Dielectric constant

Item Code: SK042

Principle and Working:

The relation between capacitance C, charge Q and charging voltage E is given as C=Q/E. The capacitance of a parallel plate capacitor depends upon the distance d between the plates, area A of the plates and the nonconductive material (having dielectric constant er) between the plates. Thus capacitance is
C = er e0 A/d
Where e0 = 8.85 x 10-12 As/Vm (permittivity in free space),
... In present setup, the parallel plate are charged by 0-400 V DC power supply. The charge Q on the parallel plate is measured by electrometer amplifier as voltage. The distance between plate is adjusted by placing spacer on the edges of plate.




  • High voltage supply with safety sockets and thermal safety switch.
  • 2-12V, 5A, AC/DC power supply with thermal safety switch.
  • Multipurpose Electrometer amplifier for voltage, current and charge measurement.
  • U shaped optical rail to measure capacitance by varying distance between the plates.

  • To determine the capacitance of plate capacitor by charge measurement.
  • To measure the capacitance as a function of area of plates.
  • To measure the capacitance as a function of distance between the plates.
  • To determine the dielectric constant of different dielectric materials.
  • Electrometer Amplifier : Input Impedance >1013 Ω, Input current < 0.5pA, Output Voltage up to +10V, Output Current 5mA (SC), Output impedance < 1Ω, Supply voltage 12V AC
  • Dielectric Constant Kit : Metal Rai l L=350mm approx., Capacitor plate Al 20 x 20cm (LxW), Capacitor plate Al 28 x 28cm (LxW), Glass sheet 21cm x 21cm (LxW), Polystyrene sheet 21cm x 21cm (LxW), Two way switch 4mm socket, Capacitor 0.01μF & 0.001μF, H Spacer PVC (1,2,3,4,6 mm)
  • HV Power Supply : 220V, ± 5%, 50Hz AC, 0-600V DC, Voltage Resolution 10V, Voltage Display Analog. Short Circuit Current 100μ A
  • 1 Dielectric constant kit
  • 1 Electrometer amplifier
  • 1 Digital multimeter
  • 1 Power supply ( 2-12 V AC/DC)
  • 2 Flexible plug leads (50 cm), Black & Red
  • 1 Earthing lead (100 cm), green
  • 1 2-way switch
  • 1 Capacitor module 0.01μF
  • 1 Capacitor module 100nF
  • 1 4.7 MWResistance box
  • 2 Flexible plug leads (25 cm), Black & Red
  • 3 Flexible plug leads (50 cm), Yellow
  • 1 Flexible plug leads (100 cm), Red & Black
  • Equipotential lines
  • Electric field lines
  • Surface potential
  • Voltage
  • AC potential
  • DC potential
  • Electric flux