Capacitors and first order systems

(Note: first order system is a circuit containing only one independent energy storage element)

Ideal linear capacitors:

Capacitor is an energy storing device. The capacitor stores energy as voltage drop across its plates.

Memory device: The output of capacitor not only depends on set of inputs but also on the previous state, that is why it is a memory device. Capacitance of a capacitor:
i + Q (charge) C v -

The amount of charge stored on the capacitor depends on the capacitance of the capacitor. The equation for the capacitance is given as C=*A/ d Where C is capacitance, is permittivity of material between the surfaces (plates in case of parallel plate capacitor); A is area of the surface (plates in case

of parallel plate capacitor) used to store charge. Capacitance is measured in Farads.

(Note: usually permittivity of material other than air is given as relative permittivity i.e. r; which is the ratio of permittivity of material to the permittivity of air. So in this case permittivity of material is calculated by multiplying the r with the permittivity of the free space)

When a potential difference v is applied across the capacitor of capacitance C, a charge Q is stored on the plates (+q on one surface and q on the other surface). The equation for the amount of charge stored is given as Q=C*v The above equation can be easily used to define Farad: which is the unit of capacitance. 1 farad = 1 coulomb/ 1 volt There is no net charge on the capacitor as the positive charge accumulated on one plate is balanced by negative charge on the other plate. Current and Voltage Relationship for Capacitor:

Since And i.e.

Q=C*v current = rate of change of charge w.r.t time i = dQ/ dt

Putting the value of Q in the above equation, we get i = d/ dt (C* v)

Let us suppose for the simplicity that C is constant w.r.t time and voltage across the capacitor i = C * dv/ dt dv = 1/ C * i * dt

Capacitors are linear devices as they obey both the properties of homogeneity and superposition (short cut to proof: the above two equations for i and v are linear; as the derivative and integral are linear operators) Power and energy for Capacitor: Since power = voltage * current P=v*i P = v * C * dv/ dt P = d/dt (1/2 * C * v2) Since So power is rate of change of energy w.r.t time Energy = E = 1/2 * C * v2 (as i = c * dv/ dt)

Capacitor and a Current Source:

+ i (t) I C v (t) -

Consider the current source i(t) of square wave of time period T with magnitude I and let the initial voltage of capacitor v(t0).

i (t)

t0

t q=I*T

v(t)

v=q/C
v=I*T/C v

Given

v(t)

Analyzing an RC circuit:

t0

t1

t1+T

The reason to analyze this kind of a circuit is that, if we have linear elements in the circuit with the independent current and voltage sources, we make the rest of circuit as THEVNIN equivalent and analyze our element of interest out of it (which is capacitor in this case). It makes Analysis easy.

Let us consider a series RC circuit with DC voltage source vI(t)=VI ,and voltage on capacitor when time is zero is V0 i.e. vC(t=0)=V0 Applying node method at point 1: (vC VI )/ R + C * dvC /dt = 0 (since iC = C * dvC/ dt) R * C * dvC/ dt+ vC = VI A

R*C has the units of time. An Example of RC Circuit: Let us assume vC (0) = V0 (given)

(t)

vI (t) = VI R * C * dvC/ dt + vC=VI from equation A

(WE will use Method of Homogenous and Particular Solutions to solve this differential equation. It comprises of the following steps 1. Find the particular solution 2. Find the homogenous solution 3. The total solution is the sum of particular and homogenous solution. Then use the initial conditions to solve for the remaining constant)

Now solve the equation B, by the method of homogenous and particular solution 1. Particular Solution: VCp = any solution that satisfies original equation A We use trial and error method R * C * dvCp/ dt + vCp = VI Let So vCp = VI (guess)

R * C * dVI/ dt + VI = VI

Since dVI/ dt=0 (as VI is constant w.r.t time)

VI = VI So vCp = VI (so our guess is correct)

2. vCH: Solution to the Homogenous Equation by setting Drive to Zero: R * C * dvCH/ dt + vCH = 0 Let vCH=A * est (guess)

R * C * d/dt(A * est ) + A * est = 0 R * C * s *A * est + A * est =0 R*C*s+1=0 S = - 1/ (R * C) vCH = A * e -1/(R * C) * t RC is called time constant vCH = A * e -t/ 3. Total Solution: vC = vCp + vCH Putting the value of vCp and vCH vC = VI + A * e -1/(R * C)*t A characteristic equation

Now find the value of A using the initial condition vC = v0 As at t=0

t=0 so e -1/ (R * C)*t = 1 So equation A becomes v0 = VI + A A = v0 - V1 vC = VI + (v0 - VI) * e -1/(R * C) * t (vC is actually vC(t))

Since

iC = C * dvC/ dt = C * d/ dt(VI + (v0 - VI) * e -1/(R * C) * t) iC = -1/ R * (v0 - VI) * e -1/(R * C) * t (iC is actually iC(t))

Plot Solution:

After long period of time voltage on the capacitor becomes equal to that of source

vC = vC(0) * e -t/(R * C) + VI * (1-e t/(R * C)) dvC/ dt

t=0

= -(vC - VI)/ (R * C) * e -t/(R * C)

t=0

= (VI - v0)/(R * C) slope at t=0(represented by green line) Series and Parallel CONNECTIONS: 1. Series Connection:

Consider two capacitors connected side by side with a voltage source in series. Next using KVL method

v(t)=v1(t)+v2(t) Since same charge q (or current i) passes through the circuit So q/ Ceq = q/ C1 + q/C2 1/Ceq = 1/ C1 + 1/ C2 2. Parallel Connection:

Let us consider two capacitors and a voltage source connected in parallel to each other Same voltage is across both the capacitor The charge (or current) that comes out of the source is the sum of charges on both the capacitors q = q1 + q2 Ceq * v = C1 * v1+ C2 * v2 Ceq = C1 + C2 (since v=v1=v2)