 Electric devices function through storing and 

manipulating the flow of charges.
 This is achieved through several types 
discrete circuit components.
 Capacitors can store electric charge (and 
therefore electric potential energy) for a 
certain period of time.
 Two
Potential
conductors Electric difference
with equal field between
but opposite
the
charges
charges

Now turn the problem around … Q

Given a potential difference (a voltage) C (C/V=F)
between two conductors, what is the charge V
on them?
Assume a Calculate the Calculate Find the
charge q on e-field using the capacitance
the plates Gauss’ Law potential

  f
  q
 0  E  dA  q V f  Vi    E  ds C
i
V

 0 EA  q V   Eds

Increased area results in
increased charge storage for
a constant voltage.

Capacitance is proportional to area

 + +Q + +Q
V E V E
-Q
- -Q -

V  Ed  V V   Ed   V
The potential difference between the battery terminals and the
plates will create a field and charges will flow from the battery
to the plates until the potential difference is zeroed.
Capacitance is inversely proportional to the
distance between the plates.
 Q
Surface charge density on the plates: 
A

 Q
The field (assuming d<<A1/2): E 
0 0 A
Qd
The potential difference: V  Ed 
0 A
Q 0 A
The capacitance: C 
V d
 Q l
C 
V b
2ke ln  
a

l
C
b
2k e  Q  l
2ke ln 
E a
r
C 1

b
b b
dr b l
Vb  Va    Edr  2ke   2ke ln  2ke ln 
r a
a a
a
 A battery drives
charges to accumulate
on the capacitor plates.
 A switch controls the
flow of charge.

C,Q

V
 Q  Q1  Q2
V  V1  V2
Q1  C1V1  C1V
Q2  C2 V2  C2 V
Q  Ceq V

Ceq  C1  C2

For parallel capacitors

n
Ceq   C j
j 1
All are parallel connections

This is not
 V  V1  V2
Q  Q1  Q2
Q1 Q
V1  
C1 C1
Q2 Q
V2  
C2 C2
Q
V 
Ceq
1 1 1
 
Ceq C1 C2

n
1 1
For series capacitors 
Ceq j 1 C j
 0 A
C
d a
 Ceq = ?
1 1
2

Rank the charges.

C1 = 3C
C2 = C Rank the voltages.
∆ ∆ ∆
C3 = 5C
 Since capacitors can carry charge after a battery
is disconnected, they can store energy.
 To calculate this energy, consider the work done to
move a small amount of charge from one plate of
the capacitor to the other.
 As more and more charges are moved, the work
required increases.
q
dW  Vdq  dq
C Q2 1 1
Q Q
U  QV  C (V ) 2
q 1 Q2 2C 2 2
W   dq   qdq 
0
C C0 2C
Consider a simple parallel-plate capacitor whose plates
are given equal and opposite charges and are separated
by a distance d. Suppose the plates are pulled apart until
they are separated by a distance D > d. The electrostatic
energy stored in the capacitor is

1. greater than
2. the same as
3. smaller than

before the plates were pulled apart.

 Defined as stored energy per unit volume.
 Consider the parallel plate capacitor.

1 1
U  C (V ) 2 U  ( 0 Ad ) E 2
2 2

0 A
2 ( 0 Ad ) E
2
(Ed ) 2
U 1
d uE  
Vol Ad
1
uE   0 E 2
2
 Dielectrics are insulators like glass, rubber or 
wood.
 They are used to increase the charge storage 
capacity and/or maximum voltage in 
capacitors while providing mechanical 
support.
 They are characterized by a dielectric 
constant, , and are limited by their dielectric 
strength.
 As we apply a voltage to the plates, the dielectric in between is 
polarized.
 The dielectric constant is a measure of the polarizability of the material.
 This creates a field in the opposite direction to the applied field and 
therefore reduces the effective voltage or under constant voltage allows 
a larger charge to be collected on the plates. 
 The dielectric strength is the maximum electric field the material can 
withstand before breaking down (becoming a conductor).
 V0 Q0 Q0
V  C  C  C0
 V V0
A parallel-plate capacitor is attached to a
battery that maintains a constant potential
difference V between the plates. While the
battery is still connected, a glass slab is
inserted so as to just fill the space between the
plates. The stored energy

1. increases.
2. decreases.
3. remains the same.
  0 A 
C  C0
1 3   1  1 3 d 1 3  2 3
 Capacitors are geometries that can hold 
charges.
 Use Gauss’ Law symmetries to calculate 
capacitance.
 Series and parallel connections.
 Dielectrics increase capacitance.
 Reading Assignment
 Chapter 27 – Current and Resistance
 WebAssign: Assignment 4