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APPLIED PHYSICS LAB
Lab Journal 5
Construction Of Series And Parallel Circuits Using

Capacitors
Department of Computer Sciences

BAHRIA UNIVERSITY, ISLAMABAD
Name: Laiba Kiyani
Enrollment No: 01-136242-016
Objective:
The objective of this experiment is to construct and analyze the behavior of capacitors
connected in series and parallel configurations and to verify the theoretical relationships
governing these circuits.
Materials:
1. Breadboard
2. Capacitors (e.g., 10 µF, 22 µF, and 33 µF)
3. Connecting wires
4. Multimeter (capacitance and voltage measurement)
5. DC power supply or battery (e.g., 9V)
Theory:
Introduction
A capacitor is a passive electrical component used to store energy in the form of an electric
field. It consists of two conductive plates separated by a non-conductive material called the
dielectric. Capacitors are widely used in electronic circuits for various purposes, such as
energy storage, signal filtering, voltage regulation, and timing applications.
Principle of Operation
When a voltage is applied across the terminals of a capacitor, an electric field is established
between the plates, causing one plate to accumulate positive charge and the other to
accumulate an equal amount of negative charge. The capacitor continues to store charge
until the voltage across its plates matches the applied voltage.
The relationship between charge (Q), capacitance (C), and voltage (V) is given by:
Q
C=
V
Where:
• C is the capacitance (in farads, F).

• Q is the charge stored on the plates (in coulombs, C).
• V is the voltage applied across the capacitor (in volts, V).
Capacitance
The capacitance of a capacitor is a measure of its ability to store charge per unit voltage. It
depends on three factors:
1. Area of the Plates (A): Larger plate area increases capacitance.

2. Distance Between Plates (d): Smaller separation increases capacitance.
3. Dielectric Material (ϵr): A material with a higher dielectric constant increases
capacitance.
The formula for calculating capacitance is:
A
C =ϵ .
d
Where:
• ϵ ¿ ϵ 0 . ϵ r is the permittivity of the dielectric material (ϵ 0 epsilon is the permittivity

of free space, and is ϵ r the relative permittivity).
• A is the area of the plates.
• d is the separation between the plates.
Types of Capacitors
1. Fixed Capacitors:
o Ceramic Capacitors
o Electrolytic Capacitors
o Film Capacitors
o Tantalum Capacitors
2. Variable Capacitors:
o Trimmer Capacitors
o Tuning Capacitors
Energy Stored in a Capacitor
A charged capacitor stores energy in its electric field. The energy (EEE) stored is given by:
1
E= C V 2
2
Where:
• E is the energy (in joules, J).

• C is the capacitance (in farads, F).
• V is the voltage across the capacitor (in volts, V).
Capacitors in Series and Parallel
1. Series Connection:
o The total capacitance decreases because the effective plate separation
increases.
1 1 1 1
o Formula: = + + …
Ct C1 C2 C3
2. Parallel Connection:
o The total capacitance increases because the effective plate area increases.
o Formula: C t =C 1 +C 2 +C 3 …
Applications of Capacitors
1. Energy Storage:
o In power supplies and batteries.
2. Filtering:
o Removing noise from signals in AC/DC circuits.
3. Timing and Oscillations:
o Used in RC circuits for generating time delays and oscillations.
4. Voltage Regulation:
o Stabilizing voltage in electronic circuits.
5. Signal Coupling and Decoupling:
o Transmitting AC signals while blocking DC.
Procedure
1. Setting Up the Series Circuit:

o Connect three capacitors (C1=10 μF, C3=22 μF, C3=33 μF) in series on the
breadboard.
o Attach the positive terminal of the power supply to one end of the series
circuit and the negative terminal to the other.
o Use the multimeter to measure the total capacitance of the circuit and
compare it with the theoretical value:
1 1 1 1
= + + …
Ct C1 C2 C3
o Charge the circuit using the power supply and measure the voltage across
each capacitor. Verify that the sum of the voltages equals the supply
voltage.
2. Setting Up the Parallel Circuit:
o Connect the same three capacitors (C1=10 μF, C3=22 μF, C3=33 μF) in
parallel on the breadboard.
o Connect the power supply across the parallel network.
o Use the multimeter to measure the total capacitance of the circuit and
compare it with the theoretical value:
Ct =C 1+C 2 +C 3 …
o Charge the circuit and measure the voltage across each capacitor. Verify
that the voltage is the same for all capacitors.
Diagram:
Results:
For Parallel
For Series
Conclusion
The experiment successfully demonstrated the behavior of capacitors in series and parallel
configurations. The measured values of capacitance and voltage distribution closely
matched theoretical predictions, validating the equations for series and parallel capacitance.
Precautions:
Correct Polarity:
Handle Capacitors with Care:
Ensure Proper Connections:
Use Appropriate Measuring Tools:
Discharge Capacitors Before Handling:

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APPLIED PHYSICS LAB

Construction Of Series And Parallel Circuits Using

Department of Computer Sciences

Enrollment No: 01-136242-016

• C is the capacitance (in farads, F).

1. Area of the Plates (A): Larger plate area increases capacitance.

The formula for calculating capacitance is:

• ϵ ¿ ϵ 0 . ϵ r is the permittivity of the dielectric material (ϵ 0 epsilon is the permittivity

Energy Stored in a Capacitor

• E is the energy (in joules, J).

1. Setting Up the Series Circuit:

Handle Capacitors with Care:

Ensure Proper Connections:

Use Appropriate Measuring Tools:

Discharge Capacitors Before Handling:

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