Capacitor (Project)

Project Number: 22

Description: Build the circuit shown. Set the meter (M6) to the 0.5mA setting. Flip the slide switch (S5) back and forth to charge and discharge the capacitor (C5). With the switch in position C, an electric current briefly flows from the battery into the capacitor to charge it up, as shown by the meter. With the switch in position B, the energy through the capacitor discharges through the red LED (D1), which flashes. The meter only measures current in one direction, but you can flip it around to measure the discharge current.

Snappy: Capacitors store energy in an electric field between metal plates, with a small separation between them. This electric field is similar to the magnetic field of a magnet. Compared to batteries (which store energy as separated chemicals), capacitors can only store mall amounts of energy, but they can release it quickly, can be made in many sizes, and are [Discontinued]