CAPACITANCE and

CAPACITOR
 You may watch this link to understand
capacitor and capacitance

https://www.khanacademy.org/science/physics/circuits-
topic/circuits-with-capacitors/v/capacitors-and-capacitance
Capacitance
The amount of charge
stored per unit volt
 CAPACITANCE
The capacitance of a capacitor is a parameter that tells us how much charge
can be stored in the capacitor per unit potential difference between its
plates.
? where: c= capacitance
C= Q= charge
@ V= voltage

The unit of capacitance is Farad where :

AB where: F= Farad
1F = C= coulomb
A@ V= volt
 ?
Since the electric field between two plates is given by E =
GH I
?\
And 𝑝𝑜𝑡𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑎𝑙 𝑑𝑖𝑓𝑓𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑒 𝑖𝑠 ∆𝑉 = 𝐸𝑑, 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑛 ∆𝑉 = 𝐸𝑑 = GH I
? ?
If C = then C= ]^
∆@
_H `

GH I
Therefore; C = (parallel plate capacitor)
\
where: C= capacitance
𝑒d = permittivity of free space
A = area of the plate
d = distance between two plates
 Problem 1
Determine the amount of charge stored on either plate of a capacitor
(4 x 10kl F) when connected across a 12 volt battery.

Solution:
?
To solve for the amount of charge Q,, we use the formula of the equation C=
@
1. Enter the given values into the formula:
?
C = @
kl ?
4 x 10 F =Am@
2. Solve for Q
Q = (4 x 10kl F)(12V)
Q = 48 x 10kl C

Note: Q = CV
 Problem 2
If the plate separation for a capacitor is 2.0 x 10k~ m , determine the
area of the plates if the capacitance is exactly 1.0 F.
Solution:
GH `
To solve for the Area of the plate, we use the formula of the equation C=
\
1. Enter the given values into the formula:
(8.85 x Astuv w/y)( I)
1.0 F = 2.0 x Astz m
2. Solve for A
(A.s w )(2.0 x Astz m)
A = (8.85 x AstuvF/m)

A = 2.3 x10| 𝑚m

B
Note: A =
GH ^
 Problem 3
1. What is the capacitance of a parallel plate capacitor with metal plates, each of area
1.00 m2, separated by 1.00 mm?
2. What charge is stored in this capacitor if a voltage of 3.00 × 103 V is applied to it?
Solution:
GH I
1. To solve for the capacitance C we use the formula of the equation C= .
\

Enter the given values into the formula:

(8.85×Astuv F/m)(1.00 yv )
C = 1.00×Astz m
C = 8.85×10k‚ F 0r C = 8.85 nF

2. Once C is found, the charge stored can be found using the equation Q = CV.
Q = CV
= (8.85×10k‚ F)(3.00×10~ V)
Q = 26.6x 10kl or 26.6µC
 Problem 4
Calculate the voltage of a battery connected to a parallel plate capacitor with a
plate area of 2.0 𝑐𝑚m and a plate separation of 2 mm. if the charge stored on the plate
is 4.0 x 10 kAm C.
Solution:
GH I
1. Solve first for the capacitance C using the formula of the equation C= \ .
( convert the A to 𝑚m, A= 2x10k† 𝑚m and d to m, d = 2.0 x 10k~)
Enter the given values into the formula:
(8.85×Astuv w/y)(2xAst‡ yv )
C = 2.0 x Astz m
C = 8.85×10kA~ F
?
2. Once C is found, the voltage of the battery can be found using the equation V =B
4.0 x As tuv B
V =8.85×Astuz F = 4.5 volts

?
Note: V =
B
Capacitor

A device that stores

electrical charge and
electrical energy
 Capacitors
A capacitor is a device that stores an electrical charge and
electrical energy. The amount of charge a vacuum
capacitor can store depends on two major factors:
a) the voltage applied and
b) the capacitor’s physical characteristics, such as its size
and geometry.
 Exercises
1. A parallel plate air capacitor is made by using two metallic 16 cm2 plates 4.7 mm
apart. It is connected to a 12-V battery.
(a) What is the capacitance?,
(b) What is the charge on each plate?,
(c) What is the electric field between the plates,

2. Consider a parallel-plate capacitor that is about the size of your fingernail. The plates are
squares with edges of length L= 1.0 cm, separated by d= 10 µm or 1.0 x 10kˆ m, which
is about the diameter of a human hair.
(a) Find the capacitance.
(b) If the potential across the capacitor ∆V = 12V, what is the energy stored?
CAPACITORS IN SERIES
AND PARALLEL
 Capacitors in Series

