Parallel Plate Capacitor - Dielectric Oscillator

[connorb1542]

In my high school calculus-based electricity class two students and I are trying to create a demo where we set up a parallel plate capacitor and have some dielectric material inside it that we can pull out slightly, and have it oscillate into and out of the capacitor.

Some ideas we have already:
Two aluminum plates hooked up to a battery as our capacitor
Styrofoam as dielectric material (lightweight)
Maybe use some string to make it like a pendulum?

Any ideas or advice on how to construct would be greatly appreciated

 

[MagnetDave]

Styrofoam has a dielectric constant that is very close to 1 (being a large volume fraction air). So, it really won't do much. Most plastics have dielectric constants between 2 and 5, so I would recommend something more interesting. ceramics can be more interesting, as could ice.

Second item: be sure to calculate the capacitance of your capacitor. You really want the thinnest gap you can manage.

 

[connorb1542]

The thing with ceramics and similar substances is that I'm afraid they'll be too heavy to oscillate.

 

[connorb1542]

Also, what is a good capacitance to shoot for- that is, the one that would yield the best results? Is the nanofarad range a good goal?

 

[sardar]

.

I am excited to hear about your project! A parallel plate capacitor with a dielectric oscillator is a great way to demonstrate the principles of capacitance and oscillation in a hands-on way. Your ideas of using aluminum plates and Styrofoam as the dielectric material are excellent choices.

To construct your demo, I would suggest using a sturdy base or frame to hold the two aluminum plates parallel to each other. You can then attach the plates to a battery to create the capacitor. Next, attach a small piece of string to the center of the top plate and attach the other end of the string to the bottom plate. This will create a pendulum-like motion when the dielectric material is inserted and removed from the capacitor.

To make the oscillator, you can attach a small piece of Styrofoam to the end of the string. As the dielectric material moves in and out of the capacitor, the Styrofoam will act as a weight and cause the string to oscillate. You can adjust the length of the string to change the frequency of the oscillation.

One important thing to keep in mind is to make sure the plates are properly insulated and there are no gaps between the plates and the dielectric material. This will ensure accurate results and prevent any interference from external factors.

I also suggest experimenting with different dielectric materials to see how they affect the oscillation. You can also try changing the distance between the plates or the voltage of the battery to observe how these factors affect the capacitance and oscillation.

Overall, your project sounds like a great way to apply the concepts you have learned in your electricity class. I hope my suggestions help and I wish you all the best in constructing your demo!