PIA Training Centre (PTC) Module 3 – ELECTRICAL FUNDAMENTALS

Category – B Sub Module 3.9 – Capacitance / Capacitor

MODULE 3
Sub Module 3.9

CAPACITANCE / CAPACITOR

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TANTALUM: ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 10
CONTENTS POLYESTER FILM------------------------------------------------------------------- 11
INTRODUCTION --------------------------------------------------------------------- 2 OIL CAPACITORS ------------------------------------------------------------------- 11
VARIABLE CAPACITORS------------------------------------------------------------ 12
OPERATION AND FUNCTION OF A CAPACITOR ----------------------------- 2
TRIMMERS ------------------------------------------------------------------------- 12
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN VOLTAGE AND CHARGE IN A CAPACITOR -- 4 VARACTORS ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 13
FACTORS AFFECTING CAPACITANCE ------------------------------------------- 5 CAPACITOR COLOUR CODING ------------------------------------------------- 14
AREA OF PLATES -------------------------------------------------------------------- 5 CALCULATIONS OF CAPACITANCE AND VOLTAGE IN SERIES AND
DISTANCE BETWEEN PLATES ---------------------------------------------------- 5 PARALLEL CIRCUITS --------------------------------------------------------------- 15

NUMBER OF PLATES --------------------------------------------------------------- 6 CAPACITORS IN SERIES ------------------------------------------------------------ 15

CAPACITORS IN PARALLEL -------------------------------------------------------- 17
DIELECTRIC CONSTANT------------------------------------------------------------ 6
EXPONENTIAL CHARGE AND DISCHARGE OF A CAPACITOR ------------ 19
SAFE WORKING VOLTAGE -------------------------------------------------------- 8
CHARGE OF A CAPACITOR THROUGH A RESISTOR ------------------------------ 22
CAPACTOR TYPES ------------------------------------------------------------------- 9
TIME CONSTANT ------------------------------------------------------------------ 22
FIXED CAPACITORS: ----------------------------------------------------------------- 9
MICA CAPACITORS: ----------------------------------------------------------------- 9 TESTING OF CAPACITOR --------------------------------------------------------- 25
CERAMIC:---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 9
ELECTROLYTIC: ---------------------------------------------------------------------10

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charged. The water tank would be the capacitor and it would be

INTRODUCTION charged by a pump (a battery) which fills it up. The amount of
charge in the capacitor would be analogous to the amount of
water in the tank. The height of the water above some reference
A Capacitor basically consists of two plates separated by point would be the voltage to which the battery had pumped up
dielectric medium which is used to store electrical charges. The the capacitor, and the area of the tank would be capacitance.
conductors can be any material which will conduct electricity A tall, skinny tank might contain the same amount of water as a
easily. The dielectric material must be a poor conductor – an shallow, flat tank, but the tall, skinny tank would hold it at a
insulator. The symbol for a capacitor used in schematic higher pressure.
diagrams of electronic circuits looks very much like a parallel-
plate model.

FIGURE: 3.9.1

OPERATION AND FUNCTION OF A CAPACITOR

A favorite analogy compares the flow of electric current with the

flow of water out of a tank. A capacitor stores energy when it is

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FIGURE: 3.9.2

When charged by a battery, one electrode of the capacitor will

become positively charged and the other one will be
correspondingly negatively charged.

FIGURE: 3.9.4

In a vacuum, K = 1, while “K” in every material has some value

greater than 1. The higher the “K,” the more capacitance can
be realized, with all other things being equal.
The expression of capacitance is seen here, and note the
presence of the constant,
8.85 X 10–12(permittivity of vacuum).
The only trick involved in using this equation is to keep the
FIGURE: 3.9.3 units consistent. Capacitance is in farads, the area “A” is in
square meters and the distance between electrodes “D” is in
When the diagram of the capacitor is magnified, it can be seen meters. “K” is a ratio and a pure number without dimensions.
that the presence of electrical charges on the electrodes Sometimes different constants are used in the equation. This
induces charges in the dielectric. These induced charges comes about when units other than farads and meters are used.
determine something called permittivity. Each different dielectric Microfarads and inches might be used, for example.
material has its own value of permittivity. A more practical and To get an idea of what a farad is, calculate the area which
better known measurement tool is called “K,” or dielectric would be necessary in a capacitor built to have one farad, to
constant. “K” is the ratio of the permittivity of the dielectric in use
to the permittivity of free space – a vacuum. Therefore, all the
capacitance values are related to the permittivity of vacuum.

