L5 Electricity and Magnetism

10 2 / HM PH 1 02 / HSST 102
HIPH
T RICIT Y AND M AGNETISM

ELEC
F CHINGORIWO
D A P P LI E D P HY S ICS DEPARTMENT
SPACE SCIENCE A N
ROOM 103 NEW WING
[email protected]
.ac.zw
[email protected]
Capacitors and Dielectrics
Recap: Lecture #4
Previously, we said that a charge generates an electric field (a vector field) and that this
field can then exert a force on another charge.
Associated with the electric field is a scalar field called the potential. The potential
controls how a system (another charge, perhaps) acquires potential energy.
The potential difference between two points in space can be measured using the potential
energy change of a point charge between those same two points
The potential difference between two locations in space in a uniform electric field is:
In general, electric potential decreases as you go down a field line.
Equipotential lines are always perpendicular to the electric field lines

For a uniform electric field, we have:
If the electric field is not uniform, we must use:
Equipotential lines are spaced more closely together where the electric field is
stronger AND they are always perpendicular to the field lines.
Conductors are equipotentials THUS electric field lines near a conductor are
always perpendicular to its surface!!!
Conductors in Electrostatics
 E = 0 inside (in Electrostatics)

–otherwise charges would move
 No charges inside Gauss
 E = σ/ perpendicular to surface
–otherwise charges on surface would move
 Potential is constant on conductor

Charge and Potential
Capacitance depends
on geometry
The capacitance is
inversely proportional
to the separation of the
plates moving the
plates closer together
increases the
capacitance
Two conductors separated by insulator
Capacitors are devices that store electric potential energy.
The energy of a capacitor is actually stored in the electric field
 Charging capacitor
–take charge from one of the conductors and put on the other
–separate +and –charges
A battery can be used to “pump” charge from one conductor to
another. A pair of conductors used in this way is called a
capacitor.
Capacitors are devices that store energy in an electric field through
spatial separation of charges (e.g. work is done on the charges to
distribute the positive charges on one side and the negative on the
other.
Energy stored by a capacitor
The difference between a charged and uncharged capacitor lies in the arrangement of
charge, which creates an electric field.
As we charge up the plates of the capacitor ,the strength of the electric field is changing.
There is no electric field in an uncharged capacitor. The size of the electric field must relate to
the energy stored in the system.
We can use the battery to

charge up the capacitor and
store energy (in the form of
stored charge or an electric
field.Changing the supply
voltage does not change
the capacitance, but it does
change the amount of
energy stored, in the same
way that pouring water into
the same way that pouring
water into a bucket does
not change the capacity of
the bucket, but it does
change the amount of water
actually in it.
Where is the energy stored?
The Parallel Plate capacitor
The most common type of capacitor consists in principle of two conducting plates parallel to each
other and separated by a distance which is small compared with the linear dimensions of the plates
A parallel-plate capacitor consists of two parallel conducting plates separated by a distance that is
small compared to their dimensions.
A spherical capacitor
A cylindrical capacitor
Capacitors in circuits
Capacitors in series
Capacitors are in series if they are connected one after the other, as illustrated below
The equivalent capacitance of a series combination is given by 1/Ceq = 1/C1 + 1/C2 + 1/C3 +
…
combined capacitance is
less than the individual
capacitances.
Capacitors in parallel
Capacitors are connected in

parallel between a and b if
the potential difference Vab is
the same for all the
capacitors.
The equivalent capacitance
of a parallel combination is
the sum of the individual
capacitances: Ceq = C1 + C2 +
C3 + … .
Dielectrics
A dielectric is a nonconducting material. Most capacitors have

dielectric between their plates.
The dielectric constant of the material is K = C/C0 > 1.
Dielectric increases the capacitance and the energy density by

a factor K.
.
Dielectric materials are electrically neutral, but made

from very many tiny dipoles. When subjected to an
electric field, the dipoles align with the field and
weaken it overall. When
the strength of decreases for the same as before,
then decreases too.This makes capacitance, C = Q/V,
go up.
•Insulators POLARIZE when an external electric field is applied
•The NET field inside the material is reduced.
The amount that the capacitance increases
over the case without a dielectric is called K ,
the dielectric constant.
What happens as you insert a dielectric?
Initially, charge capacitor C0 to voltage V, charge Q, field Enet .
Representing Dielectrics
Dielectric breakdown
When a dielectric material is subjected to a sufficiently strong electric field, it becomes a

conductor. This phenomenon is known as dielectric breakdown.
The onset of conductor, associated with cumulative ionization of molecules of the material, is
often quite sudden, and may be characterized by spark or arc discharges.
When a capacitor is subjected to excessive voltage, an arc may be formed through a layer of
dielectric, burning or melting a hole in it, permitting the two metal foils to come in contact,
creating a short circuit, and rendering the device permanently useless as a capacitor.
The maximum electric field a material can withstand without the occurrence of breakdown is
called dielectric strength
If the electric field is strong enough, dielectric breakdown occurs and the dielectric becomes a
conductor.
•
Charging C
Discharging C

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10 2 / HM PH 1 02 / HSST 102

T RICIT Y AND M AGNETISM

ROOM 103 NEW WING

In general, electric potential decreases as you go down a field line.

Equipotential lines are always perpendicular to the electric field lines

If the electric field is not uniform, we must use:

 E = 0 inside (in Electrostatics)

 No charges inside Gauss

 Potential is constant on conductor

We can use the battery to

Capacitors are connected in

A dielectric is a nonconducting material. Most capacitors have

The dielectric constant of the material is K = C/C0 > 1.

Dielectric increases the capacitance and the energy density by

Dielectric materials are electrically neutral, but made

When a dielectric material is subjected to a sufficiently strong electric field, it becomes a

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