H Exp – Electricity and Electronics 11 – Charging and discharging characteristics for a capacitor

Aim – To observe the variation of the current through, and the p.d. across the capacitor during the charge and discharge cycles.

Instructions

The capacitor is discharged and the switch is open.

▪ Click the red buttoned switch to close the switch and start the timer.
▪ Record values of current I and p.d. V every 10 seconds until the measured p.d. becomes constant.
▪ Plot graphs of current I and p.d. V against time as the capacitor charges.
▪ Describe the change in the current and p.d. as the capacitor charges.
▪ Click on the button to change the circuit to allow the capacitor to be discharged. The capacitor is initially fully charged and the switch is open.
▪ Click the red buttoned switch to close the switch and note values for current I and p.d. V for the capacitor every 10 seconds.
▪ Plot graphs of current I against p.d. V against time as the capacitor discharges.

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