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Operate in a vacuum, and to have a spacing between through investigation of other dielectric systems later on.
electrodes of one millimeter. First, turn the equation around to
solve for the area and then plug in the values known. This
calculates to 113 million square meters, which would be a field
about 6.5 miles on aside. It’s not hard to see why one farad
capacitors aren’t made
very often and when they are, they are never made with a
vacuum dielectric and a one millimeter spacing. Vacuum
capacitors are made, but the market is pretty well limited to
laboratory standards. All commercial capacitors use some
different dielectric material with a higher value of K.
FIGURE:3.9.6

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN VOLTAGE AND CHARGE

IN A CAPACITOR

There is a direct relationship between the Voltage (V) placed

across the plates of a capacitor and the charge (Q) held by
them. If the voltage is doubled the charge is doubled, if the
charge is halved then the voltage is halved etc. This tells us
that the ratio of charge to voltage is constant and this is known
FIGURE: 3.9.5 as the CAPACITANCE (C) of the capacitor i.e.:

Materials used today are in the table. There is a tendency Q

toward the higher values of K. (With a K of 10, there would be a C=
V
reduction of one farad capacitor area to a mere 11.3million
square meters!) The wide range in values for barium titanate, Where Q is in coulombs, V is in volts and the constant C is in
which is the basis for most ceramic capacitors, is an unfortunate FARADS (F).
fact of nature which will be discussed more completely later on.
A capacitor opposes change in voltage i.e. it resists immediate
Why make commercial capacitors with any of the materials building of charge around its plates.
having low values of K? The answer generally less with other
capacitor characteristics such as stability with respect to The farad is a very large unit and in practice it is usual to find
temperature, voltage ratings, etc. These will all be explored capacitance measured in microfarads or even pico farads.

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These sub units are: Answer

1
farads 1microfarad(F )106 F also109 F 1nanoFarad Substituting in Formula
1000000

1 2
microfarads  1 picofarad ( pF ) 10 12 F C 1 2
 8.85 10 12 F
1000000 10
 200  8.85 10 12
Of course, when values are put into the capacitance charge and
voltage formula given above they must be in their basic unit. C  1770 10 12 F or 1770 pF

Example
When a voltage of 28V is present across a 10 microfarad FACTORS AFFECTING CAPACITANCE
capacitor, what is the charge on the capacitor?

Answer AREA OF PLATES

Q
C By increasing the area of the plates we can put more charge on
V the plates before the repulsive forces becomes a problem.
or Q=C  V Therefore, the capacitance is proportional to the overlapping
I.e. Q= 10  10-6  28 coulombs surface area of the plates. In a variable capacitor the
overlapping area can be increased or decreased by rotating
interpenetrating plates thus increasing or decreasing the
Q = 280  10-6 coulombs (C) capacitance. Electrolytic capacitors have their plates etched to
produce a rough surface which increases the surface area still
further.
It should be noted that the capacitor can be considered to act as
a reservoir, storing a quantity of electricity as an electrostatic DISTANCE BETWEEN PLATES
field between the surfaces. We shall now proceed to see what
factors affect capacitance. Decreasing the separation of the plates, decreases the voltage
of the capacitor since the electric-field is not affected by the
Example distance between the plates. The voltage on the capacitor
is V=Ed. Therefore the voltage increases. For a constant
Calculate C for two plates each with an area 2 m2, separated by charge, Q, C=Q/V =Q/Ed.
1 cm, or 10-2 m, with a dielectric of air.
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NUMBER OF PLATES DIELECTRIC CONSTANT

