24

Capacitance and
Dielectrics

J. Manuel Physics 72 2nd Sem AY13-14

24

Capacitance and Capacitors

Capacitors in Series and Parallel
Energy Storage in Capacitors and
Electric field energy
Dielectrics

Objective
1. Deduce the effects on the capacitance, charge, and potential
difference of simple capacitors (e.g. parallel-plate, spherical,
cylindrical) when the geometry, potential difference, or
charge is changed

J. Manuel Physics 72 2nd Sem AY13-14

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Capacitance and Capacitors

Capacitors in Series and Parallel
Energy Storage in Capacitors and
Electric field energy
Dielectrics

Capacitor
device that stores electric potential energy and electric charge
any two conductors separated by an insulator (or a vacuum)

in circuit diagrams
J. Manuel Physics 72 2nd Sem AY13-14

Capacitance and Capacitors

Capacitors in Series and Parallel
Energy Storage in Capacitors and
Electric field energy
Dielectrics

24
Capacitance

measure of the ability of a capacitor to store energy

+Q
Vab
-Q
SI unit of Capacitance:

1 F = 1 Farad = 1 C/V = 1 Coulomb/Volt

J. Manuel Physics 72 2nd Sem AY13-14

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Capacitance and Capacitors

Capacitors in Series and Parallel
Energy Storage in Capacitors and
Electric field energy
Dielectrics

Capacitors in Vacuum: Parallel-Plate Capacitor

J. Manuel Physics 72 2nd Sem AY13-14

Capacitance and Capacitors

Capacitors in Series and Parallel
Energy Storage in Capacitors and
Electric field energy
Dielectrics

24
Important points:

The capacitance C depends only on the geometry of the

capacitor
It depends on A and d only.

In vacuum, the capacitance C is a constant independent

of the charge on the capacitor or the potential difference
between plates.

J. Manuel Physics 72 2nd Sem AY13-14

Capacitance and Capacitors

Capacitors in Series and Parallel
Energy Storage in Capacitors and
Electric field energy
Dielectrics

24
Example:

A capacitor has vacuum in the space between the

conductors. If you double the amount of charge on
each conductor. What happens to the capacitance?
A. It is doubled.
B. It is halved.
C. It remains the same.
D. It becomes zero.
J. Manuel Physics 72 2nd Sem AY13-14

24

Capacitance and Capacitors

Capacitors in Series and Parallel
Energy Storage in Capacitors and
Electric field energy
Dielectrics

Capacitors in Vacuum: Spherical Capacitor

Capacitance of a spherical capacitor

J. Manuel Physics 72 2nd Sem AY13-14

24

Capacitance and Capacitors

Capacitors in Series and Parallel
Energy Storage in Capacitors and
Electric field energy
Dielectrics

Capacitors in Vacuum: Cylindrical Capacitor

Capacitance of a cylindrical capacitor

J. Manuel Physics 72 2nd Sem AY13-14

24

Capacitance and Capacitors

Capacitors in Series and Parallel
Energy Storage in Capacitors and
Electric field energy
Dielectrics

Objectives
1. Calculate the equivalent capacitance of a network of capacitors
connected in series/parallel
2. Given capacitors connected in series/parallel, determine the
total charge, the charge on, and the potential difference
across each capacitor in the network

J. Manuel Physics 72 2nd Sem AY13-14

10

Capacitance and Capacitors

Capacitors in Series and Parallel
Energy Storage in Capacitors and
Electric field energy
Dielectrics

24
Capacitors in Series

Same charge Q for both.

Their potential differences add:
Vac + Vcb = Vab

Equivalent capacitance of 2 capacitors:

J. Manuel Physics 72 2nd Sem AY13-14

11

Capacitance and Capacitors

Capacitors in Series and Parallel
Energy Storage in Capacitors and
Electric field energy
Dielectrics

24
Capacitors in Series

Same charge Q for both.

Their potential differences add:
Vac + Vcb = Vab

Equivalent capacitance of 2 capacitors:

J. Manuel Physics 72 2nd Sem AY13-14

12

Capacitance and Capacitors

Capacitors in Series and Parallel
Energy Storage in Capacitors and
Electric field energy
Dielectrics

24
Capacitors in Series

In general, for n number of capacitors:

Same charge Q for all.
Their potential differences add.

Equivalent capacitance of n capacitors:

J. Manuel Physics 72 2nd Sem AY13-14

13

Capacitance and Capacitors

Capacitors in Series and Parallel
Energy Storage in Capacitors and
Electric field energy
Dielectrics

24
Example:

The potential difference across ab is 36 V. Find

(a) equivalent capacitance of the network,
(b) the total charge stored in this network;
(c) the charge on each capacitor,

(d) the potential differences across each capacitor.

.

J. Manuel Physics 72 2nd Sem AY13-14

14

Capacitance and Capacitors

Capacitors in Series and Parallel
Energy Storage in Capacitors and
Electric field energy
Dielectrics

24
Capacitors in Parallel

Same potential V for both.

