17.

1 Capacitors
17.2 Capacitors in series and parallel
17.3 Charging and discharging of capacitors
17.4 Capacitors with dielectrics
UNIT 17
CAPACITOR
&
DIELECTRICS
(3 hours)
2
17.1 Capacitors (1/2 hour)
SUBTOPIC :
LEARNING OUTCOMES :
a) Define capacitance.

b) Use formulae

b) Calculate the capacitance of parallel plate capacitor.
At the end of this lesson, the students
should be able to :
Q
C
V
=
17.1 Capacitors
3
A capacitor , sometimes called a
condenser, is a device that can store
electric charge.
It is consists of two conducting plates
separated by a small air gap or a thin
insulator (called a dielectric such as mica,
ceramics, paper or even oil).
The electrical symbol for a capacitor is




+
or
17.1 Capacitors
4
Capacitance, C
The ability of a capacitor to store charge
is measured by its capacitance.
Capacitance is defined as the ratio of
the charge on either plate to the
potential difference between them.


V
Q
C =
charge on one of the plates : Q
potential difference across the two plates : V
17.1 Capacitors
5
The unit of capacitance is the farad (F).
1 farad is the capacitance of a capacitor if the
charge on either of the plates is 1C when the
potential difference across the capacitor is 1V.
i.e.


By rearranging the equation from the definition of
capacitance, we get

where the capacitance of a capacitor, C is constant
then
1 coulomb
1 farad=
1 volt
V
Q
C =
CV Q =
V Q
(The charges stored, Q is directly proportional to the
potential difference, V across the conducting plate.)
17.1 Capacitors
6
One farad (1F) is a very large unit.
Therefore in many applications the
most convenient units of capacitance
are microfarad and the picofarad
where the unit conversion can be
shown below :
F 10 F 1
6

=
F 10 pF 1
12

=
F 10
6
=
F 1 =
7
Parallel-plate Capacitors
A parallelplate capacitor consists of a pair of parallel
plates of area A separated by a small distance d.
If a voltage is applied to a capacitor (connected to a
battery), it quickly becomes charged.
One plate acquires a negative charge, the other an
equal amount of positive charge and the full battery
voltage appears across the plates of the capacitor
(12 V).
17.1 Capacitors
17.1 Capacitors
8
The capacitance of a parallel-plate capacitor, C is
d
A
C
0
c
=
or
d
A
C
c
=
Parallel-plate capacitor
separated by a vacuum
Parallel-plate capacitor
separated by a dielectric
material
The capacitance of a
parallel-plate
capacitor is
proportional to the
area of its plates and
inversely proportional
to the plate
separation
0
permittivity of free space :
area of the plate : A
distance between the two plates : d
c
0
= 8.85 x 10
-12
C
2
N
-1
m
-2

17.1 Capacitors
9
Example 17.1
a) Calculate the capacitance of a capacitor
whose plates are 20 cm x 3.0 cm and are
separated by a 1.0-mm air gap.
b) What is the charge on each plate if the
capacitor is connected to a 12-V battery?
c) What is the electric field between the
plates?
17.1 Capacitors
10
Example 17.2

An electric field of 2.80 x 10
5
V m
-1
is
desired between two parallel plates each
of area 21.0 cm
2
and separated by 0.250
cm of air. Find the charge on each plate.
(Given permittivity of free space, c
0
= 8.85
x 10
-12
C
2
N
-1
m
-2
)
17.1 Capacitors
11
Exercise
The plates of a parallel-plate capacitor are 8.0
mm apart and each has an area of 4.0 cm
2
.
The plates are in vacuum. If the potential
difference across the plates is 2.0 kV,
determine
a) the capacitance of the capacitor.
b) the amount of charge on each plate.
c) the electric field strength was produced.
-13
4.42 x 10 F @ 0.44 pF C =
-10
8.84 x 10 C Q =
5 -1 -1
2.50 x 10 N C @V m E =
12
17.2 Capacitors in series and parallel
(1hour)
SUBTOPIC :
LEARNING OUTCOMES :
a) Deduce and use the effective
capacitance of capacitors in series
and parallel.
b) Derive and use equation of energy
stored in a capacitor.
At the end of this lesson, the
students should be able to :
17.2 Capacitors in series and parallel
V
+Q
- Q
C
eq
,V
equivalent to
Figure above shows 3 capacitors connected in
series to a battery of voltage, V.
When the circuit is completed, the electron from
the battery (-Q) flows to one plate of C
3
and this
plate become negatively charge.
V
1
V
2
V
3