The most convenient way of achieving large capacitance is by
The dielectric constant of a material is actually its ABSOLUTE
using large plate area. Increasing the pate area may increase
PERMITTIVITY with the symbol Ɛ or K and itis the measure of
the physical size of the capacitor enormously. In order to obtain
the dielectric’s ability to concentrate into itself electrostatic
a large area of plate surface without using too bulky a capacitor,
FLUX.
multi plate construction is employed. In this construction, the
This factor also corresponds to relative permeability, with the
capacitor is built up of alternate sheets of metal foil(i.e. plates)
symbol µr and these numbers are pure numbers without units as
they are ratios.
Hence Ɛr= Ɛ / Ɛo like µr = µ / µo
and thin sheets of dielectric. The odd-numbered metal sheets
are connected together to form one terminal T1 and even- The Permittivity of free space Ɛo is 8.854 x 10-12 F/m in S units
numbered metal sheets are connected together to form the for electrical flux in air or a vacuum.
second terminal T2 FIGURE: 3.9.7 shows a multi plate capacitor
with seven plates. A little reflection shows that this arrangement Various materials are used as dielectrics and they have their
is equivalent to 6 capacitors in parallel. The total capacitance own dielectric values. One material used is, waxed paper,
will, therefore , be 6 times the capacitance of a single capacitor when inserted between the plates instead of air, the
( formed by say plates 1 and 2). If there are n plates, each of capacitance is multiplied by about 3 and this is the dielectric
area A, then (n-1) capacitors will be in parallel. constant for waxed paper.

The Relative Dielectric constant of materials (kr) is always given

Capacitance of n plate capacitor = (n-1) as a multiplier of that of Air or Vacuum. The greater the relative
permittivity the greater the capacitance of the capacitor

The absolute Permittivity of Air or Vacuum is (ko) 8.854 pF/m

(pico farads/meter).

To obtain the dielectric constant of materials we have to multiply

K = ko x kr or kr x 8.85 x 10-12 F/m
Since, Kr = k / ko

Taking all these together in a formula from which the

capacitance of a parallel plate capacitor can be found by:
FIGURE: 3.9.7

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ka Constant K 
C farads
d
As usual the quantities must be in their correct basic units i.e. ‘a’ Air or vacuum 1 20
in square meters, ‘d’ in meters and ‘k’ is a pure number. The
answer then obtained is in farads. Aluminium oxide 7
When IQ is stored in the dielectric with a potential difference of
1V the capacitance is 1 F. Similarly, the Dielectric strength is Ceramics 80-1200 600-1250
the ability of a dielectric to withstand a potential difference
without arcing across it. Capacitors with higher Voltage ratings Glass 8 335-2000
have more distance between their plates The greater is the
relative permittivity the greater is the capacitance of a capacitor. Mica 3-8 600-1500

1 Mil = 1/1000 of an inch Oil 2-5 275

1 Circular Mil dia is usually of a circular conductor strand having
its diameter of 1 Mil. Paper 2-6 1250
1 Square Mile is usually a term used for the busbar conductors
having a length and or breadth of 1 Mil. Plastic film 2-3
Example Tantalum oxide 25
Calculate C for two plates each with an area 2 m2, separated by Figure 3.9-1
1 cm, or 10-2 m, with a dielectric of air.
The strength of some commonly used dielectric materials
Answer is listed in Figure 3.9-1. The voltage rating also describes the
Substituting in Formula resultant heating effect, increase as the frequency increases.
2
C 1 2
 8.85 10 12 F
10

 200  8.85 10 12

C  1770 10 12 F or 1770 pF

Material Dielectric Dielectric Strength

V/Mil
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SAFE WORKING VOLTAGE

When a dc voltage is applied across the plates of a capacitor

the electrons in the materials between the plates are put under
strain. This is shown in a very simple way in the diagram. In
the diagram the capacitor is not charged and the electrons are
spinning in their normal orbits. When the switch is closed the
electrons will be attracted towards the positive plate and away
from the negative plate. As the voltage applied to the plates is
increased the electrons are stretched in their orbits more and
more and if the voltage is increased to or beyond the rated
maximum safe working value the electric field becomes strong
enough to cause a flash-over between the plates. This is
usually written on the capacitor as say ‘750V DC WKG’.

NOTE: It should be noted that a charged capacitor,

especially a large one, can be very dangerous, so
always make sure that it is discharged before you
attempt to touch it.

