Experiment No.

10

Object: To find the flashing and quenching potentials of Neon/Argon and also to find the
capacitance of unknown capacitor.
Apparatus Required: A condenser of unknown capacity, 3 condensers of known capacity (say
32F, 50 F, and 100 F), resistance of the order of few mega-ohm, an Neon/Argon flashing
bulb, stabilized DC power supply of 250V; one way keys as per requirement.
Procedure:
1 Draw the diagram showing the scheme of connections as in the fig. Make the
connections with all the condensers in the parallel with a separate key to operate and
high resistance R in series with the circuit containing power supply with stabilized output of 0-
250V D.C.
2 Connect the condenser C1 in the circuit by inserting K1. Also insert the key K to connect
power supply and increase the voltage till neon lamp just begins to flash. As already explained,
the bulb starts flashing and quenching as it is connected in parallel with the condenser.
Note the flashing and quenching time for 20 flashes. Take out the key K so that the power
supply is disconnected.
3 Put in the key K4 for the circuit of unknown capacity C0 so that C0 nd lamp are in parallel
with each other. Since C1 and C0 are in parallel their capacities get added up and total
capacity in parallel with the lamp is (C1 + C0). Again insert the key K and adjust the power
supply voltage again to the some value as in previous case. Note the time for 20 flashes.
Remove the key K1 and K4.
4 Now repeat the experiment with the capacity C2 alone and ( C2 + C0 ) andC3 alone
and (C3 + C0). Then repeat the experiment with known capacities ( C1 + C2 ),
( C1 + C2 + C3), ( C1 + C3 ),and ( C1 + C2 + C0), ( C1 + C3 + C0) and
( C1 + C2 + C3 + C0) each time taking the time for 20 flashes.
Result: The flashing and quenching potential of Argon/Neon bulb = .. and the capacitance of
the unknown capacitor is .
Sources of Error and Precautions:
1 Count the number of flashes very carefully.
2 Connections should be tight
3 Capacitors should always be connected parallel to the lamp.

VIVA VOCE

1 What is an Argon/Neon bulb?

2 What is the principle of Neon /Argon bulb?
3 What is flashing potential?
4 what is quenching potential?
5 Why the bulb flashes and quenches?
6 What is flashing and quenching time?
7 Why neon/argon is used in the bulb?
8 Why high resistance is needed in series with the circuit?

Figure 1
Observations:

S.No Known Capacity C Time for 20 flashes Flashing and quenching

time
Without C0 With C0 Without C0 t With C0
t0
1 C1 = F
2 C2 = F
3 C3 = F
4 (C1 + C2 ) = F
5 (C1 + C3 ) = F
6 (C1 + C2 + C3 ) = F

Calculations:

Draw two graphs on the same scale and on the graph paper. One between C and t and another
between C and t0. They will be parallel lines as shown. Now draw three lines ABC, DEF and GHK
parallel to X-axis as shown, where they cut the graphs, draw CL, BM, FN, KP, EQ and HR
parallel to Y-axis as shown. Now the unknown capacity is given by:
(a) C0 = CL CM = .. F
(b) C0 = CN CQ = .. F
(c) C0 = CP CR = .. F
Mean C0 = . F

Figure 2