12th Grade Capacitors Lesson Plan (Science)

Topic: Capacitors

Objectives & Outcomes

• To understand the components, types of capacitors, and how a capacitor is charged.

Materials

• Capacitor kit (can be purchased from a hardware store or online)
• Schematics or images of different types of capacitors (e.g. ceramic, electrolytic, aluminum)
• Clips or alligator leads for connecting the capacitor to a power source
• Multimeter for measuring the voltages across the different types of capacitors

Warm-up

• Begin the lesson by explaining what a capacitor is and its basic function. A capacitor is a device that is used to store electric charge. It is typically made of two conductive plates separated by an insulator, and is used to store energy in the form of an electric field.

Direct Instruction

• Next, demonstrate how to construct a simple capacitor using two metal plates, an insulator, and a conductive wire. Explain how to charge the capacitor by connecting the positive and negative terminals of a battery to the plates, and how to measure the charge on the capacitor using a voltmeter.
• Next, introduce the different types of capacitors. These include ceramic, aluminum electrolytic, and film capacitors. Briefly explain the differences between them, including their construction and the range of voltages they can handle.
• Finally, explain how a capacitor is charged and discharged. A capacitor is charged by connecting the positive terminal of a voltage source to one of the plates, and the negative terminal to the other plate. Once the voltage across the capacitor reaches the voltage rating, it is said to be fully charged. A capacitor can be discharged by connecting the positive and negative terminals of the voltage source in reverse. This causes the electric charge on the capacitor to flow out of one plate and into the other, and the voltage across the capacitor to decrease.

Guided Practice

• Give the students a set of capacitors, and have them work in pairs to construct their own capacitors using the provided materials.
• Have the students charge their capacitors using a battery, and measure the charge using a voltmeter.
• Next, have the students disch

er their capacitors using a resistor, and measure the amount of charge that has been lost.

• Finally, have the students use their measurements to calculate the capacitance of their capacitors.Independent Practice
• Have the students work in groups to design and build a capacitor-based circuit.
• The circuit should include at least one LED, one resistor, and one capacitor, and should be able to demonstrate the principles of capacitance and capacitor charging.
• Have the students present their circuits to the class and explain how their circuits function.

Closure

• Review the main points of the lesson: the basic components of a capacitor-based circuit, the principles of capacitance and capacitor charging, and the process of measuring capacitance.
• Ask the students to share something they found interesting or surprising about capacitors.
• Encourage the students to continue researching capacitors on their own and to share any new findings with the class.

Assessment:

• Observe the students during the guided practice activity and take note of their understanding of the materials.
• Collect and grade the students' independent practice reports for accuracy and understanding of the material.
• Administer a brief multiple-choice quiz to assess the students' understanding of the concepts covered in the lesson.