Chapter 3 : CAPACITANCE

35

Chapter 3
Capacitance
3.0 CAPACITOR

A capacitor is a device for storing electrical charges. It is a combination of

conducting plates separated by an insulator or dielectric. In most cases a practical interest, the
conductors usually have charges of equal magnitude and opposite sign, so that the net charge
on the capacitors whole is zero. The electric field of the conductors is proportional to the
magnitude q of the charge on each conductor, and it follows that the potential difference Vab
between the conductors is also proportional to q. If we double the magnitude of the charge on
each point, the potential difference between conductors double and the ratio of charge to
potential difference does not change.

q eq.3.1
C=
V ab

It follows from the definition that the unit of capacitance is one coulomb per volt
(C/V). A capacitance of one coulomb per volt is called farad (F), in honor of Michael
Faraday.

Capacitors have numerous practical uses, and contemporary electronics could not
exist without them, they are an essential element in tuning circuits in radio transmitters and
receivers, in circuits that smooth and regulate the output of electronic power supplies, in
engine ignition system, electronic attachment for cameras, in the circuits of pacemakers and in
other areas.

3.1 THE PARALLEL-PLATE CAPACITOR

The most common type of capacitor consist of two conducting plates parallel to each
other separated by a distance that is small compared with the linear dimensions of the plates.
Practically the entire field of such a capacitor is localized in the region between the plates. The
fields between the plates are uniformly distributed over their opposing surfaces.

_+
_+
_+
The electric field magnitude between pair of closely spaced parallel plates in vacuum
_+
is:
_+
_+
_+
D Ψ q
_+E= = =
εo Aε o Aε o

Parallel Plate Capacitor

 Chapter 3 : CAPACITANCE
36

where D = ψ/A ( D is flux density) ψ = q (ψ is total number of lines of force)

Since the electric fields between the plates is uniform, the potential difference
(voltage) between the plates is

qd
V ab=Ed=
Aε o

Where d is the separation of the plates. Hence the capacitance of a parallel-plate

capacitor in vacuum is

q q Aε o
C= = =
V ab qd d eq. 3.2
Aε o

Since єo,A, and d are constants for a given capacitor, the capacitance is a constant,
independent of the charge on the capacitor, and is directly proportional to the area of the
plates, and inversely proportional to their separation.

SI unit of capacitance:
coulomb2
FARAD=
Nm 2

The farad is extremely large unit of capacitance: thus units of more convenient sizes
are the microfarad and picofarad.

μF = 10-6 F
pF = 10-12 F
nF = 10-9 F

3.2 CAPACITANCE WITH A DIELECTRIC

If the space between the plates of a capacitor is completely filled with a dielectric
material, the capacitance C is increased by a factor k, called the dielectric constant, which is a
Chapter 3 : CAPACITANCE
37

characteristic of the material. In a region that is completely filled by a dielectric, all

electrostatic equations containing єo must be modified by replacing єo with kєo.

The effects of adding a dielectric can be understood physically in terms of the action
of an electric field on the permanent or induced electric dipoles in the dielectric slab. The
result is the formation of induced charges on the surfaces of the dielectric, which results in a
weakening of the field within the dielectric for the same free charge on the plates.

kε o A eq. 3.3
C=
d
DIELECTRIC CONSTANTS OF SOME MATERIALS

Material Dielectric Constant, κ

Vacuum 1.0000
Air 1.00054
Vacuum 1.0000
Air 1.00054
Teflon 2.1
Benzene 2.28
Paper 3.3
Rubber 6.7
Methyl Alcohol 33.6
Rubber Mica 5.4
Water 80.4

Problem: 1.2 µF is the capacitance of an empty capacitor. The capacitor is connected to a 12-V
battery and charged up. A slab of dielectric material is inserted between the plates, with the
capacitor connected to the battery. As a result, 2.6 x 10 -5 C of additional charge flows from
one plate, through the battery, and on to the other plate. What is the dielectric constant κ of the
material?

3.3 COMBINATION OF CAPACITOTS

Two or more capacitors often combined in electric circuits. We can calculate the
equivalent capacitance of certain combinations using methods described in this section. We
make an assumption that the capacitors combined are initially uncharged.

3.3.1 Capacitors in Parallel

 Chapter 3 : CAPACITANCE
38

Suppose we connect three capacitors in parallel and joined to a device for

establishing a potential difference, such as a cell.

q1 q2 q3
+
C1 C2 C3 VT
-
V1 V2 V3

Parallel Capacitors

Obviously, all the capacitors are charged to the same potential, since they are
connected directly to the same potential difference. Thus

V T =V 1=V 2=V 3
The quantity of charge on each must be respectively:

q 1=C 1 V T q 2=C 2 V T q 3 =C3 V T

The total charge QT must be the sum of the separate charges on the three capacitors:

Q T =q1 + q2 +q3

Then: QT =C1 V T +C 2 V T +C 3 V T
Dividing both sides of the equation by VT, we obtain

C T =C 1 +C 2 +C 3
For capacitor connected in parallel, the total capacitance is the sum of all separate
capacitances.

