Capacitance

Desired Learning Targets:

• Discuss the uses of capacitors

• Calculate the capacitance of a parallel-plate
capacitor
• Discuss the role of dielectrics in storing
energy in capacitors
• Solve for charges stored and potential drop
in the given circuits
• Derive total capacitance of capacitors in
series, parallel, and series-parallel
Maximum Charge on a Conductor
A battery establishes a difference of potential that can
pump electrons e- from a ground (earth) to a conductor

Battery Conductor
- - - - - -
Earth -
e- e --
-
- -
---

There is a limit to the amount of charge that a

conductor can hold without leaking to the air.
There is a certain capacity for holding charge.
 Capacitance
The capacitance C of a conductor is defined as
the ratio of the charge Q on the conductor to
the potential V produced (potential difference).

Battery Conductor
- - - - - -
Earth -
e- e- - - Q, Vab- -
---
𝑸
Capacitance: 𝑪=
𝑽𝒂𝒃
 Capacitance in Farads

One farad (F) is the capacitance C of a conductor that

holds one coulomb of charge for each volt of potential.

𝐶
Unit Conversion: 1 F = 1
𝑉
 Surface Charge Density
Surface Charge Density is the amount of charge
distributed per unit area of a conductor.

For electric field:

𝑸
𝝈=
𝑨

𝝈
𝑬=
where 𝜺𝒐
𝜀𝑜 = permittivity of a medium (vacuum)
= 8.85 × 10−12 C2/N •m2
 Capacitance and Shapes
The charge density on a surface is significantly
affected by the curvature. The density of charge is
greatest where the curvature is greatest.

+ + + + ++ + + + + ++
+ + + + ++
+
+ + + + + ++ + + +

Leakage (called corona discharge) often occurs

at sharp points where curvature is greatest.
Parallel Plate Capacitance
+Q Area A

-Q d

𝑨 Capacitance of a
𝑪𝒐 = 𝜺𝒐 parallel-plate in
𝒅 vacuum
 Applications of Capacitors
A microphone converts sound waves into an
electrical signal (varying voltage) by changing d.

Changing d Changing
++ Area
++
-- ++
- + A
--
--
d Variable
Microphone Capacitor

The tuner in a radio is a variable capacitor. The changing

area A alters capacitance until desired signal is obtained.
 Dielectric Materials
Most capacitors have a dielectric material between
their plates to provide greater dielectric strength and
less probability for electrical discharge.
Eo reduced E E < Eo
+ - +-+-+ - + -
+ - + - +- + -
+ Air - +-+-+ - +- + --
+ - +-+-+- +
+ - + - +- + -
+ - + - + -
Co Dielectric C > Co
The separation of dielectric charge allows more charge
to be placed on the plates—greater capacitance C > Co.
 Dielectric Strength
The dielectric strength of a material is that
electric intensity Em for which the material
becomes a conductor. (Charge leakage.)
Em varies considerably with
r
physical and environmental
Q
conditions such as pressure,
humidity, and surfaces. Dielectric

For air: Em = 3 x 106 N/C for spherical surfaces

and as low as 0.8 x 106 N/C for sharp points.
 Advantages of Dielectrics

 Smaller plate separation without contact.

 Increases capacitance of a capacitor.
 Higher voltages can be used without
breakdown.
 Often it allows for greater mechanical
strength.
 Insertion of Dielectric
Field decreases.
Air +Q
Dielectric E < Eo
Co Vo Eo eo + +
+
+ + Voltage decreases.
-Q + V < Vo
Insertion of
a dielectric +Q Capacitance increases.
C > Co
C V E e
+ +
Same Q Permittivity increases.
-Q
Q = Qo e > eo
 Dielectric Constant, K
The dielectric constant K for a material is the
ratio of the capacitance C with this material as
compared with the capacitance Co in a vacuum.
𝑪 Dielectric constant: K
𝑲=
𝑪𝒐 = 1 for Air

K can also be given in terms of voltage V,

electric field intensity E, or permittivity e:
𝑽𝒐 𝑬𝒐 𝜺
𝑲= = =
𝑽 𝑬 𝜺𝒐
 Energy of Charged Capacitor
The potential energy U of a charged capacitor is
equal to the work required to charge the
capacitor.

𝟏 𝟏 𝟐 𝑸𝟐
𝑼 = 𝑸𝑽 = 𝑪𝑽 =
𝟐 𝟐 𝟐𝑪
 Energy Density for Capacitor

Energy density u is the energy per unit volume.

𝑈
𝑢=
𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒

For parallel-plate:
1
𝑢= 𝜀𝐸 2
2
 Problem 1
A capacitor, connected to a 12 V
battery, holds 36 µC of charge on
each plate. What is the capacitance
of the capacitor? How much
electrical potential energy is stored
in the capacitor?
Answers:

C = 3.0 × 10−6 F = 3.0 µf

U = 2.2 × 10−4 J
Problem 2
A 4.00 µF capacitor is connected to
a 12.0 V battery.
a. What is the charge on each plate
of the capacitor?
b. If this same capacitor is
connected to a 1.50 V battery, how
much electrical potential energy is
stored?
Answers:

a. 4.80 × 10−5 C
b. 4.50 × 10−6 J
 Problem 3
A parallel-plate capacitor has a
charge of 6.0 µC when charged by
a potential difference of 1.25 V.
a. Find its capacitance.
b. How much electrical potential
energy is stored when this
capacitor is connected to a 1.50 V
battery?
Answers:

a. 4.8 × 10−6 F
b. 5.4 × 10−6 J
Problem 4
A capacitor has a capacitance of
2.00 pF.
a. What potential difference would
be required to store 18.0 pC?
b. How much charge is stored
when the potential difference is 2.5
V?
Answers:

a. 9.00 V
b. 5.0 × 10−12 C
 Problem 5
You are asked to design a parallel-
plate capacitor having a
capacitance of 1.00 F and a plate
separation of 1.00 mm. Calculate
the required surface area of each
plate. Is this a realistic size for a
capacitor?
Answers:

1.13 × 108 m2; no