Lesson 6.5 • Interactive LaboratoryInteractive Simulation

Electrostatics & Capacitor Simulation Lab

Interactive 60fps dual-mode simulation: Parallel-plate capacitor lab with dielectric insertion, connected vs disconnected battery states, live energy density telemetry, and 2D electric field line & equipotential probe mapping.

Marking a lesson complete represents finishing your study of the topic; it does not denote tested mastery.

Learning Objectives

Interactively explore how changing plate area, separation, and dielectric permittivity influences capacitance, electric field, and stored charge.
Verify the contrast in energy dynamics between battery connected (constant V) and battery disconnected (constant Q) operations.
Map vector electric field directions and equipotential surfaces around multiple interacting positive and negative point charges using a live probe.

Syllabus Topic Outline

Interactive Laboratory

1Parallel plate capacitor geometry and real-time capacitance calculations
2Dielectric slab insertion physics (paper, mica, ceramic)
3Constant voltage vs constant charge circuit states
4Electric field vector grid and interactive test probe telemetry

Interactive Electrostatics & Capacitor Laboratory

Explore electric field mapping, equipotential surfaces, parallel-plate capacitor physics, dielectric polarization, and energy density.

12.0 V Battery Connected

V = 12.00 V • Q = 0.53 nC

+ + + + + + + + + +Plate 1 (+Q)

↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓

− − − − − − − − − −Plate 2 (−Q)

E = 6000 V/m • d = 2.0 mm • A = 100 cm²

Capacitor Parameters

Plate Area (A):100 cm²

Plate Separation (d):2.0 mm

Applied Battery Voltage (V):12.0 V

Dielectric Material:

Live Electrostatic Telemetry

Capacitance (C):44.27 pF

Stored Charge (Q):0.531 nC

Electric Field (E = V/d):6000 V/m

Stored Energy (U = ½CV²):3.19 nJ

Energy Density (u = ½εE²):0.159 mJ/m³

Battery Connected (V = const): Increasing distance d decreases capacitance and charge ($Q = CV$). Stored energy decreases. Inserting dielectric increases capacitance, charge, and energy.