13 CAPACITOR

Teaching
Topic Learning Outcome
Period
13 Capacitors 12 Candidates should be able to:

13.1 Capacitance 1 (a) define capacitance;

13.2 Parallel plate capacitors 2 (b) describe the mechanism of charging a parallel plate
capacitor;

𝑄 𝜀𝑜 𝐴
(c) use the formula 𝐶 = to derive 𝐶 = for the
𝑉 𝑑
capacitance of a parallel plate capacitor;

13.3 Dielectrics 2 (d) define relative permittivity 𝜀𝑟 (dielectric constant);

(e) describe the effect of a dielectric in a parallel plate
capacitor;

𝜀𝑜 𝜀𝑟 𝐴
(f) use the formula 𝐶 = 𝑑

13.4 Capacitors in series and in 2 (g) derive and use the formulae for effective capacitance
parallel of capacitors in series and in parallel;

13.5 Energy stored in a charged 1 (h) use the formulae

capacitor 1 1 𝑄2 1
𝑈 = 2 𝑄𝑉, 𝑈 = 2 𝐶
,𝑈 = 2 𝐶𝑉 2
(derivations are not required);

13.6 Charging and discharging of a 4 (i) describe the charging and discharging process of a
capacitor capacitor through a resistor;

(j) define the time constant, and use the formula 𝜏 = 𝑅𝐶;

(k) derive and use the formulae

𝑡 𝑡 𝑡
𝑄 = 𝑄0 (1 − 𝑒 −𝜏 ) , 𝑉 = 𝑉0 (1 − 𝑒 −𝜏 ) and 𝐼 = 𝐼0 𝑒 −𝜏
for charging a capacitor through a resistor

(l) derive and use the formulae

𝑡 𝑡 𝑡
𝑄 = 𝑄0 𝑒 −𝜏 , 𝑉 = 𝑉0 𝑒 −𝜏 𝐼, and = 𝐼0 𝑒 −𝜏
for discharging a capacitor through a resistor;

(m) solve problems involving charging and discharging of

a capacitor through a resistor.
Introduction
Capacitor is an electrical component used to stored electric charge. It consists of two metal plates separated by a
layer of insulator known as dielectric.

A capacitor is much simpler than a battery, as it can't produce new electrons -- it only stores them. Inside the
capacitor, the terminals connect to two metal plates separated by a non-conducting substance, or dielectric
(insulator). In theory, the dielectric can be any non-conductive substance. However, for practical applications,
specific materials are used that best suit the capacitor's function. Mica, ceramic, cellulose, porcelain, Mylar,
Teflon and even air are some of the non-conductive materials used. The dielectric dictates what kind of
capacitor it is and for what it is best suited. Depending on the size and type of dielectric, some capacitors are
better for high frequency uses, while some are better for high voltage applications. Capacitors can be
manufactured to serve many purposes, from the smallest plastic capacitor in your calculator, to an ultra
capacitor that can power a commuter bus. NASA uses glass capacitors to help wake up the space shuttle's
circuitry and help deploy space probes. Here are some of the various types of capacitors and how they are used.
Air - Often used in radio tuning circuits
Mylar - Most commonly used for timer circuits like clocks, alarms and counters
Glass - Good for high voltage applications
Ceramic - Used for high frequency purposes like antennas, X-ray and MRI machines
Super capacitor - Powers electric and hybrid cars

13.1 Capacitance
A capacitor can be charged by connecting a battery across it. The higher the potential difference V, the greater
the charge Q stored. Experiments show that Q  V.
The capacitance of a capacitor is defined as follows:
Charge stored in either one plate
𝐶 = Potential difference between two plates
 Q
In symbols, C 
V

Capacitance is measured in C V-1, known as a farad (F). However, a farad is a very large unit, and F (10-6 F) is
more commonly used for practical capacitors.

Example 1
Charges on a pair of parallel plates are 20 C, when 2 V potential differences are supplied.
Calculate
(a) capacitance,
(b) charges stored when potential difference is 1.5 V.
Solution:
(a) Capacitance of the parallel plate is:

Q 2.0  10 5 C
C   0.1F
V 2V
(b) When the PD is reduce to 1.5V the charges left is :

Q  CV  0.110 6 F 1.5V  0.15C

13.2 Parallel Plate capacitors

A parallel plates capacitor consists of two metal plates each of area A separated by air of thickness d.