Q
1
Q
2
Q
3

Capacitors connected in series
17.2 Capacitors in series and parallel
This negative charge induces a charge +Q on the
other plate of C
3
because electrons on one plate of C
3

are repelled to the plate of C
2
. Hence this plate is
charged Q, which induces a charge +Q on the other
plate of C
2
.
This in turn produces a charge Q on one plate of C
1

and a charge of +Q on the other plate of of capacitor
C
1
.
Hence the charges on all the three capacitors are the
same, Q.
The potential difference across capacitor C
1
,C
2
and
C
3
are
;
1 1
1
1
C
Q
C
Q
V = = ;
2 2
2
2
C
Q
C
Q
V = =
3 3
3
3
C
Q
C
Q
V = =
17.2 Capacitors in series and parallel
The total potential difference V is given by
If C
eq
is the equivalent capacitance, then
3 2 1
V V V V + + =
3 2 1
C
Q
C
Q
C
Q
V + + =
3 2 1
C
1
C
1
C
1
Q
V
+ + =
1 2 3
1 1 1 1 1
...
eq n
C C C C C
= + + +
Therefore the equivalent (effective)
capacitance C
eq
for n capacitors connected
in series is given by
capacitors
connected in
series
17.2 Capacitors in series and parallel
Capacitors connected in parallel
V
+Q
-Q
C
eq
,V
equivalent to
Figure above shows 3 capacitors connected in parallel
to a battery of voltage V.
When three capacitors are connected in parallel to a
battery, the capacitors are all charged until the potential
differences across the capacitors are the same.
17.2 Capacitors in series and parallel
If not, the charge will flow from the capacitor of
higher potential difference to the other capacitors
until they all have the same potential difference, V.
The potential difference across each capacitor is
the same as the supply voltage V.
Thus the total potential difference (V) on the
equivalent capacitor is


The charge on each capacitor is
3 2 1
V V V V = = =
17
1 1 1 1
Q CV CV = =
2 2 2 2
Q C V C V = =
V C V C Q
3 3 3 3
= =
17.2 Capacitors in series and parallel
The total charge is
and
3 2 1
Q Q Q Q + + =
V C V C V C Q
3 2 1
+ + =
3 2 1
C C C
V
Q
+ + =
eq
C
V
Q
=
Therefore the equivalent (effective)
capacitance C
eq
for n capacitors connected in
parallel is given by

1 2 3
...
eq n
C C C C C = + + +
capacitors
connected in
parallel
17.2 Capacitors in series and parallel
Example 17.3
50 V
C
1
= 1F C
2
= 2F
In the circuit shown above, calculate the
a)charge on each capacitor
b)equivalent capacitance



17.2 Capacitors in series and parallel
Example 17.4
In the circuit shown below, calculate the
a) equivalent capacitance
b) charge on each capacitor
c) the pd across each capacitor








1 2
1 2
50
V V V
V V
+ =
+ =
50 V
C
1
= 1F C
2
= 2F
V
1
V
2

17.2 Capacitors in series and parallel
Example 17.5
In the circuit shown below, calculate the
a) equivalent capacitance
b) charge on each capacitor
c) the pd across each capacitor
12 V
C
1
= 6.0F
C
2
= 4.0F
V
1

