LYCEUM OF THE PHILIPPINES UNIVERSITY-CAVITE

College of Engineering, Computer Studies and Architecture

Department of Engineering and Architecture

Experiment No. 4
CAPACITIVE CIRCUIT

Date Performed:

Name:

January 7, 2016

PANSACALA, HANNAH JOY

Date Submitted:

Rating:

M.

January 21, 2016

I. PROCEDURE
Insert the Module DL 3155M07 in the console and set the main
switch to ON;
connect the circuit, the signal generator and the oscilloscope in
Fig.3.2a;
adjust the oscilloscope in the following way:
CH1=1V/DIV
CH2=50mV/DIV
TIME/DIV=0.2ms,
Coupling=AC;
without supplying the signal generator, superpose, at the half of the
oscilloscope display, the line of channel 1 and the one of channel 2;
supply the signal generator and adjust the output to a sinusoidal
voltage of 6V peak to peak - 500 Hz;
observe, on the oscilloscope display, the signal at the edge of R1:
this signal is lead as regards the input signal
report in a paper, as in fig.3.3, the signals displayed on the
oscilloscope, by representing the input signal with a continuous line
and the signal R1 with dotted line;
measure the peak input voltage and write the value in Tab. 3.1;
measure the peak voltage at the edge of R1 and write the value in
Tab. 3.1;
calculate the peak current and write the value in Tab. 3.1;
measure the period of alternating voltage in divisions, in ms, and
write the values in Tab. 3.1;
calculate the number of degrees per division and write the value in
Tab. 3.1;
set the input wave of the center of the screen;
read the number of vertical divisions from the center of the screen
between the voltage and the current and note it in Tab. 3.1;
determine the phase angle as the product between the number of
vertical division, between the voltage and the current, and the
number of degrees per division and write the value in Tab. 3.1;

 calculate the capacitive reactance

XC 1

and write the value in

Tab.3.1;
repeat the previous operations for all the values of the frequency
written in Tab. 3.1 and write the value in the same table;
comment the results;

SERIES CAPACITORS
connect the circuit, the signal generator and the oscilloscope as

shown in Fig. 3.2b;

adjust the oscilloscope the following way:
CH1 = 1V/DIV
CH2 = 20mV/DIV,
TIME/DIV = 0.2mS
COUPLING = AC;
adjust the signal generator to a sinusoidal voltage of 6V peak to

peak - 1kHz;
measure the peak input voltage and write the value in Tab. 3.2;
measure the peak voltage at the edges of R1 and write the value in

Tab. 3.2;
calculate the peak current and write the value in Tab. 3.2;
calculate the total series capacitive reactance and write the value in

Tab. 3.2;
calculate the total series capacitance and write the value in Tab.

3.2;

PARALLEL CAPACITORS

connect the circuit, the signal generator and the oscilloscope as

shown in Fig. 3.2c;

adjust the oscilloscope in the following way:

CH1 = 1V/DIV
CH2 = 0.1 V/DIV,
TIME/DIV = 0.2mS
COUPLING = AC;
adjust the signal generator to a sinusoidal voltage of 6V peak to

peak - 1Hz;
measure the peak input voltage and write the value in Tab. 3.2;
measure the peak voltage at the edges of R1 an write the value in

Tab. 3.2;
calculate the peak current and write the value in Tab. 3.2;
calculate the total parallel capacitive reactance and write the value

in Tab. 3.2;
calculate the total parallel capacitance and write the value in Tab.

3.2;
comment the results;

Data and Results

f
(Hz)
500
1000
4000
10000
f
(Hz)
500
1000
4000
10000

U i( p)
(V)
3
3
3
3
N
degrees
per
division
45
90
360
720

U Ri (p )

I ( p)

(mV)
70
123
240
170
N
horizontal
divisions

(mA)
7
12.3
24
17
degrees

8
4
1
0.5

88.20
86.40
75.89
57.86

div

ms

8
4
1
0.5

0.25
0.25
0.25
0.25

XC1

()
318.31
159.15
39.79
15.92

Table 3.1

F
(Hz)
Series
capacitor
s
Parallel
capacitor
s

U i( p)

U Ri (p )

I ( p)

(V)

(mV)

(mA)

1000

12

1.2

1000

13.2

1.32

X C (ser)

Ct (ser )

X C (par )

Ct ( par)

Series
capacitor
s
Parallel
capacitor
s

(Hz)

()

(F)

1000

1750.70

0.09

1000

()

(F)

144.68

1.1

Table 3.2

Sample Computation

XC=

U i (p )
1
1
=
=
=318.31
I ( p) 2 fc 2 (500 Hz)(1 C)

I ( p)=

U R 1( p) 70 mV
=
=7 mA
R1
10

N degrees per division =

X C (ser) =X C 1 + X C 2=

360 360
=
=45
T
8

1
1
+
=1750.70
2 (1 kHz)(1 F) 2 ( 1 kHz )( 0.1 F )

Ct (ser )=

C1 x C 2 (1 F) ( 0.1 F )
=
=0.09 F
C 1+ C2 ( 1 F ) + ( 0.1 F )

1
1
2 (1 kHz)(1 F )
X X
2 ( 1kHz ) ( 0.1 F )
X c (par) = C 1 C 2 =
=144.68
X C 1+ X C 2
1
1
+
2 (1 kHz)(1 F) 2 ( 1 kHz )( 0.1 F )

Ct ( par)=C1 +C 2=( 1 F ) + ( 0.1 F )=1.1 F

Questions:
1. Is the starting instant of the voltage applied to the capacitor the
current assumes the value:
o Minimum
o Medium
o Maximum
2. When the frequency increases the capacitive reactance:
o Increases
o Decreases
o Remains unchanged
3. The series reactance is given by:
X CS =X C1 + X C 2+ ..
o
o

X CS =1/ X C 1 +1/ X C 2 + ..

Discussion:
In this experiment, we have shown the signals at the edges of R1
which is in lead as regards to the input signal by adjusting the
oscilloscope in the way described in the procedure, supplying the signal
generator and adjusting the output to a sinusoidal voltage of 6V peak to
peak with a frequency of 500 Hz. The peak voltage and current were
measured and noted. The number of degrees per division were calculated
and we have observed that it increases as the frequency increases. We
have also calculated the capacitive reactance of each capacitor through
the formula given in the calculation data. Here, we have observed that
the capacitive reactance is inversely proportional to the frequency and
capacitance. The greater the frequency or capacitance, the lesser the
value of capacitive reactance. We have also computed the capacitive
reactance (parallel) through the product and sum method and the
capacitive reactance (series) by getting the algebraic sum of the two
individual capacitive reactance.
Conclusion:
After conducting this experiment, I therefore conclude that the
value of capacitive reactance is a function of frequency. It is inversely
proportional to frequency. As the frequency increases, the capacitive
reactance decreases. In this experiment, I have also learned that the
equivalent capacitance of the series capacitors can be calculated by
adding the value of each capacitor and the capacitance of parallel
capacitors through the product and sum method. On the other hand, the
capacitive reactance (series) can be determined by getting the algebraic
sum of the two individual capacitive reactance; and the capacitive
reactance (parallel) through the product and sum method.