Voltage II

Your 3rd online assignment is due the

end of Thursday 21-Mar.
Late submission will not be graded!

Chapter 26
Capacitance and Dielectrics

• Definition of capacitance
• Calculating capacitance with simple geometries
• Combination of capacitors
• Circuit symbols to represent capacitors connected to batteries
• Energy stored in a charged capacitor
• Capacitors with dielectrics
Circuits and Circuit Elements
Electric circuits are the basis for the vast majority of the devices used in society.
Circuit elements can be connected with wires to form electric circuits.
Capacitors are one circuit element.
 Others will be introduced in other chapters

Capacitors
Capacitors are devices that store electric charges.
Examples of where capacitors are used include:
 radio receivers
 filters in power supplies
 to eliminate sparking in automobile ignition systems
 energy-storing devices in electronic flashes

2 Introduction
Makeup of a Capacitor

A capacitor consists of two conductors.

 These conductors are called
plates.
 When the conductor is charged,
the plates carry charges of equal
magnitude and opposite signs.
A potential difference exists between
the plates due to the charges.

3 Section 26.1
Parallel Plate Capacitor

Each plate is connected to a terminal of the battery.

 The battery is a source of potential difference.
If the capacitor is initially uncharged, the battery
establishes an electric field in the connecting wires.
This field applies a force on electrons in the wire just
outside of the plates → electrons moving onto the
negative plate → continues until equilibrium is
achieved: plate, wire & terminal at the same potential.
At this point, there is no field present in the wire and the E
e-
movement of the electrons ceases → plate negatively
charged; A similar process occurs at the other plate.
In its final configuration, the potential difference across
the capacitor plates is the same as that between the
terminals of the battery.

4 Section 26.1 Active Figure 26.10

Definition of Capacitance

The capacitance, C, of a capacitor is defined as the ratio of the magnitude of the

charge on either conductor to the potential difference between the conductors.

The SI unit of capacitance is the farad (F). 1 F = 1 C/V

The farad is a large unit, typically you will see
microfarads (μF) and picofarads (pF).
Capacitance will always be a positive quantity. V

The capacitance of a given capacitor is constant.

The capacitance is a measure of the capacitor’s ability to store charge .
 The capacitance of a capacitor is the amount of charge the capacitor can
store per unit of potential difference.

5 Section 26.1
Capacitance – Parallel Plates

The charge density on the plates is σ = Q/A.

 A is the area of each plate, the area of each plate is equal
 Q is the charge on each plate, equal with opposite signs
The electric field is uniform between the plates and zero elsewhere.
The capacitance is proportional to the area of its plates and inversely
proportional to the distance between the plates.
V   Ed
Q Q  Q
C  E 
V Ed 0 0 A
Q Q  A 0 A
C   0 C
Ed Qd /  0 A d d

 If A ↑, larger area to store charges, so C ↑

 If d ↓, for a given ΔV, E has to ↑, so σ and C ↑
6 Section 26.2
 (a) 0
E=? (b) σ/(2ε0)

(c) σ/ε0

(d) 2σ/ε0


E
2 0
From Chap24
 1 1 n 1
 x dx  ln (x)  dx 
n
x x
n 1

Capacitance - Cylindrical Capacitors

  b
From Chapter 24
Vb  Va    E  d s
a
b
   Er dr
a

b dr
 2 k e  
a r
b
 2ke  ln(r )
a
 2ke  ln(b)  ln(a )
  q
b  E   E  dA E  dA  in
 2ke  ln( ) 0
a
Q l l l
C   E (2rl ) 
Vb  Va 2k  ln( b ) 2k ln( b ) 0
e e
a a l 
E  2k e
 If l ↑, larger area to store charges, so C ↑ 2rl 0 r
8If b/a ↓, for a given ΔV, λ and E hasSection
to ↑, 26.2
so C ↑
 1 n 1
 x dx  n  1 x
n

Capacitance - Spherical Capacitor

From Chapter 24

b 
Vb  Va    E  d s
a
b
b b dr 1
   Er dr   keQ   k Q
e  
a a r2  r a
  q
1 1  E   E  dA E  dA  in
V  keQ    0
b a Q Q
E  k e 2
Q Q ab 4 0 r 2 r
C  
V  1 1  ke b  a 
keQ   
a b
9 Section 26.2
Capacitance – Isolated Sphere

Assume a spherical charged conductor with radius .

The sphere will have the same capacitance as it would if there were a conducting
sphere of infinite radius (), concentric with the original sphere.

ab a From previous page

C   4 0 a
ke b  a  b ke 𝑄 𝑎𝑏
𝐶= =
𝛥𝑉 𝑘𝑒 ( 𝑏 −𝑎 )
Note, this is independent of the charge
on the sphere and its potential.