V
2
=V
3

C
3
= 8.0F
12 V
C
1
= 6.0F C
23
= 12.0F
V
1
V
2

17.2 Capacitors in series and parallel
Example 17.6
Find the equivalent capacitance
between points a and b for the group of
capacitors connected as shown in
figure below.
Take
C
1
= 5.00 F,
C
2
= 10.0 F
C
3
= 2.00 F.
17.2 Capacitors in series and parallel
Solution 17.6
C
1
= 5.00 F, C
2
= 10.0 F and C
3
= 2.00 F.
Series b Series a
parallel
C
12
C
12

C
22

17.2 Capacitors in series and parallel
Solution 17.6
C
1
= 5.00 F, C
2
= 10.0 F and C
3
= 2.00 F.
b
a
C
12
C
12

C
3

C
22

Parallel
C
a

17.2 Capacitors in series and parallel
Solution 17.6
b
a
C
a

C
22

series
C
eq

17.2 Capacitors in series and parallel
Example 17.7
Determine the equivalent capacitance of the
configuration shown in figure below. All the
capacitors are identical and each has
capacitance of 1 F.
1 F
1 F
1 F
1 F
1 F
1 F
17.2 Capacitors in series and parallel
Solution 17.7
1 F
1 F
1 F
1 F
1 F
1 F
C
a

series
C
a
1 F
1 F
1 F
series
C
b
17.2 Capacitors in series and parallel
Solution 17.7
parallel
Ceq
C
b
1 F
17.2 Capacitors in series and parallel
Exercise
C
2
a
C
1
C
3
b
d
1. In the circuit shown in figure above, C
1
= 2.00
F, C
2
= 4.00 F and C
3
= 9.00 F. The applied
potential difference between points a and b is V
ab

= 61.5 V. Calculate
a) the charge on each capacitor.
b) the potential difference across each capacitor.
c) the potential difference between points a and d.
3
221 Q C =
C 147 Q
2
=
1
73 8 . Q C =
V 6 24 V
3
. =
V 9 36 V V
2 1
. = =
36 9 .
ad
V V =
17.2 Capacitors in series and parallel
2. Four capacitors are connected as shown in
figure below.
Calculate
a) the equivalent capacitance between points a
and b.
b) the charge on each capacitor if V
ab
=15.0 V.
5.96 F, 89.5 C on 20 F, 63.2 C on 6 F,
26.3 C on 15 F and on 3 F.
17.2 Capacitors in series and parallel
3. A 3.00-F and a 4.00-F capacitor are
connected in series and this combination is
connected in parallel with a 2.00-F capacitor.
a) What is the net capacitance?
b) If 26.0 V is applied across the whole
network, calculate the voltage across each
capacitor.
3.71-F, 26.0 V,
14.9 V, 11.1 V
17.2 Capacitors in series and parallel
Energy stored in a capacitor, U
A charged capacitor stores electrical energy.
The energy stored in a capacitor will be equal to the
work done to charge it.
A capacitor does not become charged instantly. It
takes time.
Initially, when the capacitor is uncharged , it requires
no work to move the first bit of charge over.
When some charge is on each plate, it requires work
to add more charge of the same sign because of the
electric repulsion.
The work needed to add a small amount of charge dq,
when a potential difference V is across the plates is,
dW Vdq =
17.2 Capacitors in series and parallel
Since V=q/C at any moment , where C is the
capacitance, the work needed to store a total charge Q is
0
0
2
0
2
1
1
2
1
2
Q
Q
Q
W Vdq
W qdq
C
q
W
C
Q
W
C
=
=
(
=
(

=
}
}
Thus the energy stored in a
capacitor is
2
1
2
Q
W U
C
= =
2
CV
2
1
U =
QV
2
1
U =
or
or
17.2 Capacitors in series and parallel
Example 17.8
A camera flash unit stores energy in
a 150 F capacitor
at 200 V. How much energy can be
stored?
17.2 Capacitors in series and parallel
Example 17.9
A 2 F capacitor is charged to 200V
using a battery.
Calculate the
a)charge delivered by the battery
b)energy supplied by the battery.
c)energy stored in the capacitor.
17.2 Capacitors in series and parallel
Exercise
Two capacitors, C
1
= 3.00 F and C
2
= 6.00 F are
connected in series and charged with a 4.00 V
battery as shown in figure below.