FIGURE: 3.9.9

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CAPACTOR TYPES
Capacitors come in all shapes and sizes and are usually Fixed capacitors:
marked with their value in farads. They may also be divided into
two groups: fixed and variable. The fixed capacitors, which have Mica capacitors:
approximately constant capacitance, may then be further
divided according to the type of dielectric used. Some varieties The fixed mica capacitor is made of metal foil plates that are
are: paper, oil, mica, electrolytic and ceramic capacitors. Figure separated by sheets of mica, which form the dielectric. The
3.9-7 shows the schematic symbols for a fixed and variable whole assembly is covered in molded plastic, which keeps out
capacitor. moisture. Mica is an excellent dielectric and will withstand
higher voltages than paper without allowing arcing between the
plates. Common values of mica capacitors range from
approximately 50 microfarads, to about 0.02 microfarads. Mica
capacitor is shown in figure 3.9.11

FIGURE 3.9.10 Schematic Symbols for a fixed and variable FIGURE 3.9.11 MICA CAPACITORS
capacitor
Ceramic:
The ceramic capacitor is constructed with materials, such as
titanium acid barium for a dielectric. Internally these capacitors
are not constructed as a coil, so they are well suited for use in
high frequency applications. They are shaped like a disk,
available in very small Capacitance values and very small sizes.
This type is fairly small, inexpensive, and reliable. Both the
ceramic and the electrolytic are the most widely available and
used capacitor. ceramic capacitor is shown in figure 3.9.12

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high capacitance value, but allows greater possibility of voltage

breakdown and leakage of electrons from one electrode to the
other. An electrolyte capacitor of the same size as of a 0.1µF
paper capacitor may have 1000 µF of capacitance or more.
The electrolyte of the dry electrolytic unit is a paste contained in
a separator made of an absorbent material, such as gauze or
paper. The separator not only holds the electrolyte in place but
also prevents it from short circuiting the plates. Dry electrolytic
capacitors are made in both cylindrical and rectangular block
form and may be contained either within cardboard or metal
FIGURE 3.9.12 CERAMICS CAPACITORS covers. Since the electrolyte cannot spill, the dry capacitor may
be mounted in any convenient position. If the Electrolytic
Electrolytic: capacitor is connected in opposite polarity the reversed
electrolyte form gas in the capacitor, it becomes hot & may
Two kinds of electrolytic capacitors are in use: (1) wet explode. Electrolytic capacitors are shown in Figure 3.9.13
Electrolytic and (2) dry electrolytic. The wet electrolytic capacitor
is designed of two metals Plates separated by an electrolyte
with an electrolyte dielectric, which is basically conductive salt in
solvent.

For capacitances greater than a few microfarads, the plate

areas of paper or mica capacitors must become very large;
thus, electrolytic capacitors are usually used instead. These
units provide large capacitance in small physical sizes. Their
values range from 1 to about 1,500 microfarads. FIGURE 3.9.13 ELECTROLYTIC CAPACITOR
Unlike the other types, electrolytic capacitors are generally
polarized, with the positive lead marked with a “+” and the Tantalum:
negative lead marked with a “−” .They are used in circuits that
have a combination of DC & AC voltage, the DC voltage Similar to the electrolytic, these capacitors are constructed
maintains the required polarity across the capacitor to form the with a material called tantalum, which is used for the electrodes.
Oxide film (molecular dielectric) deposit on the positive They are superior to electrolytic capacitors, having better
electrode, which is an aluminum sheet folded to achieve temperature& frequency characteristics, longer shelf life and
maximum area of the capacitor. The close spacing of the less leakage current. When some tantalum powder is baked it
negative and positive electrodes gives rise to the comparatively solidifies and a crack is formed inside. This crack is used to

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store an electrical charge. Like electrolytic capacitors, the Oil Capacitors

tantalum capacitors are also polarized and are indicated with
In radio and radar transmitters, voltages high enough to cause
the “+” and “−” symbols. The dielectric constant of tantalum is
arcing, or breakdown, of paper dielectrics are often used.
25 in comparison to Aluminum which is 7. Tantalum capacitors
Consequently, in these applications capacitors that use oil or oil
are shown in Figure 3.9.14
impregnated paper for the dielectric material are preferred.
Capacitors of this type are considerably more expensive than
ordinary paper capacitors, and their use is generally restricted
to radio and radar transmitting equipment. [Figure 3.9.16]

FIGURE 3.9.14 TANTALUM CAPACITOR

Polyester Film
In this capacitor, a thin polyester film is used as a dielectric.
These components are inexpensive, temperature stable, and
widely used. Tolerance is approximately5–10 percent. It can be
quite large depending on capacity or rated voltage capacitors FIGURE 3.9.16 OIL CAPACITOR
are shown in Figure 3.9.15

FIGURE 3.9.15 POLYESTER CAPACITOR

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Variable Capacitors

Variable capacitors are mostly used in radio tuning circuits, and

they are sometimes called “tuning capacitors.” They have very
small capacitance values, typically between 100pF and 500pF.

