M d.

Ani sur Rahman

Assi st ant Prof essor of Physi cs
U ni versi t y of Asi a Paci f i c

Capacitors connected in series

For capacitors connected in series, the magnitude q of the charge on each plate must
be the same. Now applying the relation q = CV to each capacitor yields
1 2 3
1 2 3
; ; and
q q q
V V V
C C C
= = =
The potential difference for the series combination is
1 2 3
V V V V = + +
1 2 3
1 1 1
q
C C C
| |
= + +
|
\ .

The equivalent capacitance
1 2 3
1
1 1 1
q
C
V
C C C
= =
+ +


1 2 3
1 1 1 1
C C C C
= + +
The equivalent series capacitance is always less than the smallest capacitance in the
chain.
M d. Ani sur Rahman
Assi st ant Prof essor of Physi cs
U ni versi t y of Asi a Paci f i c

Capacitors connected in parallel

The potential difference across each capacitor will be the same. Now applying the
relation q = CV to each capacitor yields
1 1 2 2 3 3
; ; and q CV q C V q C V = = =
The total charge q on the combination is
( )
1 2 3
1 2 3
=
q q q q
C C C V
= + +
+ +

The equivalent capacitance C is
1 2 3
q
C C C C
V
= = + +
M d. Ani sur Rahman
Assi st ant Prof essor of Physi cs
U ni versi t y of Asi a Paci f i c

Dielectric and Gausss law

Figure shows the capacitor both with and without the dielectric. If no dielectric is
present, gausss law gives

0
0
.
q
E dS E A

= =
}
. (1)
Or
0
0
q
E
A
= .. (2)
If the dielectric is present, Gausss law gives

0 0
.
q q
E dS EA

'
= =
}
.. (3)
Or
0 0
q q
E
A A
'
= . (4)
Where -q' is the induced surface charge in the dielectric, which is opposite in sign to
the free charge on the plates and q - q' is the net charge within the Gaussian surface.
M d. Ani sur Rahman
Assi st ant Prof essor of Physi cs
U ni versi t y of Asi a Paci f i c

Since induced surface charges always tend to weaken the original field within the
dielectric

0
0
E q
E
k k A
= = .. (5)
Therefore eq. (4) can be written as

0 0 0
q q q
k A A A
'
= .. (6)
Or
1
1 q q
k
| |
' =
|
\ .
.. (7)
So that the induced surface charge q' is always less in magnitude than the free charge
q and is equal to zero if no dielectric is present i.e. if k = 1.
So eq. (3) can be written as
0
.
q
E dS
k
=
}

Which is Gausss law in the presence of the dielectric.
Energy stored in the electric field:
Supose that at any instant of time a charge q'(t) has been transferred from one plate to
the other. The potential difference V(t) between the plates at that moment will be
q'(t)
C
. If an extra increment of charge dq' is transferred, the small amount of
additional work needed will be

q
dW Vdq dq
C
'
| |
' = =
|
\ .

If this process is continued until a total charge q has been transferred, the total work
wil be found from

2
0
1
2
q
q q
W dW dq
C C
'
| |
' = = =
|
\ .
} }

From the relation q = CV we can also write this equation as
M d. Ani sur Rahman
Assi st ant Prof essor of Physi cs
U ni versi t y of Asi a Paci f i c

( )
2
1
2
W U CV = =
In a parallel plate capacitor, energy density (stored energy per unit volume) is
uniform and is given by

2
1
2
CV
U
u
Ad Ad
= =
Where Ad is the volume between the plates. Substituting the value of C leads to

2
0
2
k V
u
d
| |
=
|
\ .

Or
2
0
1
2
u k E =
This equation is true in general.