Calculate
a) the total capacitance for the circuit above.
b) the charge on each capacitor.
c) the potential difference across each capacitor.
d) the energy stored in each capacitor.
e) the area of the each plate in capacitor C
1
if the
distance between two plates is 0.01 mm and the
region between plates is vacuum.
1
C
4.00 V
2
C
2.00 F
8.00 C
V
1
= 2.67 V, V
2
= 1.33 V
U
1
= 1.07 x 10
-5
J, U
2
= 5.31 x 10
-6
J
3.39 m
2
37
SUBTOPIC :
LEARNING OUTCOMES :
a) Define and use time constant, = RC.
b) Sketch and explain the characteristics of Q-t and I-t
graph for charging and discharging of a capacitor.
c) Use formula for discharging and
for charging.
At the end of this lesson, the students should
be able to :
17.3 Charging and discharging of
capacitors (1 hour)
/ t RC
o
Q Q e

=
1
/
( )
t RC
o
Q Q e

=
17.3 Charging and discharging of capacitors
Charging a capacitor through a resistor
0
V
R
+ + +

S , switch
C
A
B
+ + +

e
Figure below shows a simple circuit for charging a
capacitor.
When the switch S is closed, current I
o
immediately
begins to flow through the circuit.
Electrons will flow out from
the negative terminal of the
battery, through the resistor
R and accumulate on the
plate B of the capacitor.
Then electrons will flow into
the positive terminal of the
battery, leaving a positive
charge on the plate A.
17.3 Charging and discharging of capacitors
As charge accumulates on the capacitor,
the potential difference across it
increases and the current is reduced until
eventually the maximum voltage across
the capacitor equals the voltage supplied
by the battery, V
o
.
At this time, no further current flows (I =
0) through the resistor R and the charge Q
on the capacitor thus increases gradually
and reaches a maximum value Q
o
.
0
0
Q
time s , ( ) t
Charge C , ( ) Q
0
Q 63 0.
RC =
0
0
I
time s , ( ) t
Current A , ( ) I
0
I 37 0.
RC =
The charge on the capacitor
increases exponentially with time
The current through the resistor
decreases exponentially with time
Charge on charging
capacitor :
|
|
.
|

\
|
=

RC
t
0
e 1 Q Q
Current in resistor :
RC
t
0
e I I

=
where
0
maximum charge : Q
maximum current :
o
I
resistance of the resistor : R
capacitance of the capacitor : C
17.3 Charging and discharging of capacitors
Discharging a capacitor through a resistor
R
+ + +

S , switch
C
A
B
+ + +

e
Figure below shows a simple circuit for
discharging a capacitor.
0
V
When a capacitor is already
charged to a voltage V
o
and it
is allowed to discharge
through the resistor R as
shown in figure below.
When the switch S is closed,
electrons from plate B begin
to flow through the resistor R
and neutralizes positive
charges at plate A.
17.3 Charging and discharging of capacitors
Initially, the potential difference (voltage)
across the capacitor is maximum, V
0
and
then a maximum current I
0
flows through
the resistor R.
When part of the positive charges on
plate A is neutralized by the electrons,
the voltage across the capacitor is
reduced.
The process continues until the current
through the resistor is zero.
At this moment, all the charges at plate
A is fully neutralized and the voltage
across the capacitor becomes zero.
17.3 Charging and discharging of capacitors
0
0
Q
time s , ( ) t
Charge C , ( ) Q
0
Q 37 0.
RC =
0
0
I
time s , ( ) t
Current A , ( ) I
0
I 37 0.
RC =
The charge on the capacitor
decreases exponentially with time.
The current through the resistor
decreases exponentially with time.
Charge on discharging
capacitor :
Current in resistor :
RC
t
0
e Q Q