Chapter III -
Chapter 3 : CAPACITANCE
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3.3.2 Capacitors in Parallel

Now suppose we connect the three capacitors in series as shown in figure. positive
charge placed on C1 from the + source induces a negative charge on the second plate as the
electron are attracted away from the plate C2, which is connected to C1. A positive charge of
the same magnitude is left on the + plate of C2, similarly the plates of C3 acquired the same
magnitude of charge, thus,

Q T =q1 =q 2=q3

V1 V2 V3
+ - + - + -

C1 C2 C3
q1 q2 q3

+ -
VT
Series Capacitors

The total difference of potential, VT, across the series capacitors must be equal to the
sum of the separate potential differences across each capacitor V 1, V2 and V3.

V T =V 1 +V 2 + V 3

Since the charge from the source is qT , then by definition:

qT qT qT qT
V We
T=
have 1 V 11 = 1 1 V 2= V 3=
CT = +C 1 + C2 C3
CT C 1 C 2 C 3
That is, for capacitors connected in series, the reciprocal of the total capacitance is equal to the
sum of the reciprocals of the several capacitances

3.4 ENERGY STORED IN A CAPACITOR

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Some external energy source, such as a battery, usually provides the increased
electric potential energy needed to charge a capacitor. The energy needed can be calculated
using

ΔE PE=qV ave
where Vave is the average potential difference between the capacitor plates while
being charged. Since the initial voltage across the plates is zero and the final voltage is V, the
average potential difference between the plates is

0+V V
V ave= =
2 2
Thus, the energy stored in a charged capacitor can be expressed as

qV q2 CV 2
W =Δ EPE= = =
2 2C 2

SUPPLEMENTARY PROBLEMS

1. A parallel plate capacitor has a capacitance of 7.0 F when filled with dielectric. The
area of each plate is 1.5 m 2 and the separation between the plates is 1.0 x 10 -5 m. What
is the dielectric constant?

2. A parallel plate capacitor has a plate of dimension 2.0 cm by 3.0 cm separated by 1.0
mm thickness of paper (a) find its capacitance, (b) what is the maximum charge that
can be placed on the capacitor?
Chapter 3 : CAPACITANCE
41

3. Calculate the net capacitance of three capacitors of capacitances 3.0 F, 6.0 F and
12.0 F when connected (a) in series and (b) in parallel. (Ans: 1.7 F, 21 F)

4. (a) Three capacitors of capacitance 10 F, 12 F, and 16 F are connected in parallel
across a 120-V potential difference. Calculate the equivalent capacitance of a single
capacitance that can be replace three capacitors, and calculate the magnitude of the
charge on its plates. (b) Repeat the problem for the same three capacitors arranged in
series.

5. (a) A 10 F capacitor and a 6 F capacitor are connected in parallel. Find the energy
stored by the capacitors when charged by a 1,000 V potential difference. (b) Repeat
the problem for a circuit in which the capacitors are connected in series.

6. Using techniques similar to those used when calculating equivalent resistance,

calculate the equivalent capacitance of the capacitors shown in the figure. (Ans: 4 F)
2 F

12 F

4 F

7. Completely fill the table below for the capacitors in the circuit shown in figure. (Note:
E = qV/2)

C2 = 8 F
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C1= 6 F

C3 =6 F C4 =12 F

12 V

C C(F) q (C) V (Volts) Energy (J)

C1
C2
C3
C4
CT

8. Find the equivalent capacitance between a and b for the combination of capacitors
shown. All capacitor are in microfarad. Vab = 24 V
C1 = 4.0

C2 = 1.0
C3 3.0
a b
C4 = 6.0

C6 = 2.0

C5 = 8.0
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43

9. A 3.0 F and a 6.0 F capacitor when connected in parallel together store 4.0 J of
electric potential energy. Calculate the energy stored if capacitors are connected in
series across the same voltage.

10. How should four 2.0 F capacitor connected (draw it) to have a total capacitance of (a)
8F, (b) 2F, (c) 1.5F (d) 0.5F?

11. Two capacitors when connected in parallel give an equivalent capacitance of 9.0-pF
and an equivalent capacitance of 2.0-pF when connected in series. What is the
capacitance of each capacitor?

12. A capacitor with square metal plates separated by air has a capacitance of 4.0F.
a) What does the capacitance become if the separation of the plate is doubled?
b) What is the capacitance if plates with the same separation as the original
plates but whose sides are each two times longer than the original plates?
c) What does the capacitance become if a dielectric material of dielectric
constant 1.5 is placed between the original plates?
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44

13. Five capacitors are connected as shown. C1, C2, C4 and C5 have capacitances of 6, 6, 2 and
2 F respectively. If the accumulated charge on C1 is 24 C and the potential difference
across C5 is 4V, find C3 and Vab.
C4
C5
C3

C C
1 2
a b
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45

14. A parallel plate capacitor has plates of area 600. cm 2 and a separation of 4.00 mm. The
capacitor is charged to 100 V and is then disconnected from the battery
(a) Find the electric field Ε0 , and the electrostatic energy EPE0.
A dielectric material of constant κ = 4 is then inserted, completely filling the space
between the plates. Find (b) the new electric field Ε , (c) the potential difference V and (d)
the new electrostatic energy EPE.

15. For the diagram shown. Complete the table.

C (F) Q V
1 5.0
2 5.0
C2
3 5.0
4 5.0 C3 C9
C4
5 C1 5.0 a b
6 5.0 C7 C6 C5
7 5.0
8
C8
5.0
9 5.0
CT = QT = VT = 120 V