Their charges add:
Q 1 + Q2 = Q

Equivalent capacitance of 2 capacitors:

J. Manuel Physics 72 2nd Sem AY13-14

15

Capacitance and Capacitors

Capacitors in Series and Parallel
Energy Storage in Capacitors and
Electric field energy
Dielectrics

24
Capacitors in Parallel

Same potential V for both.

Their charges add:
Q 1 + Q2 = Q

Equivalent capacitance of 2 capacitors:

J. Manuel Physics 72 2nd Sem AY13-14

16

Capacitance and Capacitors

Capacitors in Series and Parallel
Energy Storage in Capacitors and
Electric field energy
Dielectrics

24
Capacitors in Parallel

In general, for n number of capacitors:

Same potential V for all.
Their charges add:

Q 1 + Q2 + + Qn = Q

Equivalent capacitance of n capacitors:

J. Manuel Physics 72 2nd Sem AY13-14

17

Capacitance and Capacitors

Capacitors in Series and Parallel
Energy Storage in Capacitors and
Electric field energy
Dielectrics

24
Example:

The potential difference across ab is 220 V. Find

(a) equivalent capacitance of the network,
(b) the total charge stored in this network;
(c) the potential differences across each capacitor,

(d) the charge on each capacitor.

.

J. Manuel Physics 72 2nd Sem AY13-14

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24

Capacitance and Capacitors

Capacitors in Series and Parallel
Energy Storage in Capacitors and
Electric field energy
Dielectrics

Seatwork (0.5 pt + 0.5 pt):

The potential difference across ab is 50 V.
What is the equivalent
capacitance of this system
between a and b?

How much charge is stored in

each of the 10.00 F and the 9.0
F capacitors?
J. Manuel Physics 72 2nd Sem AY13-14

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24

Capacitance and Capacitors

Capacitors in Series and Parallel
Energy Storage in Capacitors and
Electric field energy
Dielectrics

Objectives
1. Given the geometry and the potential difference across the
capacitor, determine the potential energy stored inside the
capacitor
2. Predict the effects on the final potential difference and change
in potential energy of a capacitor when either the geometry or
charge is changed
3. Determine the energy density and the electric field inside a
capacitor with a given configuration

J. Manuel Physics 72 2nd Sem AY13-14

20

Capacitance and Capacitors

Capacitors in Series and Parallel
Energy Storage in Capacitors and
Electric field energy
Dielectrics

24

electric potential
energy U stored in a

amount of work
W required to

charged capacitor

charge it

J. Manuel Physics 72 2nd Sem AY13-14

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24
Charging a
capacitor

Capacitance and Capacitors

Capacitors in Series and Parallel
Energy Storage in Capacitors and
Electric field energy
Dielectrics

Transferring electrons
from one plate to another

Doing work against

electric field

Energy is stored in the field in the region

between the plates.
J. Manuel Physics 72 2nd Sem AY13-14

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Capacitance and Capacitors

Capacitors in Series and Parallel
Energy Storage in Capacitors and
Electric field energy
Dielectrics

24

Total work W needed to charge capacitor

from q = 0 to q = Q:

Let U = 0 be the electric potential energy of uncharged capacitor.

With Q = CV,

J. Manuel Physics 72 2nd Sem AY13-14

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24

Capacitance and Capacitors

Capacitors in Series and Parallel
Energy Storage in Capacitors and
Electric field energy
Dielectrics

electric potential energy U

stored in a charged capacitor

amount of work W
required to charge it
J. Manuel Physics 72 2nd Sem AY13-14

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24

Capacitance and Capacitors

Capacitors in Series and Parallel
Energy Storage in Capacitors and
Electric field energy
Dielectrics

Consider a parallel-plate capacitor as shown.

Energy per unit volume
(Energy density)

Note:

(in vacuum)
(valid also for spherical and cylindrical)
J. Manuel Physics 72 2nd Sem AY13-14

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24

Capacitance and Capacitors

Capacitors in Series and Parallel
Energy Storage in Capacitors and
Electric field energy
Dielectrics

Example:
A 5.80-F, parallel-plate, air capacitor has a plate separation of
5.00 mm and is charged to a potential difference of 400 V.

1. What is the energy stored in the capacitor?

2. What is the electric field (V/m) in the capacitor?
3. What is the energy density (J/m3) in the region between
the plates?

