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Data Analysis -- Charging and Discharging a Capacitor
- Calculate a theoretical value for the charging half-life. Show all work.
- Calculate a theoretical value for the discharging half-life. Show all work.
- Using the experimental value for the charging half-life, calculate an experimental value
for the capacitance.
- Using the experimental value for the discharging half-life, calculate an experimental value
for the capacitance.
Questions -- Charging and Discharging a Capacitor
- Calculate a percentage difference between the theoretical and the experimental value for the charging half-life. Repeat for the discharging half-life. Show all work.
- Calculate a percentage difference between the theoretical and the experimental value for the capacitance using charging data. Repeat for discharging data. Show all work. Remember to use the value for maximum voltage that you found for each in your calculations (procedure 1 data).
- The industry standard for capacitance allows a 20% difference between the listed capacitance value and the actual value. Does your percentage difference fall within this range? List two factors that could account for a high percentage difference. Answer for both the charging and discharging procedures.
- Why does the area under the curve for the current vs time graph represent the charge stored in the capacitor? Use dimensional analysis to support your answer.
- Knowing the charge stored on the capacitor and the maximum voltage (procedure one), calculate the energy stored in the capacitor. Do this for charging and for discharging. Show all work. (This will be a theoretical value for the energy.).
- Calculate a value for the energy stored in the capacitor knowing your experimental value for the capacitance and the maximum voltage (procedure one). Do this for charging and for discharging. Show all work. (This will be an experimental value for the energy.).
- Compare your answers to 5 and 6 using a percentage difference. Do this for charging and for discharging. Show your setups.
- Why did the voltage across the capacitor start at a minimum and reach a maximum as the capacitor charged? Why did the voltage across the resistor start at a maximum and reach a minimum as the capacitor charged? In your answer, define voltage. Relate the definition of voltage to the process of charging a capacitor.
- Why did the current start at a maximum and reach a minimum as the capacitor charged? In your answer, define current. Relate the definition of current to the process of charging a capacitor.
- Compare the appearance of the two voltage graphs. Explain the difference in the appearance of the two voltage graphs.