Blank Activity Template Yellow highlight = required component
Subject Area(s) Physics
Associated Unit Circuits
Associated Lesson Capacitors
Activity Title Build Your Own Capacitor
Header
Image 1
Image file: ___?
ADA Description: ___?
Source/Rights: Copyright © ___?
Caption: ___?
Grade Level 12 (9-12)
Activity Dependency
Time Required 45 minutes
Group Size 2
Expendable Cost per Group US $ 5
Summary
Students work to build a basic capacitor by using day-to-day materials. They will learn how an
electrolytic capacitor works and how to measure capacitance.
Engineering Connection
Capacitors are one of the most widely used circuit component used by electrical engineers for
circuit design. They are used in designing circuit applications ranging from large devices such
household appliances to small device such as cell phones. The students need a strong
understanding of the working principles behind capacitors.
Engineering Category =
Engineering design process
Keywords
Capacitance, Capacitor, Salt-Water Capacitor, Dielectrics.
Educational Standards
National and State
Texas Science: Subchapter C. High School (9 - 12), Physics (9 - 12):
• (2) Scientific processes. The student uses a systematic approach to answer scientific laboratory and field
investigative questions. The student is expected to: (9 - 12)
ITEEA Educational Standard(s)
ITEEA (provide standard number, grade band, benchmark letter and text):
Version: January 2013 1
Pre-Requisite Knowledge
Learning Objectives
After this activity, students should be able to learn about:
How to build a capacitor.
To measure capacitance using multi-meter.
Materials List
Each group needs:
Warm water
Salt
Non-metallic vessel (paper cup or plastic bottle)
Aluminum or tin foil
Metal object (knife or nail)
Volt-ohm meter (optional)
Battery
To share with the entire class:
Introduction / Motivation
We are surrounded by electricity, electric and electronic devices. Capacitors are necessary components in
electronic circuit. Day-to-day electronic devices such as clocks, timers, alarms, cell phones and computers
would not be able to function without capacitors. Capacitors are mainly used for energy storage. In this
activity, you will have the opportunity to build your own capacitor and measure its capacitance.
Vocabulary / Definitions
Word Definition
Procedure
Background
Before the Activity
With the Students
1. Fill a non-metallic vessel (such as a paper cup, or a plastic bottle) with warm
saltwater. Use warm water to dissolve the salt.
2. Wrap the outside of the vessel with aluminum foil, or tin foil.
3. Place a metal object (such as a knife, a nail, etc) in the saltwater. Do not allow this
metal object to touch the foil. The foil is one terminal, and the nail is the other.
4. You can measure the capacitance of this device with a volt-ohm meter, if you have
one.
5. Charge it up, by connecting an electrical current from an ordinary household battery,
to both terminals.
6. You have a working capacitor, capable of holding an electric charge.
7. Repeat your experiment but this time increase the salt concentration.
Version: January 2013 2
Attachments
Safety Issues
Do not touch a capacitor after it has been charged by a power source, because it will shock you.
Troubleshooting Tips
Investigating Questions
Assessment
Pre-Activity Assessment
Descriptive Title: Question: Ask the students about possible uses of capacitors.
Activity Embedded Assessment
Descriptive Title: None
Post-Activity Assessment
Descriptive Title: Question: Ask the students to describe what happened to the capacitance when the salt
concentration was increased, and why it is happening.
Activity Extensions
Activity Scaling
For lower grades, ___?
For upper grades, ___?
Additional Multimedia Support
References
Other
Redirect URL
Contributors
Roberto Dimaliwat, Amin Merouane
Supporting Program
National Science Foundation GK-12 Program, University of Houston
Acknowledgements
Classroom Testing Information
Version: January 2013 3