Chapter 24

Capacitance and
Dielectrics
EVC - Phys 4B DP Vu
Capacitors
Capacitors are devices that store electric charge
Capacitor symbol:
The capacitance, C, of a capacitor is defined as the ratio
of the magnitude of the charge Q on either conductor to
the potential difference AV between the conductors


The SI unit of capacitance is one farad (F)
1 farad = 1 coulomb/volt
The Farad is a large unit, typically you will see F and pF
V
Q
C
A

EVC - Phys 4B DP Vu
Makeup of a Capacitor
A capacitor consists of two conductors
When the conductors are charged, they carry
charges of equal magnitude and opposite signs
A potential difference exists between the
conductors due to the charge
Assume a spherical charged conductor
Assume V = 0 at infinity


Note: C of a charged conductor is
independent of the charge and the
potential difference
4
/
o
e e
Q Q R
C R
V k Q R k
tc = = = =
A
EVC - Phys 4B DP Vu

Parallel Plate Capacitor
Most common type of capacitor, consisting
of two conducting plates, parallel to each
other and separated by a distance d small
compared with the linear dimension of the
plates
Each plate connected to a terminal of the
battery acquires a charge of magnitude Q
The charge density on the plates is o = Q/A
The battery establishes an uniform electric
field between the plates and zero elsewhere
c
0
= 8.8510
-12
F/m or C
2
/Nm
2
d
A
d
A
Q
Q
C
Ed
Q
V
Q
C
0
0
c
c
= =
=
A
=
EVC - Phys 4B DP Vu
Parallel Plate Assumptions
The assumption that the electric field is uniform is valid in
the central region, but not at the ends of the plates
If the separation between the plates is small compared with
the length of the plates, the effect of the non-uniform field
can be ignored
EVC - Phys 4B DP Vu
Capacitance of a
Cylindrical Capacitor
From Gauss Law, the field
between the cylinders is
E = 2 k
e
/ r
AV = -2 k
e
ln (b/a)
The capacitance becomes


( )
2 ln
e
Q
C
b
V
k
a
= =
A
EVC - Phys 4B DP Vu
Capacitors in Parallel
When capacitors are first connected in the
circuit, electrons are transferred from the left
plates through the battery to the right plate,
leaving the left plate positively charged and
the right plate negatively charged
The flow of charges ceases when the
voltage across the capacitors equals that of
the battery
The capacitors reach their maximum charge
when the flow of charge ceases
The total charge is equal to the sum of the
charges on the capacitors
Q = Q
1
+ Q
2

EVC - Phys 4B DP Vu
Capacitors in Parallel
The potential difference across the
capacitors is the same
And each is equal to the voltage of the
battery
The capacitors can be replaced with
one capacitor with a capacitance C
eq

The equivalent capacitor must have
exactly the same external effect on the
circuit as the original capacitors
Q
1
=C
1
V and Q
2
=C
2
V
Q = Q
1
+ Q
2
= C
1
V + C
2
V = (C
1
+C
2
)V
C
eq
= C
1
+ C
2
+

EVC - Phys 4B DP Vu
Capacitors in Series
When a positive potential difference V
ab
is
applied between points a and b, the
capacitors become charged; the
magnitude of the charge is the same on
all conductors.
When the top plate of C
1
acquires a
charge +Q, its electric field pulls ve
charge Q to the bottom plate of C
1
this
leaves the top plate of C
2
with a charge
+Q since these two plates connected at c
form an isolated conductor. This +ve
charge pulls a ve charge Q from the
connection at b

EVC - Phys 4B DP Vu
Capacitors in Series
V
ac
= V
1
=Q/C
1
and V
cb
= V
2
=Q/C
2

V
ab
= V = V
1
+V
2
=Q/C
1
+Q/C
2
=Q(1/C
1
+1/C
2
)
V/Q = 1/C
eq
= 1/C
1
+1/C
2

The equivalent capacitance of a series
combination is always less than any
individual capacitor in the combination
EVC - Phys 4B DP Vu
Equivalent
Capacitance, Example
The 1.0F and 3.0F are in parallel as are the 6.0F and
2.0F
These parallel combinations are in series with the
capacitors next to them
The series combinations are in parallel and the final
equivalent capacitance can be found
EVC - Phys 4B DP Vu
Energy Stored in a Capacitor
Assume the capacitor is being charged and, at
some point, has a charge q on it
The work needed to transfer a charge dq from one
plate to the other is

