Capacitor and Capacitance

Phenomenon
1. What will happen if I is at 1?

5Ω I
vAB iAB
1
0V 0A
2
iAB vAB
5V A
II
10 Ω B
2. Then, what will happen if II is closed?

5Ω I
vAB iAB
1
5V 0A
2
iAB vAB
5V A
II
10 Ω B
3. Then, what will happen if I is at 2?

5Ω I
vAB iAB
1
0V 1A
2
iAB vAB
5V A
II
10 Ω B
4. What will happen if I is at 1 and II is
replaced by a 2-metal-plate device?
5Ω I
vAB iAB
1
0V 0A
2
iAB vAB
5V A
II
10 Ω B
 vAB [V] Transient Steady state

vAB (0-) = vAB (0+) = 0

5Ω I
1 vAB (ꚙ) = 5V
2
iAB 0 τ
τ: time constant
t

5V A iAB [A]
II 1 iAB (0-) = 0A
10 Ω
B iAB (0+) = 1A
iAB (ꚙ) = 0A
0 τ t

II is called a Capacitor = storing energy element. It can be empty or full.

Empty => Closed switch, Full => Open switch
5. What happen if Capacitor is full and I is at 2?
vAB [V] Transient Steady state

5Ω I 5
1
2
iAB vAB
5V A 0 τ t
τ: time constant
II
10 Ω iAB [A]
B 1

0 τ t
 vAB [V]
5
5Ω I
1 vAB (0+) = vAB (0-) = 5V
2 vAB (ꚙ) = 0V
iAB vAB
5V A
II 0 t
10 Ω τ τ time constant
B
Transient Steady state
iAB [A] τ
t
0

iAB (0-) = 0A
- 0.5 iAB (0+)= -0.5A
iAB (ꚙ) = 0A

Capacitor acts like a source

 vAB [V]
5Ω
Transient Steady state
I
1 5

2
iAB
A Capacitor is charging
5V 0 τ t
τ: time constant
II vAB
10 Ω iAB [A]

B 1

0 τ t

5Ω I vAB [V]
1 5

2
iAB
5V A
0 t
II vAB τ τ time constant

10 Ω τ Transient Steady state Capacitor is discharging

B iAB [A]
0
t

- 0.5
Capacitor
C = εrε0 A/d
C: capacitance [F]
εr: Relative permittivity of the material
ε0: Permittivity of air = 8.85 pF/m
A: Area [m2]
d: Distance [m]
E: Electric field = V/d [V/m]
V: voltage [V]
Symbols of capacitor
Defibrillator.
“Automated external
defibrillator”.
Máy sốc tim tự động.
 Basic notes
1. Capacitor is a storing energy element: it can be
charged and discharged => time constant 𝜏 = 𝑅𝑡ℎ C
2. Empty => Closed switch, Full => Open switch
3. Q [C] = C [F] . V [V]
4. Stored energy W [J] = ½ C [F] . V2 [V]
5. Voltage cannot change instantly v(0+) = v(0-)
6. Current changes instantly i(0) = max
𝑑𝑞 𝑑𝑣
7. ic(t) = =C
𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑡
 Capacitor connections
• Series
1. Same charge Q
2. 1/Ceq = 1/C1 + 1/C2 + 1/C3 + …
C
3. V1 = V eq
C1
4. Wt = W1 + W2 + W3 + …

• Parallel
5. Same voltage V
6. Ceq = C1 + C2 + C3 + …
7. Qt = Q1 + Q2 + Q3 + …
C1
8. Q1 = Qt
C1+C2+C3+...
9. Wt = W1 + W2 + W3 + …
 Example
C1 = 3,000pF

Find: QC1, QC2, QC3,

10V
VC1, VC2, VC3
C2 = 200pF C3 = 800pF

18
 Solution for Q and V
C2&3 = C2 + C3 (formula 6) = 200 ∗10−12 + 800 ∗10−12 = 1,000∗10−12 F
C1 C2&3 1,000∗10−12x 3,000∗10−12 −12 F (f.2)
Ceq = = 12 = 750 ∗10
C1 + C2&3 1,000∗10 + 3,000∗10
−12 −

Q = Ceq V = 750 ∗10−12 x 10 = 7.5*10-9 C

QC1 = Q = 7.5*10-9 C (f. 1)
C2 200∗10 −12
−9C (f.8)
QC2 = Q = 7.5*10-9 12 = 1.5∗10
C2 + C3 −
200∗10 +800∗10
12 −

C3 800∗10−12 −9C
QC3 = Q = 7.5*10 -9 = 6∗10
C2 + C3 200∗10−12+800∗10−12
C𝑒𝑞
VC1 = V (f.3) C1 = 3,000pF
C1
C𝑒𝑞 750∗10−12
VC1 = V = 10 = 2.5V
C1 3,000∗10−12 10V

C𝑒𝑞 750∗10−12 C2 = 200pF C3 = 800pF

VC2 = VC3 = V = 10 = 7.5V (f.5)
C2&3 1,000∗10−12 19
 DETERMINE THE VALUES OF CURRENT AND
VOLTAGE OF A CAPACITOR AT A SPECIFIC TIME

