Capacitance and

Capacitors
Capacitance
 A capacitor is a device used in a
variety of electric circuits
 The capacitance, C, of a capacitor
is defined as the ratio of the
magnitude of the charge on either
conductor (plate) to the magnitude
of the potential difference
between the conductors (plates)
 Capacitance, cont
 Q  V is the potential
C
V difference across
 Units: Farad (F) a circuit element
 1F=1C/V
or device
 A Farad is very  V represents the
large actual potential
 Often will see µF due to a given
or pF
C  oL charge at a given
 ε = 8.85x10-12 F/m
location
Parallel-Plate Capacitor
 The capacitance of a device
depends on the geometric
arrangement of the conductors
 For a parallel-plate capacitor
whose plates are separated by air:
A
C  o
d
 Parallel-Plate Capacitor,
Example
 The capacitor consists of
two parallel plates
 Each have area A
 They are separated by a
distance d
 The plates carry equal and
opposite charges
 When connected to the
battery, charge is pulled off
one plate and transferred to
the other plate
 The transfer stops when
DVcap = DVbattery
 Electric Field in a Parallel-
Plate Capacitor
 The electric field
between the plates is
uniform
 Near the center
 Nonuniform near the
edges
 The field may be
taken as constant
throughout the
region between the
plates
Applications of Capacitors
– Camera Flash
 The flash attachment on a camera uses
a capacitor
 A battery is used to charge the capacitor
 The energy stored in the capacitor is
released when the button is pushed to take
a picture
 The charge is delivered very quickly,
illuminating the subject when more light is
needed
 Applications of Capacitors
– Computers
 Computers use
capacitors in many
ways
 Some keyboards use
capacitors at the
bases of the keys
 When the key is
pressed, the capacitor
spacing decreases
and the capacitance
increases
 The key is recognized
by the change in
capacitance
Capacitors in Circuits
 A circuit is a collection of objects
usually containing a source of
electrical energy (such as a
battery) connected to elements
that convert electrical energy to
other forms
 A circuit diagram can be used to
show the path of the real circuit
Capacitors in Parallel
 When connected
in parallel, both
have the same
potential
difference, V,
across them
Capacitors in Parallel
 When capacitors are first connected in
the circuit, electrons are transferred
from the left plates through the battery
to the right plate, leaving the left plate
positively charged and the right plate
negatively charged
 The flow of charges ceases when the
voltage across the capacitors equals
that of the battery
 The capacitors reach their maximum
charge when the flow of charge ceases
Capacitors in Parallel
 The total charge is
equal to the sum of
the charges on the
capacitors
 Qtotal = Q1 + Q2
 The potential
difference across the
capacitors is the
same
 And each is equal to
the voltage of the
battery
More About Capacitors in
Parallel
 The capacitors can
be replaced with one
capacitor with a
capacitance of Ceq
 The equivalent
capacitor must have
exactly the same
external effect on the
circuit as the original
capacitors
Capacitors in Parallel, final
 Ceq = C1 + C2 + …
 The equivalent capacitance of a
parallel combination of capacitors
is greater than any of the
individual capacitors
Capacitors in Series
 When in series,
the capacitors are
connected end-to-
end
 The magnitude of
the charge must
be the same on
all the plates
 Capacitors in Series
 When a battery is connected to the circuit,
electrons are transferred from the left
plate of C1 to the right plate of C2 through
the battery
 As this negative charge accumulates on
the right plate of C2, an equivalent
amount of negative charge is removed
from the left plate of C2, leaving it with an
excess positive charge
 All of the right plates gain charges of –Q
and all the left plates have charges of +Q
More About Capacitors in
Series
 An equivalent
capacitor can be
found that
performs the same
function as the
series combination
 The potential
differences add up
to the battery
voltage
Capacitors in Series, final
 V  V1  V2
1 1 1
  
Ceq C1 C2
 The equivalent capacitance of a
series combination is always less
than any individual capacitor in the
combination
 Problem-Solving Strategy,
Equation Summary
 Use the following equations when working
through the circuit diagrams:
 Capacitance equation: C = Q / DV
 Capacitors in parallel: Ceq = C1 + C2 + …
 Capacitors in parallel all have the same voltage
differences as does the equivalent capacitance
 Capacitors in series: 1/Ceq = 1/C1 + 1/C2 + …
 Capacitors in series all have the same charge, Q,
as does their equivalent capacitance
Energy Stored in a
Capacitor
 Energy stored = ½ Q ΔV
 From the definition of capacitance,
this can be rewritten in different
forms
2
1 1 Q
Energy  QV  CV 2 
2 2 2C
Application
 Defibrillators
 When fibrillation occurs, the heart produces
a rapid, irregular pattern of beats
 A fast discharge of electrical energy through
the heart can return the organ to its normal
beat pattern
 In general, capacitors act as energy
reservoirs that can be slowly charged
and then discharged quickly to provide
large amounts of energy in a short
pulse
 Capacitors with Dielectrics
 A dielectric is an insulating material
that, when placed between the plates of
a capacitor, increases the capacitance
 Dielectrics include rubber, plastic, or waxed
paper
 C = κCo = κεo(A/d)
 The capacitance is multiplied by the factor κ
when the dielectric completely fills the
region between the plates
Capacitors with Dielectrics
Dielectric Strength
 For any given plate separation,
there is a maximum electric field
that can be produced in the
dielectric before it breaks down
and begins to conduct
 This maximum electric field is
called the dielectric strength
An Atomic Description of
Dielectrics
 Polarization occurs when there is a
separation between the “centers of
gravity” of its negative charge and
its positive charge
 In a capacitor, the dielectric
becomes polarized because it is in
an electric field that exists
between the plates
Application – Electrostatic
Precipitator
 It is used to remove
particulate matter from
combustion gases
 Reduces air pollution
 Can eliminate
approximately 90% by
mass of the ash and
dust from smoke
 Recovers metal oxides
from the stack
Application – Electrostatic
Air Cleaner
 Used in homes to reduce the
discomfort of allergy sufferers
 It uses many of the same
principles as the electrostatic
precipitator
Application – Xerographic
Copiers
 The process of xerography is used
for making photocopies
 Uses photoconductive materials
 A photoconductive material is a poor
conductor of electricity in the dark
but becomes a good electric
conductor when exposed to light
The Xerographic Process
Application – Laser Printer
 The steps for producing a document on
a laser printer is similar to the steps in
the xerographic process
 Steps a, c, and d are the same
 The major difference is the way the image
forms on the selenium-coated drum
 A rotating mirror inside the printer causes the
beam of the laser to sweep across the selenium-
coated drum
 The electrical signals form the desired letter in
positive charges on the selenium-coated drum
 Toner is applied and the process continues as in
the xerographic process
problems
1. Determine the amount of charge
stored on either plate of a capacitor
(4x10^-6F) when connected across
a 12 volts battery.
2. If the plate separation for a
capacitor is 2.0x10^-3 m, determine
the area of the plates if the
capacitance is exactly 1 F.
3. Calculate the voltage of the
battery connected to parallel plate
capacitor with a plate area 0f 2.0
cm^2 and a plate separation of 2
mm if the charge stored on the plate
is 4 pC.
4. C1 = 3 μF, C2 = 4 μF and C3 = 3 μF, are
connected in series and parallel. Determine the
electric energy on the circuits.