The total work required is
The work done in charging the capacitor appears as
electric potential energy U


q
dW Vdq dq
C
= A =
2
0
2
Q
q Q
W dq
C C
= =
}
2
2
1 1
( )
2 2 2
Q
U Q V C V
C
= = A = A
EVC - Phys 4B DP Vu
Energy
The energy can be considered to be stored in
the electric field
For a parallel plate capacitor, the energy can
be expressed in terms of the field as U =
(c
o
A/d)(E
2
d
2
) = (c
o
Ad)E
2

It can also be expressed in terms of the
energy density (energy per unit volume)
u
E
= U/V = U/Ad = () c
o
E
2
EVC - Phys 4B DP Vu
Capacitors with Dielectrics
A dielectric is an insulating material that, when placed between
the plates of a capacitor, increases the capacitance
Dielectrics include rubber, plastic, or waxed paper
With a dielectric, C = C
o

The capacitance is multiplied by the factor when the
dielectric completely fills the region between the plates
For a parallel plate capacitor, this becomes C=
o
(A/d)
In practice, d is limited by the electric discharge that could
occur though the dielectric medium separating the plates
For a given d, the maximum voltage that can be applied to a
capacitor without causing a discharge depends on the dielectric
strength of the material
EVC - Phys 4B DP Vu
Dielectrics
Dielectrics provide the following advantages
Increase in capacitance (k)
Increase the maximum operating voltage
Possible mechanical support between the plates
This allows the plates to be close together without
touching
This decreases d and increases C
EVC - Phys 4B DP Vu
Dielectrics An Atomic View
The molecules that make up the
dielectric are modeled as dipoles
The molecules are randomly
oriented in the absence of an
electric field
An external electric field is applied
This produces a torque on the
molecules
The molecules partially align with
the electric field
EVC - Phys 4B DP Vu
Dielectrics An Atomic View
An external field can
polarize the dielectric
whether the molecules are
polar or nonpolar
The charged edges of the
dielectric act as a second
pair of plates producing an
induced electric field in the
direction opposite the
original electric field
EVC - Phys 4B DP Vu
Table of
Some Dielectric Values
EVC - Phys 4B DP Vu
Types of Capacitors
Tubular
Metallic foil may be interlaced with thin
sheets of paper or Mylar
The layers are rolled into a cylinder to
form a small package for the capacitor
Oil Filled
Common for high voltage capacitors
A number of interwoven metallic plates
are immersed in silicon oil
EVC - Phys 4B DP Vu
Types of Capacitors
Variable
Variable capacitors
consist of two interwoven sets of metallic
plates
One plate is fixed and the other is moveable
The capacitor generally vary between 10 and
500 pF
Electrolytic
Is used to store large amounts of charge at
relatively low voltages
The electrolyte is a solution that conducts
electricity by virtue of motion of ions contained
in the solution

EVC - Phys 4B DP Vu
Exercises
C
1
=3 F, C
2
=5 F, C
3
=C
4
=6 F, V
ab
= 24V
Calculate for each capacitor Q, V and V
ad

EVC - Phys 4B DP Vu
Exercises
C
1
=C
5
=8.4 F C
1
=6.9 F, C
2
=4.6 F
C
2
=C
3
=C
4
=4.2 F V
ab
= 420 V
V
ab
= 220 V C
eq
of the network btw ab
C
eq
between ab? Q on 3 capa nearest ab
Q and V for each capa? V
cd
?
EVC - Phys 4B DP Vu
Exercises
Switch open: Charge Q
0
? Energy stored in C
1
?
Switch closed: Potential difference, charge across
each capacitor? Total energy of the system?