Capacitance

Objectives
a. To learn the charging and discharging properties of a capacitor
b. To learn about the series combination of capacitors
c. To learn about the parallel combination of capacitors

Apparatus Assembly

Introduction

Capacitance
A capacitor is a device that is used to store charge and its capacity to store charge is called
capacitance. Mathematically, the capacitance C, can be written as:

𝐪
𝐂=𝐕 (1)
Where V is the applied potential difference and q is the quantity of the charge stored in the
capacitor.

Charging of Capacitor

1
©KFUPM-PHYSICS
Revised on 10/19/2023
When an uncharged capacitor of capacitance C is connected to a battery of emf V0 through a
resistor R its voltage V increases with time and their relationship is given by the equation (2).

𝐕 = 𝐕𝟎 − 𝐕𝟎 𝐞−𝐭/𝛕 (2)

Where, τ = RC is the time constant, defined as the capacitor's time to charge (discharge) by 63.2%.

Discharging of capacitor
When a fully charged capacitor with initial voltage V0 is connected in a circuit through a resistor
its voltage will decrease in time according to equation (3).

𝐕 = 𝐕𝟎 𝐞−𝐭/𝛕 (3)

The process is called the discharging of the capacitor.

The current in the discharging circuit decreases in a similar manner as in the charging circuit.

Whether the process is charging or discharging, the current will exponentially increase from t = 0.
The relationship is provided in equation (4).

𝐈 = 𝐈𝟎 𝐞−𝐭/𝛕 (4)

Parallel combination of capacitors

When n numbers of capacitors are connected in parallel each capacitor has the same amount of
charge. The equivalent capacitance Cp of parallel combination can be written as:

𝐂𝐩 = 𝐂𝟏 + 𝐂𝟐 + − − − − − − +𝐂𝐧

If there are only two resistors in parallel combination as shown in Fig.,

𝐂𝐩 = 𝐂 𝟏 + 𝐂𝟐 . (5)

Series combination of capacitors

When n-number of capacitors are connected in series they shares the same potential difference.
The equivalent capacitance Cs for series combination is given by the following formula:
𝟏 𝟏 𝟏 𝟏
=𝐂 +𝐂 +−−−−−−−+𝐂
𝐂𝐬 𝟏 𝟐 𝐧

If there are only two resistors connected in series as shown in Figure,

𝟏 𝟏 𝟏
=𝐂 +𝐂
𝐂𝐬 𝟏 𝟐

2
©KFUPM-PHYSICS
Revised on 10/19/2023
 C C
Cs = C 1+C2 (6)
1 2

Part 1: Finding

In this exercise you will learn to connect the charging and discharging circuits of capacitors from
the circuit diagram. Then you will find the actual value of the capacitors from charging and
discharging curves.

Figure 1: Charging and discharging of circuit

1. Take a connection board and identify the items in the circuit diagram. A voltmeter and
ammeter are built into the Pasco I-V sensor. C is a capacitor, R is a resistor, and V0 is the
voltage of the battery.
2. Make sure you are provided with two capacitors of different values, two resistors of
different values, a Pasco-voltage sensor, a power supply and wires.
3. Take a bigger valued capacitor and name it as C1. Read out the voltage and capacitance
of the capacitor. Never exceed the voltage limit written in the capacitor. If you ever
exceed you will damage the capacitor.
4. A resistor of resistance R is provided to you. If it is not provided then you can use the
external voltmeter.
5. Multiply the values of R and C1. Ensure the units of R and C are Ohms and Farad
respectively. The result is called time constant and it can help you estimate the
3
©KFUPM-PHYSICS
Revised on 10/19/2023
 discharging time. 63.4% of the capacitor voltages discharges during 𝛕 = 𝐑 × 𝐂 This
value has to be a few seconds that can be comprehendible. For example: if the
capacitor is 1000 𝜇𝐹, the resistance is 10 Ω, then, 𝜏 = 10 × 1000 × 10−6 = 10−2 𝑠. It is
a flash of second and such time cannot be comprehendible. But if the resistance is 10 kΩ,
𝜏 = 10 × 1000 × 1000 × 10−6 = 10 𝑠. Such time can be comprehendible. (Note that
the sensor voltmeter also has a resistance. It is about a million Ohm. Such a high
resistance in parallel does not contribute much. So, you can ignore its effect)
6. Connect the circuit diagram according to figure1 using C1 and R in the circuit.
7. Make sure the positive side of the capacitor as well as of the voltmeter are connected to
the positive side of the battery.
8. Make sure points 1, 2, and 3 are open. They should not be connected to each other. A
cable with a banana connector can be used as a two-way connector.
9. Don’t turn on the power supply yet.
10. Connect the I-V sensors to the computer through the interface.
11. Open data studio/new experiment/graph
12. Set Voltage v/s time graph.
13. Turn on the power supply. Set the power supply voltage V0 at any value between 5 to 10
V. Check on the capacitor label and make sure the labeled voltage on capacitor is greater
than V0.
14. Have your instructor verify your connection.