Characteristics of capacitors connected in a series:

1. The reciprocal of the equivalent capacitance is the sum of the reciprocals of the
individual capacitances.
A A A A A A
B
= B + B + B + ⋯B or 𝐶• = u u u u
‹ u v z Ž ’ ’
‘u ‘v ‘z
’⋯‘
Ž
2. The charge is the same in each capacitor.
𝑄• = 𝑄A = 𝑄m = 𝑄~ = ⋯ 𝑄”
3. The total voltage is equal to the sum of the voltage across each capacitor.
𝑉• = 𝑉A + 𝑉m + 𝑉~ + ⋯ 𝑉”
 Remember that when capacitors are connected in
series,
1. The total capacitance is less than any one of the series capacitors’
individual capacitances.
2. If two or more capacitors are connected in series, the overall effect is
that of a single (equivalent) capacitor having the sum total of the
plate spacing of the individual capacitors.
3. An increase in plate spacing, with all other factors unchanged,
results in decreased capacitance.
 Sample Problem 1
Find the total capacitance for three capacitors connected in series, given their
individual capacitances are 1.0 µF, 5.0 µF and 8.0 µF

In solving for the total capacitance you may use any of the 2
formulas:
A A A A A
= + + or 𝐶• = u u u
B‹ Bu Bv Bz ’ ’
‘u ‘v ‘z

A A A A ˆ~
First solution: = 1.0 µF + + 8.0 µF =
B‹ 5.0 µF †s
†s
𝐶• = = 0.7547 µF or 7.547 x 10k–
ˆ~
or
A
Another solution: 𝐶• = u u u
’ ’
1.0 µF 5.0 µF 8.0 µF
𝐶• = 0.7547 µF or 7.547 x 10k–
 Capacitors in Parallel

Characteristics of capacitors connected in a series:

1. The equivalent capacitance is the sum of the individual capacitances.
𝐶• = 𝐶A + 𝐶m + 𝐶~ + ⋯ 𝐶” where 𝐶• =total capacitance
2. The total charge is the sum of that in each capacitor.
𝑄• = 𝑄A + 𝑄m + 𝑄~ + ⋯ 𝑄” where 𝑄• = total Charge
3. The total voltage is the same of the voltage across each capacitor.
𝑉• = 𝑉A = 𝑉m = 𝑉~ = ⋯ 𝑉” where 𝑉• = total voltage
 Remember that when capacitors are connected in
parallel,
1. The total capacitance is the sum of the individual capacitors’
capacitances.
2. If two or more capacitors are connected in parallel, the overall effect
is that of a single equivalent capacitor having the sum total of the
plate areas of the individual capacitors.
3. An increase in plate area, with all other factors unchanged, results
in increased capacitance.
 Problem 2
Find the total capacitance for three capacitors connected in parallel, given their
individual capacitances are 1.0 µF, 5.0 µF and 8.0 µF

In solving for the total capacitance you use the

formula:
𝐶• = 𝐶A + 𝐶m + 𝐶~
Substituting the values:

𝐶• = 1.0 µF + 5.0 µF + 8.0 µF

𝐶• = 14 µF or 14 x 10kl F
 This is exactly the opposite of the phenomenon exhibited
by resistors.

With resistors, series connections result in additive values

while parallel connections result in diminished values.

With capacitors, its the reverse: parallel connections result in

additive values while series connections result in diminished
values.

Capacitances diminish in series.

Capacitances add in parallel.
 Capacitors in a Combination of Series and Parallel Connections

When a network of capacitors contains a combination of series and parallel

connections, we identify the series and parallel networks, and compute their equivalent
capacitances step by step until the entire network becomes reduced to one equivalent
capacitance.
 Problem 3
Find the total capacitance of the combination of capacitors shown in
(Figure). Assume the capacitances are known to three decimal places.

In solving the total capacitance we have to follow the following steps:

Step 1 Step 2

A
Step 1: Combine the capacitance of 𝐶A and 𝐶m , since they are in series , use the formula 𝐶Akm = u u
’ .
‘u ‘v
A ˆ
𝐶Akm = u u = l = 0.833 µF or 8.3 x 10k– F
’
u˜™ š˜™

Step 1: Combine the capacitance of 𝐶Akm and 𝐶~ , since they are in parallel , use the formula 𝐶Ak~ =𝐶Akm +𝐶~

𝐶Ak~ = 0.833 µF + 8 µF = 8.833 µF or 8.833 x 10kl F

Since the total capacitance 𝐶• = 𝐶Ak~ therefore 𝐶• = 8.833 µF or 8.833 x 10kl F
 Problem 4
Determine the net capacitance C of the capacitor combination shown in (Figure) when
the capacitances are 𝐶A=12.0 µF, 𝐶m=2.0 µF and 𝐶~=4.0 µF. When a 12.0-V potential
difference is maintained across the combination, find the charge and the voltage across
each capacitor.

