Capacitor charge and discharge 3D practical for A level Physics

This is a student or teacher controlled 3d experiment to plot the relationship between time and the voltage for a capacitor that is charging or discharging.

A capacitor is an electronic component that can store a certain amount of charge. It has a value called its capacitance measured in Farads (which is a really huge unit, we normally deal with micro Farads or even pico Farads). The circuit can be configured to either charge or discharge the capacitor, in both cases the voltage and current can be monitored.

The user has control over the power supply and the charge/discharge switch. The user can position themself anywhere within the laboratory in order to take readings from the instrumentation.

You can try a practical from our website.

The simulation is perfect for demonstrating this experiment in front of the class but can also be used by students in a variety of ways:

• Directly to prepare for a laboratory experiment by familiarising them with the equipment to be used and the methodology of the experiment.

• As revision for an experiment that has previously been performed in the laboratory.

• For home-learning where there is no access to a laboratory.

• To make up for an experiment missed due to sickness.

• As a personal experience of an experiment normally only performed by the teacher in front of the class.

Download contains a PowerPoint giving full instructions including a video, background on the Physics and instructions on running the experiment, as well as a link to an on-line version (no need to install unless you want to).

The Virtual Physics Laboratory of which this simulation is a part, has the Association for Science Education’s Green Tick of Approval. More information can be found on our website.

I’ve found your software very useful when a concept comes up with pupils and I have to demonstrate something really quickly without having the time to set up a formal experiment for them. The graphics are great and I really like the ability to move around the classroom and observe the experiment from different aspects. I am far more likely to go to one of your interactive experiments if it’s demonstrating something that we don’t have equipment for.

Andrew McPhee Wellington School

I thought that the controls were pretty easy to get used to and the detail in the apparatus was excellent being able to zoom in and see the set up of the multi-meter and read scales, being careful of parallax. This type of software is most useful in experiments which can’t be done in the lab like the gravity on the moon or where the equipment is too expensive or difficult to use like the Millikan Oil drop.

Physics Scholar Coordinator.

Licence
This product is for a single user and is for personal and classroom use only. Copying any part of this resource is forbidden and violates the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). Purchasing and downloading this product is your consent to these conditions.