15. Start data studio. The voltage-time graph should read zero. If not, discharge the capacitor
by directly connecting the two terminals of the capacitor.
16. Connect points 1 and 2 in the circuit diagram so that the capacitor will be connected to
the battery and gets charged.
17. Once the voltage reading in the data studio saturates to V0 disconnect points 1 and 2 and
connect 1 and 3. The voltage goes down and you get a discharged curve. Stop the
software once the voltage turns to a flat line (almost zero V). This means the capacitor is
completely discharged. The charging and discharging curve would look like Figure 2.

Figure 2: Charging and discharging curves taken by Data Studio

4
©KFUPM-PHYSICS
Revised on 10/19/2023
 18. Find the exponent of the curve by the exponential curve fitting. (Inverse Exponent Fit
for charging curve and Natural Exponent Fit for discharging curve.)
19. The charging and discharging equations infer that the absolute value of exponent, 𝑬 =
𝟏
. Find the value of C1 from the average value of exponents and fill in Table 1.
𝑹𝑪 𝟏
20. Calculate the theoretical value of voltage Vτ at time τ = RC (63.2% of maximum
voltage). Use the axes tool in the data studio to find the experimental value of Vτ and fill
in Table 1.
21. Measure the experimental value of Vτ using coordinate tool and compare it with the
theoretical value. (Find the voltage difference between time t = 0 to t = RC from
either charging or discharging curve. Make sure you are taking t = 0 while charging
or discharging starts, not from when you run the time)

Capacitor R(Ω) E_ch E_dch E_av 1 C_th C Vτ_ex Vτ_th Vτ

𝐶=
𝑅𝐸𝑎𝑣 (𝜇𝐹) %_error (V) (V) %_error
(𝜇𝐹)
C1 x x
C2 x x
Cs
CP
Table 1: Data analysis summery

E_ch = Absolute value of exponent from the charging curve

E_dch = Absolute value of exponent from the charging curve
E_av = average value of exponent
C_th = theoretical (expected value of C)
Vτ_ex = experimental value of voltage while charging (discharging) happens from start time to t = RC.
Vτ_th = 0.632 V0.

22. You can get the value of exponent from current equation as well. However, the current is
too small to be detected by our sensors.
Part 2: Finding the capacitance of second capacitor: C2

1. Replace capacitor C1 with the second capacitor C2 in the circuit. Delete all runs on Data
studio.
2. Repeat steps 15 to 21 and fill in the result in Table 1.

Part 3: Investigating series combination of capacitors.

1. Connect two capacitors in series as shown in Figure 3.

2. Delete all runs on Data studio.
3. Repeat steps 15 to 21 and fill in the result in Table 1.
4. Find expected value from the theory equation (6).

5
©KFUPM-PHYSICS
Revised on 10/19/2023
 Figure 3: Series combination circuit diagram

Part 4: Investigating the pparallel combination of capacitors.

1. Connect two capacitors in parallel as shown in Figure 4.

2. Delete all runs on Data studio.
3. Repeat steps 15 to 21 and fill in the result in Table1.
4. Find expected value from the theory equation (5).

6
©KFUPM-PHYSICS
Revised on 10/19/2023
 Figure 4: Parallel combination circuit diagram

7
©KFUPM-PHYSICS
Revised on 10/19/2023