Final answer:
The correct method to identify the capacitance and working voltage of ceramic disk capacitors is consulting the manufacturer's manual for code number interpretation, not by measuring the physical dimensions, using a capacitance meter, or observing the color of the ceramic disk.
Step-by-step explanation:
The common method used to identify the capacitance and working voltage of ceramic disk capacitors is based on a set of code numbers. The correct approach to determine these values is Option 1: Consulting the manufacturer's manual for code number interpretation. Manufacturer's manuals or datasheets typically provide a table or a code key that translates the code written on the capacitor into its capacitance value and voltage rating. Capacitors, including ceramic disk types, are labeled with a numerical code which, when deciphered, provides the necessary information about the device's electrical characteristics. This code often indicates the capacitance in picofarads (pF), and the working voltage. Measuring physical dimensions (Option 2) or the color of the capacitor (Option 4) will not provide precise values for capacitance or voltage rating, and while a capacitance meter (Option 3) can measure capacitance, it does not determine working voltage.
Explain parallel plate capacitors and their capacitances
Parallel plate capacitors consist of two conductive plates separated by a distance and an insulating material known as a dielectric. The capacitance of a parallel plate capacitor is determined by the formula C = εA/d, where C is the capacitance, ε is the permittivity of the dielectric material, A is the area of the plates, and d is the distance between them. The capacitance indicates how much charge the capacitor can store per unit potential difference. To increase the capacitance, one could either increase the area of the plates or decrease the distance between them. Additionally, introducing a dielectric material with a higher permittivity can also increase the capacitance.
Determine capacitance given charge and voltage
Capacitance can be calculated using the relationship C = Q/V, where C is the capacitance, Q is the stored charge, and V is the voltage applied across the capacitor's plates. This relationship shows that the capacitance of a device is dependent solely on the physical configuration and the dielectric properties, and not on the applied voltage or the charge itself.