H Exp – Electricity and Electronics 15 – Uses of capacitors – d.c. power supply

Aim – To show the effect of capacitors in the production of a smooth d.c. supply from an a.c. supply.

Instructions

▪ The oscilloscope indicates the form of the output p.d. across the load resistor.
▪ Select each of the circuits in turn.
▪ Draw the circuits and sketch the traces produced.
▪ Explain whether the trace produced in circuit 2 is a.c. or d.c.
▪ Describe the effect of the capacitor on the trace produced in circuit 3.
▪ State what effect the size of the capacitance has on the smoothing of the supply.

▪ Wait for Player to load. Best viewed full screen, right-click or on mobile, press and hold and select Enter full screen. Full screen not available on iOS.