Contextualization

The world around us is electrified, and often we do not realize it. From the functioning of our brain to the electronic devices we use daily, electricity is a fundamental part of our lives. One of the most intriguing and fundamental properties of the electric field is Capacitance - a measure of the amount of charge an object can store per unit of electric voltage.

Capacitance is a central concept in the study of Physics, especially in electricity and magnetism. An object that can store electric charge has a certain Capacitance. For example, capacitors are electronic components that store electric charge, and they are classified by their Capacitance.

Introduction to the Project

Understanding Capacitance is essential for those who seek to understand more about the physical phenomena related to electricity. Therefore, in this project, we will explore not only the theory behind Capacitance but also carry out a practical and engaging experiment that will help solidify your knowledge of this important concept.

The theory may seem abstract at first glance, but your understanding will become more concrete when you see it applied in context. Through this project, we bring the concept of Capacitance to the real world and show how it is relevant in our daily lives.

Practical Activity

Activity Title: "Training in Capacitance: Building a Homemade Capacitor"

Project Objective:

This project aims to provide students with a deep and practical understanding of the concept of capacitance and discuss its application in electronic components. The project involves building a homemade capacitor and then using it in a simple circuit to observe its properties.

Detailed Project Description:

The project will be carried out by groups of 3 to 5 students and will take approximately 5 to 10 hours to complete, with a one-month deadline. Throughout the project, students will design, build, and test a homemade capacitor. This practical activity will provide students with the opportunity to apply the theory of capacitance in the construction of a real electronic component.

Required Materials:

• Two aluminum plates (about 10cm x 10cm)
• Cardboard sheet or plastic sheet (same size as the aluminum plates)
• Wires for connections
• Multimeter
• Voltage source (can be a common battery)
• Resistor
• LED

Detailed Step-by-Step for Activity Execution:

1. Understanding the Theory: Before starting the construction, students should study the concept of capacitance and the basic principles of how a capacitor works. The study resources listed above will be very useful at this stage.

2. Building the Homemade Capacitor: The aluminum plates will be used as the capacitor plates, and the cardboard or plastic sheet will act as the dielectric. Students should place the cardboard sheet (or plastic) between the aluminum plates and connect each plate to a wire.

3. Measuring Capacitance: After construction, students should use the multimeter to measure the capacitance of the homemade capacitor.

4. Capacitor Test: Once the capacitance has been measured, students should then connect the capacitor to a simple circuit with a voltage source, a resistor, and an LED to see the capacitor in action.

5. Documentation and Report: Throughout the process, students should document their activities, results, and observations. They should write a report containing Introduction, Development, Conclusion, and Bibliography used.

Project Deliverables:

After completing the practical part, each group must submit a written report with the following sections:

1. Introduction: This section should contextualize the concept of capacitance, its relevance and application in the real world, and the objective of this project.

2. Development: Here, the group should detail the theory of capacitance, explain the project activity step by step, the methodology used, and present a discussion on the results obtained.

3. Conclusion: The group should summarize the main points of the project, explaining the learnings obtained and the conclusions about the project.

4. Bibliography: The group should list the sources that were used for the project, such as books, websites, videos, etc.

The report should be clear and concise, without neglecting important details. It serves as a demonstration of teamwork, communication, time management, proactivity, and creative thinking of the students.