Trimmers

The trimmer is actually an adjustable or variable capacitor,

which uses ceramic or plastic as a dielectric. Most of them are
color coded to easily recognize their tunable size. The ceramic
type has the value printed on them. Colors are yellow (5pF),
blue (7pF), white (10pF), green (30pF), and brown
(60pf).trimmer capacitor is shown in figure 3.9.17

FIGURE 3.9.17TRIMMER

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Varactors

A voltage-variable capacitor or varactor is also known as a

variable capacitance diode or a varicap. This device utilizes the
variation of the barrier width in a reversed-biased diode.
Because the barrier width of a diode acts as a non-conductor, a
diode forms a capacitor when reversed biased. Essentially the
N-type material becomes one plate and the junctions are the
dielectric. If the reversed-bias voltage is increased, then the
barrier width widens, effectively separating the two capacitor
plates and reducing the capacitance. varactor capacitor is
shown in figure 3.9.18 FIGURE 3.9.18 VARACTOR

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CAPACITOR COLOUR CODING

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SUMMARY OF TYPES OF CAPACITORS
CALCULATIONS OF CAPACITANCE AND VOLTAGE IN
Maximum SERIES AND PARALLEL CIRCUITS
Type Capacitance Remark
Voltage
Cheap. Used in
circuits where In the previous topic we saw what is meant by capacitance in
Paper 250 pF – 10 F 150 kV electrical terms and how the capacitance of a capacitor is
losses are not
important measured. Just as in the case of resistors and inductors we
High quality. Used now need to be able to calculate the total capacitance of circuits
Mica 25 pF – 0.25 F 2kV
in low loss circuits with capacitors in series, parallel and combinations of series
High quality. Used and parallel.
in low loss precision
0.25 pF – 0.01
Ceramic 500V circuits where Capacitors In Series
F
miniaturization is
important When capacitors are placed in series, the effective plate
Used where large separation is increased and the total capacitance is less than
capacitance is that of the smallest capacitor. Additionally, the series
needed. The circuit combination is capable of withstanding a higher total potential
in which it is used difference than any of the individual capacitors. Figure 3.9.19 is
Electrolytic 1 F – 1000 F 600V normally contains a a simple series circuit. The bottom plate of C1 and the top plate
dc component of of C2 will be charged by electrostatic induction. The capacitors
voltage. It must be
connected right way
round.
Gives large variation
Variable 50 pF –500 pF 2 Kv
in capacitance.
Gives small
Trimmer 2 pF = 150 pf 350 V variation in
capacitance.

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Here is an example of capacitors in series: charge as current is

established through the circuit. Since this is a series circuit, the
current must be the same at all points. Since the current is the
rate of flow of charge, the amount of charge (Q) stored by each
capacitor is equal to the total charge.

QT = Q1 + Q2 + Q3

According to Kirchhoff’s voltage law, the sum of the voltages

across the charged capacitors must equal the total voltage, ET.
This is expressed as:

ET = E1 + E2 + E3

Equation E = Q/C can now be substituted into the voltage

equation where we now get:

Since the charge on all capacitors is equal, the Q terms

Can be factored out, leaving us with the equation:

Figure 3.9.19 SIMPE SERIES CIRCUIT

In general, for N capacitors connected in
series, is

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1 3 2 1 6
i.e.  
C 12 12

12
C=  2F
6
Consider the following example:
If the answer had worked out to be 4 or more then we would
immediately know an error had been made.

Capacitors In Parallel
When capacitors are connected in parallel, the effective plate
area increases, and the total capacitance is the sum of the
individual capacitances. Figure 3.9-3 shows an amplified
parallel circuit. The total charging current from the source
Example 1 divides at the junction of the parallel branches. There is a
Three capacitors of value 4F, 6F and 12F are joined in separate charging current through each branch so that a
series. Find the total capacitance of the circuit. different charge can be stored by each capacitor. Using
Kirchhoff’s current law, the sum of all of the charging currents is
4 6 12 All F then equal to the total current. The sum of the charges (Q) on
the capacitors is equal to the total charge. The voltages (E)
across all of the parallel branches are equal. With all of this in
mind, a general equation for capacitors in parallel can
Since all of the capacitors have the same unit of microfarads we Be determined as:
can insert them into the expression and the answer derived will
be in microfarads. Putting in these values we get:
QT = Q1 + Q2 + Q3
1 1 1 1
   Because
C 4 6 12
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Q = CE: CTET = C1E1 + C2E2 + C3E3