=
RC
t
0
e I I

=
The negative sign indicates that as the capacitor discharges, the
current direction opposite its direction when the capacitor was
being charged.
For calculation of current in discharging process, ignore the
negative sign in the formula.
17.3 Charging and discharging of capacitors
Time constant, t
It is a measure of how quickly the capacitor
charges or discharges.
Its formula, .
Its unit is second (s).
RC = t
Charging process
The time constantt is defined as the time required for the
capacitor to reach 0.63 or 63% of its maximum charge (Q
o
).
The time constantt is defined as the time required for the
current to drop to 0.37 or 37% of its initial value(I
0
).
|
|
.
|

\
|
=

RC
t
0
e 1 Q Q
when t=RC
( )
0
1
1 0 37
0 63
.
.
RC
RC
o
o
Q Q e
Q Q
Q Q
| |
=
|
\ .
=
=
RC
t
0
e I I

=
0
0 37 .
RC
RC
o
I I e
I I

=
=
when t=RC
17.3 Charging and discharging of capacitors
RC
t
0
e I I

=
0
0 37 .
RC
RC
o
I I e
I I

=
=
when t=RC
Discharging process
The time constantt is defined as the time required for
the charge on the capacitor/current in the resistor
decrease to 0.37 or 37% of its initial value.
0
t
RC
Q Q e

=
0
0 37 .
RC
RC
o
Q Q e
Q Q

=
=
when t=RC
17.3 Charging and discharging of capacitors
Example 17.10
Consider the circuit shown in figure below, where C
1
=
6.00 F, C
2
= 3.00 F and V = 20.0 V.
Capacitor C
1
is first charged by the closing of switch S
1
.
Switch S
1
is then opened, and the charged capacitor is
connected to the uncharged capacitor by the closing of
S
2
. Calculate the initial charge acquired by C
1
and the
final charge on each capacitor.
17.3 Charging and discharging of capacitors
Solution 17.10
17.3 Charging and discharging of capacitors
Solution 17.10
17.3 Charging and discharging of capacitors
Example 17.11
In the RC circuit shown in figure below, the battery has
fully charged the capacitor.





Then at t = 0 s the switch S is thrown from position a to
b. The battery voltage is 20.0 V and the capacitance C
= 1.02 F. The current I is observed to decrease to 0.50
of its initial value in 40 s. Determine
a. the value of R.
b. the time constant, t
b. the value of Q, the charge on the capacitor at t = 0.
c. the value of Q at t = 60 s
C
R
0
V
S
b
a
17.3 Charging and discharging of capacitors
Solution 17.11
17.3 Charging and discharging of capacitors
51
SUBTOPIC :
LEARNING OUTCOMES :
a) Define dielectric constant.

b) Describe the effect of dielectric on a parallel
plate capacitor.

c) Use formula
At the end of this lesson, the students should
be able to :
17.4 Capacitors with dielectrics
r o
C C = c
17.4 Capacitors with dielectrics
A dielectric is an insulating material.
Hence no free electrons are available in it.
When a dielectric (such as rubber,
plastics, ceramics, glass or waxed paper) is
inserted between the plates of a capacitor,
the capacitance increases.
The capacitance increases by a factor k or
c
r
which is called the dielectric constant
(relative permittivity) of the material.
17.4 Capacitors with dielectrics
Two types of dielectric :
i) non-polar dielectric
For an atom of non-polar dielectric, the center of the
negative charge of the electrons coincides with the
center of the positive charge of the nucleus.
* It does not become a permanent dipole.
ii) polar dielectric
* Consider the molecule of waters.
* Its two positively charge hydrogen ions are attracted
to a negatively charged oxygen ion.
* Such an arrangement of ions causes the center of the
negative charge to be permanently separated slightly
away from the center of the positive charge, thus
forming a permanent dipole.
+
+
- - +
Dielectric constant, k (c
r
) is defined as the ratio
between the capacitance of given capacitor with
space between plates filled with dielectric, C with
the capacitance of same capacitor with plates in a
vacuum, C
0
.
0
r
C
C
c =
d
A
C =
d
A
C
0
0
c
=
0
r
A
d
A
d
| |
|
\ .
c =
| |
|
\ .
0
0
or
r r

c = = c
permittivity of dielectric material : c
17.4 Capacitors with dielectrics
0
r
C
C
c =
From the definition of the capacitance,

