Results
The dielectric constant as determined by the method below is: 2.6.
2.6 is the capacitance of the lucite capacitor (0.053 nF) divided by the
capacitance of the air capacitor (0.020 nF).
The test was made using a parallel plate capacitor where the plates
were aluminum of dimensions .8mm x 101.6mm x 101.6mm. The spacing
between the plates was 5mm. To calculate the dielectric constant
two capacitors were made: one with lucite for the dielectric,
the other with air for the dielectric. The dimensions of the lucite was
122mm x 122mm x 5mm. The air gap for the air capacitor was 5mm. The
capacitance of each was measured using the capacitance measuring feature
of a Fluke 187 True RMS Multimeter. The measurements made are
detailed in the pictures below.
Lucite capacitor
Capacitance on meter when not measuring capacitor is 0.077 nF.
The meter was then zeroed (put in Relative
mode) so that it would automatically subtract 0.077 nF from the measurements
it makes.
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The measurement varied at different points from 0.052 nF...
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... to 0.053 nF. Most were 0.053 nF.
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Air capacitor
Capacitance on meter when not measuring capacitor is 0.077 nF.
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The measurement varied at different points from 0.020 nF...
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... to 0.021 nF. Most were 0.020 nF.
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Construction
The labels that were attached to the lucite acrylic.
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