Voltages can be factored out because:

ET = E1 + E2 + E3

Leaving us with the equation for capacitors in parallel:

CT = C1 + C2 + C3
It is fairly obvious from the previous discussion that
for N capacitors in parallel, the total capacitance is

V = V1 = V2
FIGURE 3.9.20 SIMPLIFIED PARALLEL CIRCUIT
I = I1 + I2
Q = Q1 + Q2
Example 1
CV = C1V1 + C2 V2
C = C1 + C2
Three capacitors of 8F, 10F and 2F are connected in
parallel. What is the total capacitance of the circuit?
Consider the following example:
Answer 1
If, C1 = 330μF, C2 = 220μF
THEN, Using the parallel formula and substituting the given values:

CT = 330μF + 220μF = 550μF C = C1 + C2 + C3

C = 8F + 10F + 2F = 20F
I.e. C = 20F

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Example 2 EXPONENTIAL CHARGE AND DISCHARGE OF A
CAPACITOR
If the supply voltage placed across the capacitors given in
Example 1 is 20 kilovolts, find the value of the charge on each
capacitor. (Remember to use the basic units of farad and volt.) The diagrams 3.9.21(a) and (b) below show an uncharged
capacitor connected to a switch and, because the switch is
Answer 2 open, there is no voltage across the plates, therefore, there is
no electrostatic field and no energy is stored in the capacitor.
The voltage across each capacitor is 20 kilovolts and by
inserting this voltage into the general formula for the capacitors At the instant the switch is closed maximum current flows in the
and assuming the charges on them are Q1, Q2 and Q3 circuit and a charge starts to appear on the plates of the
respectively, we get the following results: capacitor. This is an important fact i.e. the capacitor cannot
change its charge instantaneously. However very soon after
the switch is closed the battery removes electrons from the
{Q1 = C1V
i.e. {Q1 = 8 x 10-6 x 20 x 103 coulomb
{Q1 = 160 x 10-3 = 0.16 coulomb plate M and gives electrons to the plate N. This movement of
electrons is called the charging current and in this case where
there is no resistance in the circuit, will only last a very short
{Q2 = C2V time. This is because the capacitor is able to become fully
i.e. {Q2 = 10 x 10-6 x 20 x 103 coulombs charged almost instantaneously. Whilst the charge is building
up the voltage must be changing in the same way because we
{Q2 = 200 x 10-3 = 0.2. coulomb know that Q/V is a constant.

{Q3 = C3V When the voltage across the plates equals the battery voltage
the capacitor is fully charged, no current flows in the circuit and
i.e. {Q3 = 2 x 10-6 x20 x103 = coulomb the charges on plates M and N are equal and opposite. The
{Q3 = 40 x10-3 = 0.04 coulomb extent of the charges on the plates depends upon the voltage of
the battery and the capacitance of the capacitor.

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 PIA Training Centre (PTC) Module 3 – ELECTRICAL FUNDAMENTALS
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Let us now see what happens when the switch is opened. At the
instant the switch is opened we know the capacitor cannot In effect, the capacitor can be isolated from the circuit but still
change its charge instantaneously, therefore no current can flow have a voltage potential and it is behaving as a battery storing
and this is obvious because, with the switch open, there is no electrical energy. Hence the reason why there is a warning not
path for a current to flow. The diagrams show this state and to leave a capacitor around fully charged.
you can see that the capacitor continues to store electrical
energy and the voltage between the plates remains at the same If the plates are fully charged as shown in below and the battery
value of the battery voltage. voltage is suddenly reversed, the plates will discharge through

the battery and charge up again in the opposite direction (fig

3.9.22).

As this change of charge takes place current flows momentarily

the other way compared with the initial charging current.

You should note that except for these momentary charge and
discharge currents, capacitors do not allow dc current to flow
continuously through a circuit and a charged capacitor acts as a
‘block’ to dc currents. This effect is made use of in many
electronic circuits.