When the capacitor is fully charged, the charge stored in the plates are +Q and -Q respectively and the potential
difference across the plates is V.
Consider a Gaussian surface as shown in the diagram.
The electric flux
   EA
Q
EA 
O
Q
E
O A
V
From equation E 
d

Q 0A
From these, it follows that 
V d
Q
But capacitance, C 
V
0A
So C 
d
We can conclude that capacitance in a parallel plate depends only on area A and distance d between the plates.
• 𝐶 ∝ 𝐴, so a larger plate area gives a higher C.
1
• 𝐶 ∝ 𝑑, so a smaller plate separation gives a higher C.

Example 2
The capacitance of parallel-plate capacitor is 8.4 pF. It consists of two parallel plates separated by a distance of
2.0 mm. The capacitor is charged to 6.0 V.
(a) Calculate the area of each plate.
The charged capacitor is then disconnected from the charging voltage. The separation between the plates is
reduced to 0.50 mm.
(b) What is the new capacitance of the capacitor?
(c) What is the new potential difference between the plates?

Solution:
(a) The area of each plate is:
0 A
C
d
Cd
A
0
8.4  10 12 F (2.0  10  3 m)

8.854  10 12 F m -1
 1.897  10  3 m 2
(b)The new capacitance when the separation between plates is 0.50mm is :
0 A
C' 
d'
  Cd 
 0'  
d   0 
8.4  10 12 F (0.5  10  3 m)

2.0  10  3 m
 2.1 10 12 F

(c) The capacitor has the same amount of charges, but now only the separation of the plate is reduces.
The amount of charges is:
Q
C
V
Q  CV  8.4  10 12 F(6.0V)  5.04  10 11 C
The potential difference for the new capacitance is:
Q
C
V
Q 5.04  10 11 C
V'  '   24 V
C 2.1  10 12 F
13.3 Dielectrics
The insulator between two metal plates of a capacitor is known as dielectric.

The functions of a dielectric are:

(a) To make sure the plates do not actually contact with each other, even though the gap is very small.
(b) Increasing the capacitance of the capacitor. From experiment it shows that, the ratio of the
capacitance with dielectric C and capacitance without inserting dielectric C 0 is constant, the constant

is named as dielectric constant,  r .

C
r 
C0
When a dielectric material is inserted into the region between two parallel charged plates of a
capacitor, the molecules of the dielectric will be polarized. As a results, an electric field will be set up
 across the dielectric in the opposite direction as the external electric field. This will reduce the electric
field strength in the dielectric and lower the potential difference across the plates.
Q
From the equation C = when the potential difference decreases but the charge Q is uncharged, the
V
capacitance of the capacitor increases. Therefore a dielectric will increase the capacitance of a
capacitor.

Example 3
A parallel plates capacitor with surface area is 0.40 m2 and separated by 0.20 cm.
(a) Calculate the capacitance of the capacitor if the space between the plates is filled with
(i) vacuum,
(ii) insulator with dielectric constant 2.3.
(b) The above vacuum capacitor is charged by a battery of emf 12 V and the battery is then
disconnected after the capacitor is fully charged.
(i) Calculate the charge stored in the capacitor.
(ii) What is the potential difference across the plates of the capacitor if the insulator is inserted
into the capacitor?
Solution:
(a) Capacitance of the capacitor when the gap between plates
(i) Filled with vacuum, C 0

0 A 8.55 10 12 F m-1 (0.4m 2 )

C0    1.77 10  9 F
d 0.20 10  2 m
(ii) Filled with insulator with dielectric constant, C

C   r C0  2.3(1.77 10 9 F)  4.07 10 9 F

(b) (i) Q = Co V = 2.12 × 10-8 C
(ii) The charge is constant because the capacitor is isolated.

Q 2.12 10 8
V=   5.22 V
C 4.07 10  9
13.4 Capacitor in series and parallel
(i) Capacitors in series

Assume C1, C2 and C3 have a resultant capacitance CR.