It can also be derived directly from Q/ΔV

assuming at infinity
𝑄 𝑄 𝑎
𝐶= = =
𝛥𝑉 𝑘𝑒 𝑄 𝑘𝑒
−0
𝑎 Section 26.2
10
https://polyu.ureply.mobi Login with your ID
session:L5639
An air-filled parallel-plate capacitor has an original capacitance of The air
gap in the capacitor has a thickness of as shown in Figure 1. A horizontal
slab of conductor of thickness /3 is then inserted into the middle of the
parallel-plate capacitor as shown in Figure 2. Assume that all plates are
circular and have the same area much larger than .
Find the final capacitance () of the capacitor in terms of

+𝑄 (a) 2/3Ci +𝑄
𝑄 𝑄
𝐸= (b) 3/2Ci d/3 𝐸=
𝜀0 𝐴 𝜀0 𝐴 −𝑄
𝑄
Δ𝑉 𝑖 = 𝑑 (c) 3Ci d/3
𝜀0 𝐴
𝑄 𝜀0 𝐴 𝑄 +𝑄
𝐶𝑖 = = (d) 6Ci d/3 𝐸=
Δ𝑉 𝑖 𝑑 𝑄 𝜀0 𝐴
𝐶𝑓 =
−𝑄 Δ𝑉 𝑓 −𝑄
Figure 1 Δ𝑉 𝑓 = Δ𝑉 𝑓 ,up +Δ 𝑉 𝑓 , low Figure 2
(before) (after)
Circuit Symbols

A circuit diagram is a simplified

representation of an actual circuit.
Circuit symbols are used to represent
the various elements.
Lines are used to represent wires.
The battery’s positive terminal is
indicated by the longer line.

12 Section 26.3
Capacitors in Parallel

(1) ΔV1 = ΔV2 = ΔV

(2) Qtot = Q1 + Q2

Qtot = Q1 + Q2
= C1DV1 + C2DV2
= C1DV + C2DV

Therefore,
Ceq = Qtot /DV = C1 + C2

Ceq = C1 + C2 + C3 + … (parallel combination)

13 Section 26.3
Capacitors in Series

e- (1) ΔVtot = ΔV1 + ΔV2

(2) Q1 = Q2 = Q
Ceq = Q/ΔVtot
Q/Ceq = ΔVtot
= ΔV1 + ΔV2
= Q1/C1 + Q2/C2
1 1 1 1
    ... (series combination)
Ceq C1 C2 C3
1/Ceq = 1/C1 + 1/C2
14 Section 26.3
Equivalent Capacitance, Example Ceq = C1 + C2 + … (parallel)
The 1.0-mF and 3.0-mF capacitors are in parallel. 1 1 1
   ... (series)
The 6.0-mF and 2.0-mF capacitors are in parallel. Ceq C1 C2
These parallel combinations are in series with the capacitors next to them.
The series combinations are in parallel and the final equivalent capacitance
can be found.
Energy in a Capacitor – Overview

Consider the circuit to be a system.

Before the switch is closed, the energy
is stored as chemical energy in the
battery.
When the switch is closed, the energy
is transformed from chemical potential
energy to electric potential energy.
The electric potential energy is related
to the separation of the positive and
negative charges on the plates.
A capacitor can be described as a
device that stores energy as well as
charge.

16 Section 26.4
 1 n 1
 x dx  n  1 x
n

Energy Stored in a Capacitor

Assume the capacitor is being charged
with a charge on it. Then
The electric potential energy change
due to further charging with is:

slope = 1/C

𝛥𝑉 −=𝑉 − −𝑉 0
𝛥 𝑉 +¿=𝑉 +¿− 𝑉 0 ¿ ¿
dU is the area of the tan rectangle.
The total electric potential energy is

Q q 1 Q 1 q2 Q Q2
U  dq   qdq  
0 C C 0 C 2 0 2C shadow area
=
17
Energy, cont
The work done in charging the capacitor appears as electric potential energy U:

This applies to a capacitor of any geometry.

The energy stored increases as the charge increases and as the potential difference
increases.
In practice, there is a maximum voltage before discharge occurs between the plates.
The energy can also be considered to be stored in the electric field.
For a parallel-plate capacitor, the energy can be expressed in terms of the field as
U = ½ C(ΔV)2 =½ (εoA/d) (E2d2) = ½ (εoAd)E2.
It can also be expressed in terms of the energy density (energy per unit volume)
uE = U / volume =U / Ad = ½ εoE2.