V
Q
C =
0
0
V
Q
C =
and
Q is constant
0
r
V
V
c =
where
0
potential difference across capacitor in vacuum : V
potential difference across capacitor with dielectric : V
From the relationship between E and V for uniform
electric field,
Ed V =
d E V
0 0
=
and
0
r
E d
Ed
c =
0
r
E
E
c =
0
electric field strength of the capacitor in vacuum : E
where
electric field strength of the capacitor with dielectric : E
17.4 Capacitors with dielectrics
Material
Dielectric constant,
r

Dielectric Strength
(10
6
V m
-1
)
Air 1.00059 3
Mylar 3.2 7
Paper 3.7 16
Silicone oil 2.5 15
Water 80 -
Teflon 2.1 60
The dielectric strength is the maximum
electric field before dielectric breakdown
(charge flow) occurs and the material
becomes a conductor.
0 0
0 0
r
V E C
C V E
c
c = = = =
c
17.4 Capacitors with dielectrics
Example17.12
A parallel-plate capacitor has plates of area A =
2x10
-10
m
2
and separation d = 1 cm. The
capacitor is charged to a potential difference V
0
=
3000 V. Then the battery is disconnected and a
dielectric sheet of the same area A is placed
between the plates as shown in figure below.


dielectric
d
17.4 Capacitors with dielectrics
Example 17.12
In the presence of the dielectric, the potential difference
across the plates is reduced to 1000 V. Determine
a) the initial capacitance of the air-filled capacitor.
b) the charge on each plate before the dielectric is
inserted.
c) the capacitance after the dielectric is in place.
d) the relative permittivity.
e) the permittivity of dielectric sheet.
f) the initial electric field.
g) the electric field after the dielectric is inserted.

(Given permittivity of free space, c
0
= 8.85 x 10
-12
F m
-1
)

17.4 Capacitors with dielectrics
Solution 17.12
17.4 Capacitors with dielectrics
Dielectric effect on the parallel-plate capacitor
In part a, the region between the
charged plates is empty. The field lines
point from the positive toward the
negative plate
In part b, a dielectric has been inserted
between the plates. Because of the electric
field between the plates, the molecules of the
dielectric (whether polar or non-polar) will tend
to become oriented as shown in the figure, the
negative ends are attracted to the positive plate
and the positive ends are attracted to the
negative plate. Because of the end-to-end
orientation, the left surface of the dielectric
become negatively charged, and the right
surface become positively charged.
17.4 Capacitors with dielectrics
Because of the surface charges on the
dielectric, not all the electric field lines generated
by the charges on the plates pass through the
dielectric.
As figure c shows, some of the field lines end
on the negative surface charges and begin again
on the positive surface charges.
0
r
E
E
c =
Thus, the electric field inside the dielectric is less
strong than the electric field inside the empty
capacitor, assuming the charge on the plates remains
constant.
This reduction in the electric field is described by the
dielectric constant
r
which is the ratio of the field
magnitude E
o
without the dielectric to the field magnitude
E inside the dielectric:
17.4 Capacitors with dielectrics
Quantity Capacitor
without
dielectric
Capacitor
with
dielectric
Relationship
Electric
field
E
o
E E < E
o
Potential
difference
V
o
V

V < V
o

Charge
Q
o
Q Q = Q
o

Capacitance
C
o
C C > C
o

0 0
0 0
r
V E C
C V E
c
c = = = =
c
17.4 Capacitors with dielectrics