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IIT JEE Physics

Electrostatics

Capacitor and Combinations
CAPACITORS

Capacitance

If Q is the charge given to a conductor and V is the potential to which it is raised by this
amount of charge, then it is found that Q V. Or Q = CV, where C is a constant called
capacitance of the conductor.
C = Q V
For parallel plate capacitor C =

i.e. the capacitance depends only on geometrical factors namely, the plate area and plate
separation.
Spherical Capacitor



Isolated Capacitor
An isolated sphere can be thought of as a capacitor where other plate is at infinity.
R1 = R and R2 =



Combination of Capacitors

Series Combination: In series combination, each capacitors has equal charge for any value
of capacitance. Equivalent capacitance C is given by





Parallel Combination:

In parallel combination the potential differences of the capacitor connected in parallel are
equal for any of capacitor. Equivalent capacitance is given by
C = C1 + C2 + C3



Example 10. In the above circuit, find the potential difference across AB.



Solution: Let us mark the capacitors as 1, 2, 3 and 4 for identifications. As is clear, 3 and
4 are in series, and they are in parallel with 2. Then 2, 3, 4 combine is in series with 1.





Dielectric
Substances having polar atoms/molecules intrinsically or being polarized are called
dielectrics.
Polar Dielectric
Substances which have polar atoms/molecules intrinsically but are randomly arranged. On
application of external electric field they get polarized parallel to the external electric field.

Net electric field inside dielectric.





Capacitance of a parallel plate capacitor having dielectric slabs in series.