Elektronika Dasar 006 Capasitor 02 Universitas Jember

Introduction

This tutorial is designed to help you understand the functioning of capacitors and how to implement them in a circuit using a project board. Capacitors are essential components in electrical and electronic circuits, and this guide is based on the lessons presented by Aris Zainul Muttaqin at Universitas Jember.

Step 1: Understanding Capacitors

• What is a Capacitor?

  • A capacitor is an electronic component that stores and releases electrical energy. It consists of two conductive plates separated by an insulating material (dielectric).

• How Does a Capacitor Work?

  • When voltage is applied across the plates, an electric field is created, allowing the capacitor to store energy. When the voltage source is removed, the capacitor can release this stored energy back into the circuit.

• Key Properties:

  • Capacitance: Measured in farads (F), it indicates the capacitor's ability to store charge.
  • Voltage Rating: The maximum voltage the capacitor can handle without breaking down.
  • Polarization: Some capacitors have polarity (e.g., electrolytic capacitors), meaning they must be connected correctly in a circuit.

Step 2: Setting Up a Circuit with a Capacitor

• Materials Needed:

  • Project board (breadboard)
  • Capacitor (choose the appropriate capacitance and voltage rating)
  • Resistor (for circuit stability)
  • Power supply (battery or DC source)
  • Connecting wires

• Circuit Assembly Steps:

  1. Place the Capacitor:

     • Insert the capacitor into the project board. Note the polarity if applicable.

  2. Connect the Resistor:

     • Connect one lead of the resistor to one terminal of the capacitor.
     • Attach the other lead of the resistor to the ground rail of the breadboard.

  3. Power Connection:

     • Connect the positive lead of the power supply to the other terminal of the capacitor.
     • Connect the negative lead of the power supply to the ground rail.

  4. Testing the Circuit:

     • Power on the circuit and observe the behavior of the capacitor.
     • You can use a multimeter to measure voltage across the capacitor or observe the charging and discharging.

Step 3: Observing Capacitor Behavior

• Charging Phase:

  • When the circuit is powered, observe how the capacitor charges. The voltage across the capacitor will increase until it reaches the power supply voltage.

• Discharging Phase:

  • Disconnect the power supply and short the capacitor using a resistor to see how it discharges. Measure the time it takes to discharge to understand the RC time constant, which is the product of resistance (R) and capacitance (C).

• Practical Tip:

  • Always use a resistor for discharging to avoid damaging the capacitor or creating a short circuit.

Conclusion

In this tutorial, we explored the basic concepts of capacitors, their functionality, and how to set up a simple circuit to observe their behavior. Understanding capacitors is crucial for anyone studying electronics. Next steps could involve experimenting with different circuit configurations or combining capacitors with other components like inductors or diodes to see their interactions in various applications.