To investigate the capacitance and uncertainty of a capacitor.

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Fawwaaz Hosein

Name: Fawwaaz Hosein

Group Members: Solmoi Park and Eric Mui

Experiment 3: Capacitor

Date: 5th March 2010

Aim: To investigate the capacitance and uncertainty of a capacitor.

Equipment:        

  • Multi-meter
  • Analogue ammeter
  • Resistor
  • Capacitor
  • Battery
  • Switch
  • Connecting wires
  • Stopwatch

Method:

  • The circuits are set up as shown in figures 3.1 and 3.2 respectively below.
  • For the circuit shown in figure 3.1, the behaviour on the ammeter when the switch S is closed is described and accounted for. Ensure that a minute or two is allowed to observe the change.
  • The second circuit shown in figure 3.2 is then set up and the behaviour on the ammeter when its position is moved is described and account for.
  • The switch is then closed and the steady current I0 is recorded
  • The switch is then opened and the time for the current (I) to reach particular values is recorded.  
  • The experiment is repeated two more times so as to acquire three sets of time (T1, T2, T3) for the current (I) in question and the average time (t) was also recorded.
  • Using the average time a graph of lnI against t is plotted using the following equation:
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Where y= lnI, x= t, gradient =  and lastly y- intercept = lnImax

  • Resistance(R) of uncertainty ±2% is measured using the multi-meter and the Capacitance (C) is found by using the gradient =      

Diagrams: Showing setup of circuits in question.

     

Results:

Resistance (R)= 99.2 kΩ

± D (T) Average ...

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