All capacitors in series store the same amount of charge Q,
Q Q Q
So, V1  V2  and V3 
C1 C2 C3

The potential difference across all the capacitor, V  V1  V2  V3

Q Q Q Q
So   
C C1 C 2 C3

1 1 1 1
Or   
C C1 C 2 C 3
In general, for capacitors connected in series

Example 4
Three capacitors 6.0 F, 3.0 F and 2.0 F are connected in series with 12 V. Determine
(a) resultant capacitance
(b) charges stored in each capacitor
(c) potential difference across each capacitor
Solution:
(a) The resultant capacitance, CR

1 1 1 1
  
CR 6.0 F 3.0 F 2.0 F
CR  1.0 F
 (b) Three capacitors in series stores the same charges as a single capacitor.
Q  CRV  (1.0 F)12.0 F  12 C
(d) Potential difference across each capacitor
Capacitor 6.0F:
Q 12 C
V6.0    2 .0 V
C 6. 0 6 . 0 F

Capacitor 3.0F:
Q 12 C
V3.0    4 .0 V
C3.0 3.0 F

Capacitor 2.0F:
Q 12 C
V2.0    6 .0 V
C 2 .0 2 .0 F

(ii) Capacitors in parallel

Assume capacitors in parallel C1, C2 and C3 have a resultant capacitance of CR, Capacitors in parallel each
have the same potential difference, V across them.
So, the total charges, Q  CRV

And Q1  C1V , Q2  C2V and Q3  C3V

Together, the capacitors act like a single capacitor with a larger plate area.
So Q  Q1  Q2  Q3
In parallel, the total charges is conserved.
CV  C1V  C2V  C3V

And C  C1  C2  C3
13.5 Energy stored by a capacitor
A charged capacitor stored electrical energy in the electric field.
Consider a capacitor of capacitance,C being charged to a potential difference of V volt.
Work must be done to charge up the capacitor. Electrical potential energy is stored as a result.

To increase the charge dq in the capacitor, the work done by the battery is given by
q
dW  V (dq)  dq
C
The total work done to increase the charge to +Q is given by
Q
1  q2 
Q Q
q 1
W   dq   qdq   
0
C C0 C  2 0

1 Q2
W
2 C
1 1 1 Q2
Energy stored, E stored  QV  CV 2  = Area under the graph Q-V.
2 2 2 C

Example 5
A capacitor 6.0 F is connected in series to a 10 F capacitor. The charges stored in every capacitor is 40 C.
Calculate the electric potential energy that is stored in both capacitor.

Solution:
Energy stored in 6.0 F capacitor:

1 1 1 Q 2 (40 C ) 2
E6 F  QV  CV 2    133 J
2 2 2 C 2(6F )
 Energy stored in 10 F capacitor:

1 1 1 Q 2 (40 C ) 2
E10F  QV  CV 2    80 J
2 2 2 C 2(10 F )
Total Energy = 133J  80J  213J

Example 6

Solution:
(a) The functions of the dielectric are
1. To solve the problem of maintaining two large metal sheets at very small separation.
2. To increase the storage of charges/ capacitance of the capacitor
3. To tolerate stronger electric field without breakdown across the capacitor.

C1C 2
(b) (i) CT 
C1  C 2
50
CT  F  3.33F
15
(ii) 1.7×10-4 J or 1.65 ×10-4 J

13.6 Charging and discharging of capacitor through a resistor

(i) Discharge of a capacitor

vo

The capacitor above is charged by a battery and then discharged through a resistance R. The charge on the
capacitor, Q and the potential difference across the capacitor, Vc will decrease with time.
At instant the switch is closed, time, t = 0
- The charge on the capacitor 𝑄0 = 𝐶𝑉0
- The initial potential difference across capacitor V0
- The potential difference across the resistor, 𝑉R = 𝐼0 𝑅 = 𝑉0
𝑉0
- The current, 𝐼0 = 𝑅

After a time, t
 -The potential difference across the capacitor is V
- The charge on the capacitor, 𝑄 = 𝐶𝑉
𝑑𝑄 𝑑𝑉
- The current in the circuit 𝐼 = − 𝑑𝑡 = −𝐶 𝑑𝑡

(-ve because the charge remained in the capacitor is decreasing.)

- The potential difference across the resistor
𝑑𝑉
𝑉𝑅 = 𝐼𝑅 = 𝑉 = (−𝐶 )𝑅
𝑑𝑡
𝑑𝑉
𝑉 = −𝐶𝑅
𝑑𝑡
𝑑𝑉 1
=− 𝑑𝑡
𝑉 𝐶𝑅
𝑉 𝑡
1 1
∫ 𝑑𝑉 = − ∫ 𝑑𝑡
𝑉0 𝑉 0 𝐶𝑅