V   Ed
18 Section 26.4
Two identical capacitors have the same capacitance of . Initially, one capacitor has
a charge of while the other capacitor has zero charge (see Figure 1). The two
capacitors are then connected as shown in the Figure 2. What are the total energy
stored in the two capacitors before and after they are connected?
1 𝑄2 1 𝑄2
𝑈 before = + 0=
2 𝐶 2 𝐶
Figure 1
(before) ΔV
+𝑄 uncharged

−𝑄
q
Q
2 2
1 (𝑄 / 2) 1 (𝑄 /2) 1 𝑄
2
Figure 2 𝑈 after = + =
(after) 2 𝐶 2 𝐶 4 𝐶
+𝑄/2 +𝑄/2 ΔV ΔV
−𝑄/2 −𝑄/2

q q
Q dq Q
Capacitors with Dielectrics
A dielectric is a non-conducting material that, when placed between the plates of a
capacitor, increases the capacitance.
 Dielectrics include rubber, glass, and waxed paper
With a dielectric, the capacitance becomes
C = κCo
If the same charge is kept , the potential difference is reduced .
 The capacitance increases by the factor when the dielectric completely fills
the region between the plates.
 is the dielectric constant of the material.
If the capacitor remains connected to a battery, the voltage across the capacitor
necessarily remains the same.
If the capacitor is disconnected from the battery, the capacitor is an isolated system
and the charge remains the same.

20 Section 26.5
 C = κCo

Q = Qo

Δ𝑉 =Δ𝑉 0 /𝜅
Dielectrics, cont
For a parallel-plate capacitor,
C = κ (εoA) / d V   Ed
In theory, d could be made very small to create a very large capacitance.
In practice, there is a limit to d.
 d is limited by the electric discharge that could occur though the dielectric
medium separating the plates.
For a given d, the maximum voltage that can be applied to a capacitor without
causing a discharge depends on the dielectric strength of the material.

Dielectrics provide the following advantages:

Emax ~ 1 V/m.
 Increase in capacitance
If E > Emax, break down
 Increase the maximum operating voltage
 Possible mechanical support between the plates
 This allows the plates to be close together without touching.
 This decreases d and increases C.

22 Section 26.5
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a7_8Gc_Llr8

Some Dielectric Constants and Dielectric Strengths

V   Ed

C = κ (εoA) / d
 Types of Capacitors – Tubular, oil filled and electrolytic

(a)Metallic foil interlaced with thin sheets of paraffin-impregnated paper or Mylar. The layers are
rolled into a cylinder to form a small package for the capacitor.
(b)High-voltage capacitors. A number of interwoven metallic plates are immersed in silicon oil.
(c)Variable capacitors consist of two interwoven sets of metallic plates. One plate is fixed and
the other is movable (area changes). Contain air as the dielectric. C varying from 10 to 500 pF.
24 Section 26.5
Dielectrics with polar molecules – An Atomic View (Optional)

The polar molecules that make up An external electric field is applied → torque
the dielectric are modeled as dipoles. The molecules partially align with the field.
The molecules are randomly oriented
The degree of alignment depends on
in the absence of an electric field.
temperature and the magnitude of the field.
25
Electric Dipole (Optional)
An electric dipole consists of two charges of equal magnitude and
opposite signs.

The electric dipole moment

() has a magnitude of
p ≡ qd

An electric field can cause a dipole

to change its orientation.

d
The charges are separated by d.
 Polar vs. Nonpolar Molecules (Optional)
Before we apply electric field,
 a molecule with a net dipole moment is called a polar molecule.
 a molecule without a net dipole moment is called a nonpolar molecule.

Example:
Water molecule  A water molecule is an example of a
polar molecule.
 The center of the negative charge is
near the center of the oxygen atom.
⃗
𝐩  The x is the center of the positive
charge distribution.
 The dipole moment is pointing
downward
Dielectrics with nonpolar molecules – An Atomic View, 2 (Optional)
If the molecules of the dielectric are nonpolar
molecules, the electric field produces some
charge separation.
This produces an induced dipole moment.
The effect is then the same as if the
molecules were polar.

As a result, an external field can polarize the

dielectric whether the molecules are polar or
nonpolar.
The charged edges of the dielectric act as a
second pair of plates producing an induced
electric field in the direction opposite the
original electric field.

28 Section 26.7
Induced Charge and Field (Optional)

The electric field due to the plates is

directed to the right and it polarizes the
dielectric.
The net effect on the dielectric is an
induced surface charge that results in
an induced electric field.
If the dielectric were replaced with a
conductor, the net field between the
plates would be zero.

C = κCo Δ𝑉 =Δ𝑉 0 /𝜅
𝐸0
Q = Qo 𝐸= =𝐸 0 − 𝐸𝑖𝑛𝑑
𝜅
29 Section 26.7