3B Scientific Plate Capacitor D - Manual

3B SCIENTIFIC® PHYSICS
1
Plate Capacitor D 1006798
Instruction sheet
06/12 SP/TL/ALF
1 Fine adjustment screw
2 Guide
rail
3 Measuring unit
4 Switch for changing
measuring unit from
mm to inches
5 On-off switch for
measuring unit display
6 Zero configuration but-
ton for measuring unit
7 Battery compartment
for measuring unit
(button/watch battery)
8 Scale for measuring
unit
9 Fastening screw
10 Guide block
11 Connector socket
12 Movable capacitor pla-
te
13 Fixed capacitor plate
14 Stator
15 Connector socket
1. Safety instructions
Caution: the capacitor plates are not electrically
isolated. Voltages may be present which are
dangerous to the touch.
• When working with voltages which may be
dangerous if you come into contact with
them, you should make sure to take the ap-
propriate safety measures.
• Do not touch the device during the experi-
ment.
• For voltages which are referenced to
ground, apply the reference potential to the
movable capacitor plate.
• Avoid voltage arcs between the plates.
In schools and educational institutions, opera-
tion of the device must be monitored by a
trained supervisor.
2. Description
The plate capacitor is designed for investigating the
relationship between charge and voltage, for quanti-
tative measurement of capacitance as a function of
the plate separation, measurement of dielectric ε
and for accurately determining the permittivity of
free space (electric field constant) ε
0
.
The apparatus features one fixed and one mov-
able plate. The latter can be along with its guide
block (10) by any distance between 0 and
160 mm and can be further adjusted by between
0 and 20 mm by means of a fine adjustment
screw (1). The display of an electronic measuring
unit shows the distance between the two capaci-
tor plates. The displayed value can be configured
to zero at any point along the path of travel and
will then display the distance of the moveable
plate from this new zero point. The separation
between the plates can be read off to an accu-