(a) A capacitor combination (b) An equivalent two-capacitor combination.

Use the following steps in solving the problem.

1. Compute the net capacitance 𝐶mk~ of the parallel connection 𝐶m and 𝐶~.
2. And the compute for 𝐶• or the total capacitance of the series connection 𝐶Aand 𝐶mk~.
3. Use the relation C=QV to find the charges 𝑄A, 𝑄m, and 𝑄~ , and the voltages 𝑉A, 𝑉m, and 𝑉~,
across capacitors 1, 2, and 3, respectively.
Solution:
Step 1: Compute the net capacitance 𝐶mk~ of the parallel connection 𝐶m and 𝐶~ .
Since 𝐶m and 𝐶~ are parallel we use the relation 𝐶mk~ = 𝐶m + 𝐶~

𝐶mk~ = 2.0 µF + 4.0 µF

= 6.0 µF or 6.0 x 10kl F

Step 2: And the compute for 𝐶• or the total capacitance of the series connection 𝐶A and 𝐶mk~ .
A
Since 𝐶mk~ and 𝐶A are series we use the relation 𝐶• = u u
‘vtz
’‘
u

A
𝐶• = u u = 4.0 µF or 4.0 x 10kl F
’
6.0 µF 12.0 µF
Step 3: Use the relation C=QV to find the charges 𝑄A , 𝑄m , and 𝑄~ , and the voltages 𝑉A , 𝑉m , and 𝑉~ , across
capacitors 1, 2, and 3, respectively.

a. Consider the equivalent two-capacitor combination in (Figure)(b). Hence, the charges on these two capacitors are,
b. Since the capacitors are in series, they have the same charge, 𝑄A = respectively,
𝑄mk~ . Also, the capacitors share the 12.0-V potential difference, so
𝑄m = 𝐶m 𝑉m = (2.0 µF)(8V) = 16 µC
12V = 𝑉A + 𝑉mk~

12V =
?u
+
?vtz
=
?u
+
?u
=
?u
+
?u 𝑄~ = 𝐶~ 𝑉~ = (4.0 µF)(8V) = 32 µC
Bu Bvtz Bu Bvtz 12.0 µF 6.0 µF
?u ?u
12V = + Significance As expected, the net charge on the
12.0 µF 6.0 µF 𝑄A = (12V)(4 µF)
A?u
𝑄A = 48 µC parallel combination of 𝐶m and 𝐶~ is
12V =
4 µF
𝑄mk~ = 𝑄m + 𝑄~
Now the potential difference across capacitor 1 is = 16 µC + 32 µC
?u 48.0 µB = 48 µC
𝑉A = = = 4.0 V
Bu 12.0 µF
Because capacitors 2 and 3 are connected in parallel, they are at
the same potential difference:
𝑉m = 𝑉~ = 12V – 4V = 8V
 Exercises
1. Find the net capacitance for three capacitors connected in parallel, given their individual capacitances are
𝐶A =2.0 µF, 𝐶m =3.0µF, and 𝐶~ =6.0µF.
2. Find the net capacitance for three capacitors connected in series , given their individual capacitances are
𝐶A =2.0 µF, 𝐶m =3.0µF, and 𝐶~ =6.0µF.

3. A 4.00-pF is connected in series with an 8.00-pF capacitor and a 400-V potential difference is applied across the
pair. (a) What is the charge on each capacitor? (b) What is the voltage across each capacitor?

4. Three capacitors, with capacitances of 𝐶A =2.0 µF, 𝐶m =3.0µF, and 𝐶~ =6.0µF, respectively, are connected in parallel.
A 500-V potential difference is applied across the combination. Determine the voltage across each capacitor and
the charge on each capacitor.
Find the total capacitance of this combination of series and parallel capacitors shown below.
4. Three capacitors (with capacitances C , C and C ) and power supply (U) are
1 2 3

connected in the circuit as shown in the diagram.

a) Find the total capacitance of the capacitors’ part of circuit and total
charge Q on the capacitors.
b) Find the voltage and charge on each of the capacitors.