1
ln[𝑉]𝑉𝑉0 = − [𝑡]𝑡
𝐶𝑅 0
𝑡
𝑉 = 𝑉0 𝑒 −𝐶𝑅
𝑡
𝑉𝑅 = 𝑉 = 𝑉0 𝑒 −𝐶𝑅
𝑡
𝑄 = 𝐶𝑉 = 𝐶𝑉0 𝑒 −𝐶𝑅
𝑡
𝑄 = 𝑄0 𝑒 −𝐶𝑅
The current, I in the circuit
𝑑𝑄
𝐼=−
𝑑𝑡
𝑑 𝑡
= − 𝑄0 𝑒 −𝐶𝑅
𝑑𝑡
𝑡
= 𝐼0 𝑒 −𝐶𝑅
From the above equations, we can conclude that the potential difference, the current and the charge
remained in the capacitor are decreasing exponentially with time as shown in the graphs below.
The time constant of an RC circuit, 𝜏 is the time taken for the capacitor to discharge to 0.368 (1/e) of the initial
charge. It is given by 𝜏 = 𝐶𝑅 for an R-C circuit.

The graph above shows the fraction of the charge remained in the capacitor with time in three different circuit.
The greater the time constant, the slower the capacitor is discharging.
(ii) Charging a capacitor

vo
The figure shows a simple R-C circuit for charging a capacitor. Initially, the capacitor is uncharged and no
current is flowing in the circuit.
When the switch is closed at time t = 0, electrons from the negative poles of the battery will flow through the
resistance R and accumulate on the right plate of the capacitor while the electrons on the left plate will flow to
the positive terminal of the battery. This causes a current to flow in the opposite direction. The charge in the
capacitor will be increasing gradually and the potential difference across the capacitor will be increasing
exponentially. At any instant,
𝑉𝑜 = 𝑉𝐶 + 𝑉𝑅 ∴ 𝑉𝑅 = 𝑉0 − 𝑉𝐶
where V0 is the emf.
If Q is the charge that is filled in the capacitor then
𝑄
𝑉𝑐 =
𝐶
and 𝑉𝑅 = 𝐼𝑅
𝑄
𝐼𝑅 = 𝑉0 −
𝐶
𝑄
𝑉0 = 𝐼𝑅 + 𝐶
𝑑𝑄
Since 𝐼 = 𝑑𝑡
𝑑𝑄 𝑄
𝑉𝑂 = 𝑅+
𝑑𝑡 𝐶
𝑡 𝑄
𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑄
∫ =∫
0 𝑅𝐶 0 𝐶𝑉𝑂 − 𝑄

But Qo = CVo
𝑡 𝑄
𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑄
∫ =∫
0 𝑅𝐶 0 𝑄𝑂 − 𝑄

ln QO  Q   ln Qo  
t
RC
t
Q 
1  e RC
QO
t

Q  Q0 (1  e RC
)
But
Q
V 
C
t
QO 
 (1  e )RC
C
t

 VO (1  e RC
)

VR  VO  V
t

 VO e RC
 VR
I
R
t
VO  RC
 e
R
t

 IOe RC

From the above equations, we can conclude that the charge stored in the capacitor and the potential difference
across the capacitor are increasing exponentially but the current and potential difference across the resistor are
decreasing exponentially as shown in the graphs below.

Example 7
A capacitor of capacitance 20F is charged by a battery of emf 15 V. It then discharges through a 60 k
resistor.
(a) What is the time constant for the discharge circuit?
(b) Determine time for the charge to decrease to
1
i. from initial value,
e
ii. half of its from initial value.
Solution:
(a) The time constant,  for this capacitor is:
  RC  60 k(20F)  1.20 s
(b) Time for the charge to decrease to :
 1
i. from initial value,
e
1
The charge to decrease into from initial would mean is equal to the time constant RC.
e
= 1.2 s.

1
ii. from initial value
2

t
Q 1 
 From the equation Q  Q0e RC we can rearrange the equation into:
Q0 2
t
Q 
 e RC
Q0
t
1 
e 
2
t
 1
ln e   ln( )
2
t
   ln( 2)

t  RC ln 2
 0.83 s
Example 8

Solution:
(a) Q = CV
 A
C= o
d
 o AV
Q=
d
(8.85  1012 )(0.24)(0.80  103 )
=
0.65  102
7
= 2.614  10 C
 t

(b) (i) Discharging Q  Q e RC

t
Q 
 Q e RC
2
1 t
ln  
2 RC
1
 t   RC ln
2
= 2.265  106 s

dQ
(ii) Discharging current I 
dt
t

II e RC

t
Q 
 (e RC )
RC
= 0.0434 A