Using Capacitors on Breadboards: Tips and Tricks for Beginners

[Taniaz]

Homework Statement

I'm fairly new at breadboards and I've tried to set up how I think it should be (BUT I've used a resistor instead of the second capacitor since I didn't have any on me at the moment AND I will be replacing it with a capacitor when I get the chance but just needed to see if the connections were correct.

Picture of setup is attached.

1. Connect lead D to point Y to discharge the 47 microFarads capacitor. Then remove lead D from this point.
2. Connect lead C to the positive terminal of the cell to charge the 1.0 microFarad capacitor. Then connect lead C to point Y in order to make the two capacitors share the charge.
3. Measure the potential difference V across the arrangement directly after the charge has been shared and calculate the charge which is stored on the 47 microFarads capacitor after sharing.

Homework Equations

None

The Attempt at a Solution

As shown in the pictures.

 

[berkeman]

Homework Statement

I'm fairly new at breadboards and I've tried to set up how I think it should be (BUT I've used a resistor instead of the second capacitor since I didn't have any on me at the moment AND I will be replacing it with a capacitor when I get the chance but just needed to see if the connections were correct.

Picture of setup is attached.

1. Connect lead D to point Y to discharge the 47 microFarads capacitor. Then remove lead D from this point.
2. Connect lead C to the positive terminal of the cell to charge the 1.0 microFarad capacitor. Then connect lead C to point Y in order to make the two capacitors share the charge.
3. Measure the potential difference V across the arrangement directly after the charge has been shared and calculate the charge which is stored on the 47 microFarads capacitor after sharing.

Homework Equations

None

The Attempt at a Solution

As shown in the pictures.

On the schematic, are you showing lead D shorting out the voltage supply? Not a good idea if so...

 

[berkeman]

Also, it is a bad idea to short out capacitors with a wire to discharge them. Use a medium-value resistor like 1kOhm instead to reduce the peak discharge current so you don't hurt the capacitor.

 

[gneill]

I take it that the white wire represents lead D and that the green wire represents lead C? Then the capacitor that you do have is the 1 μF capacitor? If that's all so, it would appear that your layout matches your schematic.

On the schematic, are you showing lead D shorting out the voltage supply? Not a good idea if so...

I believe that's meant to represent the voltmeter. The voltage is supplied by the 1.5 V cell at the top of the schematic.

 

[Taniaz]

I take it that the white wire represents lead D and that the green wire represents lead C? Then the capacitor that you do have is the 1 μF capacitor? If that's all so, it would appear that your layout matches your schematic. I believe that's meant to represent the voltmeter. The voltage is supplied by the 1.5 V cell at the top of the schematic.

Yes the white wire is lead D and the green wire is lead C and yes that is the 1 μF capacitor.

Thank you, will test it out tomorrow and see how it goes.

 

[berkeman]

I believe that's meant to represent the voltmeter. The voltage is supplied by the 1.5 V cell at the top of the schematic.

Ah, thanks gneill. Still, I would use a resistor and not a wire to discharge the capacitor.

 

[gneill]

Ah, thanks gneill. Still, I would use a resistor and not a wire to discharge the capacitor.

It's a good tip to pass on to newbies. Nothing worse than unknowingly damaging what should be perfectly good new parts when you're just learning, then wondering why the circuit won't work like the writeup says it should.