Physics Demo Number: 051	Approximate Run Time: 10 min
Oscillations (Ring-Up to Battery Voltage and Ring-Down to Zero Voltage)
Demo Description A capacitor , a battery and a large inductor are permanently attached to a frame on a dedicated cart. By following the procedures given below , one may show a damped RLC ring down to zero voltage across the capacitor, when one connects the charged capacitor to the inductor. One may also show a damped RLC ring up to battery voltage , when one connects the uncharged capacitor in series with the inductor and the battery.
Scientific Principles ·         Electromagnetic Ringing Oscillations ·         RLC Ringing		Â
Equipment ·         Capacitor ·         Battery ·         Demonstration LED Digital Multimeter ·         Ballast transformer on dedicated metal cart ·         Tabs 1 and 12 : for charging capacitor up to battery voltage ·         Tabs 2 and 13 : for letting the capacitor ring down to zero voltage from initial charged state ·         Tabs 1, 2, and 3 : for allowing the capacitor to ring up to battery voltage through the inductor
Equipment Location ·         The Demonstration Multimeter is in Kit (071) on [B-2-2]. ·         All other components are in Kit (051) on the dedicated cart, on the lower shelves of the cart , or permanently attached to the cart itself . ·         The dedicated cart itself lives against the wall at the end of Aisle 1.
Instructions   The first photo shows the setup with dedicated connectors, Tabs 1 and 12, for charging the capacitor up to battery voltage.   The next photo shows the setup , with Tabs 2 and 13, for ring-down of the charged capacitor from battery voltage to zero. Tabs 1,2, and 3 allow the initially uncharged capacitor to ring up to battery voltage , through the inductor. Writeup created by David A. Burba Copyright © 2013, Vanderbilt University.   All Rights Reserved.