Absolute power factor of air capacitors

STANDARD air capacitors are used with measuring equipment of high sensitivity for comparison with test capacitors in investigations such as the study of dielectric materials; therefore the absolute power factor of the standard should be known. In the investigation reported in this paper,^∗ seven air capacitors of different types of construction were studied. A method of determining the absolute power factor of an air capacitor was developed, and data were obtained on the effects produced by the degree of polish of the electrode surfaces, by the width of gap between the measuring electrode and its guard ring, and by the presence of water films on the plates.