How to Measure and Create Capacitors with Basic Materials?

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To measure the capacitance of the industrial capacitor, connect it to the battery and use the voltmeter and ammeter to record the voltage and current over time during charging and discharging. The capacitance can be calculated using the formula C = Q/V, where Q is the charge and V is the voltage. For constructing a second capacitor with the copper plates, ensure they are parallel and maintain a specific distance to achieve the desired capacitance. It is advisable to include a resistor in series when connecting the capacitor to the battery to prevent damage from a sudden surge of current. Proper circuit connections and measurements are crucial for accurate results.
tsang
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Hi everyone, I'm trying to solve this prac design, but still don't know what to do, can anyone please give me some suggestions?


You are given an old cardboard box from Faraday’s, the bargain supermarket for electrical enthusiasts (“Everyday Low Charges”). The box contains

a battery,

a digital voltmeter (which records voltage as a function of time),

a digital ammeter (which records current as a function of time),

an industrial capacitor,

two copper plates,

and several bits of copper wire.


How to use these humble materials to perform the following experimental tasks:
(a) measure the capacitance of the industrial capacitor; and
(b) construct a second capacitor from the copper plates, whose capacitance equals that of the industrial capacitor.
 
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Can anyone please give me some suggestions? Thanks a lot.
 
Do I have to do something like connecting circuit for short period to charge capacitor, then let it discharge or something like that?
Can I connect capacitor straight to battary without resistor in the series circuit?
 

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