capacitance (Battery Connected)
1- Open the (https://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulation/capacitor-lab)
2- Click on the “Dielectrics” tab.
3- Set the plates to the area A between (195- 205 mm2), separation d between (7.5- 8.5 mm),
maximum positive battery voltage (1.5 V) and minimum dielectric constant (1) with zero offset to
begin.
4- Using the provided meters (charge, energy, Electric field E, and voltmeter) in the simulation
complete the following data table
 5- In the table below record the values of Capacitance C0, Electric field E0, stored energy U0, and
charge on p late Q0 and potential difference V0.
6- Slide the dielectric inside the capacitor and record the values shown in the table below.

Trial Dielectric Capacitance Stored Plate Electric Field Electric Field Sum Electric V ( Volt)
Constant C (F) Energy Charge Q between the in Dielectric Field between
(C) plates E0 Ei (V/m) E (V/m)
K U (J) (V/m)

1 1
2 1.5
3 2
4 2.5
5 3
6 3.5
7 4
8 4.5
9 5

7- Analyze the data above and answer the following questions. You may want to create graphs to
better explain relationships between variables. Attach any graphs or figures you create with the
data to explain your responses.
8- How does the dielectric constant affect capacitance?

9- As the dielectric constant increases, how does the total stored energy change?

10- Does the dielectric constant affect the amount of charge stored on the plate? If so, what is the
relationship?

Fourth part
Dielectrics and Capacitance (Battery Connected)
1- Open the (https://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulation/capacitor-lab)
2- Click on the “Dielectrics” tab.
3- Set the plates to the area A between (195- 205 mm2), separation d between (7.5- 8.5 mm),
maximum positive battery voltage (1.5 V)
4- Using the provided meters (charge, energy, Electric field E, and voltmeter) in the simulation
complete the following data table

11- In the table below record the values of Capacitance C0, Electric field E0, stored energy U0, and
charge on p late Q0 and potential difference V0.
 5- Disconnect the battery from the capacitor.

6- Select the material of dielectric constant to be paper (K= 3.5), slide it inside the capacitor, then
record the values of the quantities in the table below

K= 3.5 (paper) Q(pC) C (pF) V(V) E(V/m) U(J)

Connected Battery
without Dielectric
Disconnected Battery
with dielectric

7- Use the formulas to check and comment on your results. Where Q, C, V, E, and U with dielectric
and C0, E0, U0, Q0 and V0 without dielectric.

8- Comment on your results.

 Fifth part
Series Connection
1- Open the (https://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulation/capacitor-lab)
2- Click on the “Multiple Capacitors” tab.
3- Click on three capacitor in series button.
4- Move the voltage slide to maximum and measure the voltage across the battery with the
voltmeter Vmax=………………………..V,click on three capacitors in series
5- Change the settings on the 3 capacitors to : C1= 1pF, C2= 2pF, C3= 2.5pF , as shown below

6- Now measure the voltage across each capacitor. V1= ______ V2=_____
V3=____

7- What is the relationship of voltages?

8- Using the stated capacitance (1.0x10-13 F, 2.0x10-13 F, 2.5x10-13 F) find the charge on each

capacitor. q1=____ q2=____ q3=____

9- Comment on your results of the stored charge with q1, q2, and q3.
10- What is the total capacitance in Farads? Read meter.

11- Use formula to find the total capacitance

Sixth part
Parallel Connection
1- Open the (https://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulation/capacitor-lab)
2- Click on the “Multiple Capacitors” tab.
3- Click on three capacitor in series button.
4- Move the voltage slide to maximum and measure the voltage across the battery with the
voltmeter Vmax=………………………..V . click on three capacitors in parallel.
5- Change the settings on the 3 capacitors to : C1= 1pF, C2= 2pF, C3= 2.5pF , as shown below

6- Now measure the voltage across each capacitor. V1= ______ V2=_____
V3=____

7- What is the relationship of voltages?

8- Using the stated capacitance (1.0x10-13 F, 2.0x10-13 F, 2.5x10-13 F) find the charge on each

capacitor. q1=____ q2=____ q3=____

9- Comment on your results of the stored charge with q1, q2, and q3.

10- What is the total capacitance in Farads? Read meter.

11- Use formula to find the total capacitance and compare to bar chart.