Capacitors

Experiment #24 from Physics with Vernier

• Measure an experimental time constant of a resistor-capacitor circuit.
• Compare the time constant to the value predicted from the component values of the resistance and capacitance.
• Measure the potential across a capacitor as a function of time as it discharges and as it charges.
• Fit an exponential function to the data. One of the fit parameters corresponds to an experimental time constant.

Capacitors and Inductors

Experiment #13 from Advanced Physics with Vernier — Beyond Mechanics

In this experiment, you will

• Collect electric potential and current data in a DC circuit in which a capacitor or an inductor is placed in series with various resistors.
• Analyze the potential vs. time graphs for capacitors and inductors.
• Determine the best-fit equations for the potential vs. time graphs.
• Determine the quantity of charge stored by a capacitor from a graph of current vs. time.
• Relate the parameters in the best-fit equations for potential vs. time to their physical counterparts in the system.

RLC Circuits

Experiment #14 from Advanced Physics with Vernier — Beyond Mechanics

In this experiment, you will

• Learn the terms capacitive reactance, inductive reactance, and impedance.
• Determine the relationship between the reactance and frequency for a capacitor.
• Determine the relationship between the impedance and frequency of an RL circuit.
• Determine the resonant frequency of an RLC circuit.
• Experiment with resonance and energy transfer in an RLC circuit.