At the time when the switch is changing position

 Example
A 16Ω 1 t = 1h

IC I1 I2
2 t=0

8Ω 8Ω V1 I4 12A
VC
I3 V2 8Ω
B

Switch was at 1 for a long time, at t = 0 sec it goes to 2 and stays there
for 1h then goes back to 1
Find: i1, i2, i3, ic
V1, V2, VC
At t = 0-, t= 0+, t = 1h-, t = 1h+ 21
 Solution 16Ω
A 1 t = 1h
I2
t = 0- IC I1 2 t=0

8Ω 8Ω V1 I4 12A
Questions: VC
I3 V2 8Ω
1. Where is switch? at 1
2. Is C full or empty? full => OC B

8 A 16Ω 1 t = 0-
i1 = i2 = 12 = 3A I2
16+8+8 IC I1 2
i3 = 12 – 3 = 9A => v1 = 9 x 8 = 72V VC 8Ω 8Ω V1 I4 12A
I3 V2 8Ω
iC = 0A => vC = vAB = 3 x 8 = 24V
B
i4 = 0 A => v2 = 0V
22
 I1 [A] I2 [A] I3 [A] I4 [A] Ic [A] v1 [V] v2 [V] vc [V]
t = 0- 3 3 9 0 0 72 0 24
t = 0+ 24
t =1h-

t =1h+
 Solution 16Ω
t = 0+ A 1 t = 1h

IC I1 I2
vC (0+) = vC (0-) = 24V = vAB 2 t=0

8Ω 8Ω V1 I4 12A
Questions: VC
I3 V2 8Ω
1. Where is switch? at 2
B
2. Is C full or empty? full => discharge
A 16Ω 1
24
i1 = = 3A I2
8 IC I1 2 t = 0+
24 I4
i2 = – = – 1A => i3 = 1A => V1 = 8V VC 8Ω 8Ω V1 12A
16+8 I3 V2 8Ω
KCL at A: iC = i2 – i1
B
= – 1 – 3 = – 4A
i4 = 12A => v2 = 12 x 8 = 96V 24
 I1 [A] I2 [A] I3 [A] I4 [A] Ic [A] v1 [V] v2 [V] vc [V]
t = 0- 3 3 9 0 0 72 0 24
t = 0+ 3 -1 1 12 -4 8 96 24
t =1h-

t =1h+
 Solution 16Ω
A 1 t = 1h
I2
t = 1h- IC I1 2 t=0

8Ω 8Ω V1 I4 12A
Questions: VC
I3 V2 8Ω
1. Where is switch? at 2
2. Is C full or empty? Empty => SC B

i1 = i2 = i3 = iC = 0A A 16Ω 1
I2
v1 = 0V IC I1 2 t = 1h-

8Ω 8Ω V1 I4 12A
i4 = 12A => v2 = 12x8 = 96V VC
I3 V2 8Ω
vC = 0V B

26
 I1 [A] I2 [A] I3 [A] I4 [A] Ic [A] v1 [V] v2 [V] vc [V]
t = 0- 3 3 9 0 0 72 0 24
t = 0+ 3 -1 1 12 -4 8 96 24
t =1h- 0 0 0 12 0 0 96 0
t =1h+ 0
 Solution 16Ω
t = 1h+ A 1 t = 1h

IC I1 I2
vC (1h+) = vC (1h-) = 0V = vAB 2 t=0

8Ω 8Ω V1 I4 12A
Questions: VC
I3 V2 8Ω
1. Where is switch? at 1
B
2. Is C full or empty? Empty => SC
vC = 0V 16Ω
A 1 t = 1h+
i1 = 0A IC I1 I2
2
8
i2 = iC = 12 = 4A 8Ω 8Ω V1 I4 12A
16+8 VC
I3 V2 8Ω
i3 = 12 – 4 = 8A => v1 = 64V
i4 = 0A => v2 = 0V B
28
 I1 [A] I2 [A] I3 [A] I4 [A] Ic [A] v1 [V] v2 [V] vc [V]
t = 0- 3 3 9 0 0 72 0 24
t = 0+ 3 -1 1 12 -4 8 96 24
t =1h- 0 0 0 12 0 0 96 0
t =1h+ 0 4 8 0 4 64 0 0
 Solution 16Ω
A 1 t = 1h
I2
t→ꚙ IC I1 2 t=0

8Ω 8Ω V1 I4 12A
Questions: VC
I3 V2 8Ω
1. Where is switch? at 1
2. Is C full or empty? full => OC B

8 A 16Ω 1 t = 0-
i1 = i2 = 12 = 3A I2
16+8+8 IC I1 2
i3 = 12 – 3 = 9A => v1 = 9 x 8 = 72V VC 8Ω 8Ω V1 I4 12A
I3 V2 8Ω
iC = 0A => vC = vAB = 3 x 8 = 24V
B
i4 = 0 A => v2 = 0V
30
 I1 [A] I2 [A] I3 [A] I4 [A] Ic [A] v1 [V] v2 [V] vc [V]
t = 0- 3 3 9 0 0 72 0 24
t = 0+ 3 -1 1 12 -4 8 96 24
t =1h- 0 0 0 12 0 0 96 0
t =1h+ 0 4 8 0 4 64 0 0
t→ꚙ 3 3 9 0 0 72 0 24