WFU Department of Physics Wake Forest University

 

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WFU Physics Lecture Demonstrations

Short a Capacitor

PIRA 5C30.20

Image:

Photo of Demo

Description:

A large capacitor is charged through a resistor and then is shorted by touching the leads together. It gives a resounding CRACK and bright flash of light due to the quick loss of potential.

Recipe and
Location:

110V Capacitor
Power Supply
Stick with Aligator Clip
100 Ohm Resistor on Board
Leads

Video:

Streaming Video:

None

MPG Video:

None

Real Video:

None

Notes:

Charge the capacitor SLOWLY so as to not harm the power supply. Charging to about 50V gives a nice crack.

 

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100 Olin Physical Laboratory
Wake Forest University
Winston-Salem, NC 27109-7507
Phone: (336) 758-5337, FAX: (336) 758-6142
E-mail:
wfuphys@wfu.edu