FIGURE:3.9.21

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 PIA Training Centre (PTC) Module 3 – ELECTRICAL FUNDAMENTALS
Category – B Sub Module 3.9 – Capacitance / Capacitor

FIGURE:3.9.22

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 PIA Training Centre (PTC) Module 3 – ELECTRICAL FUNDAMENTALS
Category – B Sub Module 3.9 – Capacitance / Capacitor

Charge Of A Capacitor Through A Resistor The time in the formula is that required to charge to 63%of the
voltage of the source. The time required to bring the charge to
about 99% of the source voltage is approximately5 τ. Figure
When the switch is closed in the circuit shown below, the rate of
3.9-6 illustrates this relationship of a time constant
flow of current is determined not only by the amount of
characteristics of charging.
resistance but also by the opposition of any charge which is
stored by the capacitor. If the capacitor has no charge when the
CHARGE DISCHARGE CURVE
switch is closed the current will rise instantly to its maximum
value, given by V/R and the capacitor will begin to charge. The
At t = 0 T
increasing charge will establish a potential difference, opposing
the supply voltage V, which will cause the current to fall. When
Q = 0 coulombs, as No charge at C.
the voltage across the capacitor (Vc), is equal (and opposite) to
VC = 0
the supply voltage the current will have fallen to zero.
I = V / R Maximum Current flows as the Capacitor acts like a
short circuit.
Time Constant
By applying KVL
The time required for a capacitor to attain a full charge is
proportional to the capacitance and the resistance of the circuit. V = VR + VC
The resistance of the circuit introduces the element of time into =IR + Q/C
the charging and discharging of a capacitor. = I R+ 0
When a capacitor charges or discharges through a resistance a =IR
certain amount of time is required for a full charge or discharge. I = V / R i.e. Imax.
The voltage across the capacitor will not change
instantaneously. The rate of charging or discharging is
determined by the time constant of the circuit. The time constant AT t = 1 T
of a series RC (resistor/capacitor) circuit is a time interval that As charging progress as per KVL equation
equals the product of the resistance in ohms and the
capacitance in farad and is symbolized by the Greek letter tau V = IR + Q/C
(τ).τ = RC

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 PIA Training Centre (PTC) Module 3 – ELECTRICAL FUNDAMENTALS
Category – B Sub Module 3.9 – Capacitance / Capacitor

the current decreases and the charge Q increases and at t = 1T VC = 0.632 x V

VR = 0.368 x V I = - 0.368 / R
VC = 0.632 x V
At t = 5 T
Putting values in the equation
V = 0.368 V + 0.632 V VR = 0
I = VR/ R VC = 0
I = 0
AT T = 5T

The capacitor is fully charged and the circuit current is zero.

Q=CV
VC = V
VR = 0
I =0
By KVL
V = 0 + VC

DISCHARGING

At t = 0 T
The capacitor is fully charged, when we short circuit the supply
then
VR + VC = 0
VR = - VC and
I = - VC / R

At t = 1 T

VR = - 0.368 x V
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 PIA Training Centre (PTC) Module 3 – ELECTRICAL FUNDAMENTALS
Category – B Sub Module 3.9 – Capacitance / Capacitor

FIGURE 3.9.24 CAPACITANCE CHARGE DISCHARGE

CURVE

FIGURE 3.9.23 CAPACITORS IN DIRECT CURRENT

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 PIA Training Centre (PTC) Module 3 – ELECTRICAL FUNDAMENTALS
Category – B Sub Module 3.9 – Capacitance / Capacitor

EXAMPLE 1

A 3F capacitor, charged to a PD of 100V, is discharged

through a 5 resistor. Calculate the time constant and the
voltage across the capacitor after the time constant has
elapsed.
T=CxR
= 5  3 10 6  15 10 6

after 15S the voltage will have fallen 63.2% of its maximum
value of 100V

Vc  100  63.2V  36.8V NOTE: The voltage across the capacitor will fall to 0V in 5 x
15S = 75S

Testing Of Capacitor

A capacitor can be tested using an ohmmeter. When connected

across a capacitor, the ohmmeter's battery charges the
capacitor. The charging of the capacitor is indicated by a
changing value of resistance, from zero to infinity as the
capacitor charges. If the charging process is too quick to see, a
resistor can be placed in series with the meter and capacitor to
slow it down (time constant = CR). In many cases it is
necessary to remove the capacitor from the circuit in order to
test its serviceability.

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