J. Manuel Physics 72 2nd Sem AY13-14

26

Capacitance and Capacitors

Capacitors in Series and Parallel
Energy Storage in Capacitors and
Electric field energy
Dielectrics

24
Example:

If the potential difference of a capacitor is reduced

by one-half, the energy stored in that capacitor is

A. reduced to one-half
B. reduced to one-quarter
C. increased by a factor of 2
D. increased by a factor of 4
J. Manuel Physics 72 2nd Sem AY13-14

27

24

Capacitance and Capacitors

Capacitors in Series and Parallel
Energy Storage in Capacitors and
Electric field energy
Dielectrics

Example:
A parallel-plate air capacitor is connected to a constantvoltage battery. If the separation between the capacitor
plates is doubled while the capacitor remains connected to
the battery, the energy stored in the capacitor
A. quadruples.
B. doubles.
C. remains unchanged.
D. drops to half its previous value.
E. drops to one-fourth
its previous value.
J. Manuel Physics 72 2nd Sem AY13-14

28

Capacitance and Capacitors

Capacitors in Series and Parallel
Energy Storage in Capacitors and
Electric field energy
Dielectrics

24
Example:

A parallel-plate air capacitor is connected to a battery. It is

then disconnected from the battery before the separation
between the plates is doubled. The energy stored in the
capacitor upon separation of the plates
A. quadruples.
B. doubles.
C. remains unchanged.
D. drops to half its previous value.
E. drops to one-fourth
its previous value.
J. Manuel Physics 72 2nd Sem AY13-14

29

Capacitance and Capacitors

Capacitors in Series and Parallel
Energy Storage in Capacitors and
Electric field energy
Dielectrics

24
Seatwork (0.5 point):

If you increase the charge on a parallel-plate capacitor from

3 C to 9 C and increase the plate separation from 1
mm to 3 mm, the energy stored in the capacitor changes
by a factor of
A. 27
B. 9

C. 3
D. 8
J. Manuel Physics 72 2nd Sem AY13-14

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24

Capacitance and Capacitors

Capacitors in Series and Parallel
Energy Storage in Capacitors and
Electric field energy
Dielectrics

Objective
1. Describe the effects of inserting dielectric materials on the
capacitance, charge and electric field of a capacitor

J. Manuel Physics 72 2nd Sem AY13-14

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Capacitance and Capacitors

Capacitors in Series and Parallel
Energy Storage in Capacitors and
Electric field energy
Dielectrics

24

Dielectric is a nonconducting material.

glass, air, wood, paper

Purpose:
1. Maintains a very small separation
between plates
2. Allows capacitor to sustain a higher
potential difference V (prevents dielectric
breakdown)

3.Capacitance increases
J. Manuel Physics 72 2nd Sem AY13-14

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24

Capacitance and Capacitors

Capacitors in Series and Parallel
Energy Storage in Capacitors and
Electric field energy
Dielectrics

What happens to the electric field?

J. Manuel Physics 72 2nd Sem AY13-14

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Capacitance and Capacitors

Capacitors in Series and Parallel
Energy Storage in Capacitors and
Electric field energy
Dielectrics

24
Dielectric Constant ()

where C : capacitance with dielectric

Co : capacitance without dielectric
Also,

where V : potential difference with dielectric

Vo : potential difference without dielectric

(when Q is constant)
J. Manuel Physics 72 2nd Sem AY13-14

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Capacitance and Capacitors

Capacitors in Series and Parallel
Energy Storage in Capacitors and
Electric field energy
Dielectrics

24
Dielectric Constant ()

where C : capacitance with dielectric

Co : capacitance without dielectric
Also,

where E : electric field with dielectric

Eo : electric field without dielectric

(when Q is constant)
J. Manuel Physics 72 2nd Sem AY13-14

35

Capacitance and Capacitors

Capacitors in Series and Parallel
Energy Storage in Capacitors and
Electric field energy
Dielectrics

24

Permittivity of a Dielectric ()

Capacitance for parallel-plate capacitor with dielectric

Energy density in a dielectric

J. Manuel Physics 72 2nd Sem AY13-14

36

Capacitance and Capacitors

Capacitors in Series and Parallel
Energy Storage in Capacitors and
Electric field energy
Dielectrics

24
Example:

A capacitor is connected to a battery. When a dielectric is

inserted between the plates of the capacitor,
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.

only the capacitance changes.

only the voltage across the capacitor changes.
only the charge on the capacitor changes.
both the capacitance and the voltage change.
both the capacitance and the charge change.

J. Manuel Physics 72 2nd Sem AY13-14

37

Capacitance and Capacitors

Capacitors in Series and Parallel
Energy Storage in Capacitors and
Electric field energy
Dielectrics

24
Example:

If a dielectric is inserted between the plates of a parallel-plate

capacitor that is connected to a 100-V battery, the
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.

voltage across the capacitor decreases.

electric field between the plates decreases.
electric field between the plates increases.
charge on the capacitor plates decreases.
charge on the capacitor plates increases.

J. Manuel Physics 72 2nd Sem AY13-14

38

24

Capacitance and Capacitors

Capacitors in Series and Parallel
Energy Storage in Capacitors and
Electric field energy
Dielectrics

Example:
A 12.5-F capacitor is connected to a power supply that keeps
a constant potential difference of 24.0 V across the plates.
A piece of material having a dielectric constant of 3.75 is
placed between the plates, completely filling the space
between them.
How much energy is stored in the capacitor before and
after the dielectric is inserted?

J. Manuel Physics 72 2nd Sem AY13-14

39