Applied Physics 181

Experiment 2: Capacitors

A. Charging and discharging capacitor

1. Construct the following circuit. Use a square wave input (Vpp = 5 V, f = 500 Hz).

2. Sketch the input and output waveforms. Indicate the important values and points on the plot.

3. Determine the time constant from both the charging and discharging curves of the plot (hint: the
numbers “63%” and “37%” are useful). Compare these values with the theoretical value calculated
from R and C.

4. Try increasing the frequency of the input. Describe what happens to the output.

B. Application 1:
1. Construct the following circuit. Use a square wave input (Vpp = 5 V, f = 100 kHz).

2. Sketch the input and output waveforms. Indicate the important voltage values and points on the
plot.

3. Repeat steps 1 and 2 using triangle and sine waves as input.

4. Name the circuit and explain the three output waveforms. What do you think will happen if you
use larger values of R and/or C in the circuit?

C. Application 2:
1. Construct the following circuit. Use a square wave input (Vpp = 5 V, f = 100 kHz).

2. Sketch the input and output waveforms. Indicate the important voltage values and points on the
plot.

3. Repeat steps 1 and 2 using triangle and sine waves as input.

4. Name the circuit and explain the three output waveforms.

5. What do you think will happen if you use smaller values of R and/or C in the circuit?

Applied Physics 181

National Institute of Physics
2nd Semester AY 2017-2018
1
D. Application 3:
1. Construct the following circuit. Use a sine wave input (Vpp = 5 V) with varying frequencies.

2. Determine the experimental f3dB (hint: the number “70.7%” is useful). Compare it with the
theoretical value calculated from R and C.
3. Graph an experimental Bode plot.
4. Name the circuit and explain its frequency response.

E. Application 4:
1. Construct the following circuit. Use a sine wave input (Vpp = 5 V) with varying frequencies.

2. Sketch the input and output waveforms. Indicate the important voltage values and points on the
plot.
3. Repeat steps 1 and 2 using triangle and sine waves as input.
4. Name the circuit and explain the three output waveforms.

5. What do you think will happen if you use smaller values of R and/or C in the circuit?

To be submitted: Reports (by group) in SPP format

deadline: One week

As per CEB ruling: “Any form of cheating in examinations or any act of dishonesty in relation to
studies, such as plagiarism, shall be subject to disciplinary action.”

Applied Physics 181

National Institute of Physics
2nd Semester AY 2017-2018
2