Capacitance

Conductor:-
The elements which have free electrons in
them are called conductor.
Insulator :-
The elements which does not have free
electron in them are called insulator.
Dielectric:-
Those insulator on which charge is induced
on their surface when they placed in the
external electric field.
Behavior of conductor in the
external electric field:-
• 1.Electric field inside a conductor is zero
• Let a conductor is placed in a external electric field
E

+ Ep + -
-
+ - + -
+ - + -

• The free electros in the conductor experienced a force in the

opposite direction of electric field due to electrons drift in the
conductor and an electric field is induced inside the conductor. the
drifting of electrons continue till the induce electric field inside the
conductor become equal to the external electric field. The net field
inside become zero.
2.The electric field on the surface of the
conductor is normal to the surface:-
• Let the field is not normal then it
makes some angle other then 90 with θ
the surface . E
• Hence a none zero component Ecosθ
of electric field act along the surface.
• Therefore free electrons experience a
force along the surface and start
moving which constitute electric
current with out source of current.
Hence electric field is normal to the
surface
3.The charge in side the conductor
is zero in static condition.
• We know by Gauss Theorem

• As E is zero inside the conductor then

electric q is also zero.
4.Electrostatic potential is constant throughout the
conductor and has equal value (in side) as on it
surface.

• 5.Electric field on the surface of the conductor is

• E=

• Where σ is the surface charge density and nΛ is the

unit vector normal to the surface of the conductor.
Let a conductor of charge densityσ
E
• Take a small area element of area
A σ
• The charge enclosed by the area
q= σA
• Take a Gaussian surface which is
a cylinder partially inside and
partially outside the surface
• The electric field inside the
conductor is zero . Then
By Gauss Theorem

• Or

• As the electric field is normal to the

surface of the conductor , so
 Electrostatic shielding
• Consider a conductor with a cavity ,with no charge inside
the cavity .The electric field inside the cavity is zero. The
electric field inside a charge spherical conductor is
always zero. E
E
+ σ>0
+ +
σ>0 + +
E=0

Conducting __ _
body
σ<o

E
 Electrostatic shielding
• When a charge is given to a conductor or it is
placed in the external electric field then the
electric field inside the conductor or cavity is
always zero .the cavity inside the conductor
remain shielded from the influence of
external electric field ,this phenomenon is
known as electrostatic shielding.
• This effect is use to protect sensitive
instruments from outside electrical influence.
 Capacitance
The charge storing ability of a conductor is called capacitance.
Let a charge q is given to a conductor and its potential is rise by V volt
then it is found that
qαV
q = CV
Where C is a constant called capacitance of the conductor.
C= q/ V
Hence the ratio of charge given to a conductor and rise in potential
is called capacitance to the conductor.
The S.I unit of capacitance is coulomb/volt called Farad .its
dimensional formula is M-1L-2T4A2
One Farad:-
One Farad is the capacitance of that conductor whose potential is rise
by one volt on giving one coulomb charge to it.
 Capacitor
• The arrangement which have the ability of storing
large charge is called capacitor.
• (a) Parallel plate capacitor
• (b) Cylindrical capacitor
• (c) Spherical capacitor
• Principle of capacitor:-
• When a uncharged grounded conductor is placed
near a charged conductor then charge storing
capacity of the conductor will increase.
+ -+
+ -+
+ -+
+ -+
 Electric field due to charged parallel plate
• Le two metallic charged parallel plate having charge
densities σA andσB then
I II III
EA σA EA EA
σB
EB EB EB

• The electric field in the different regions are

• E1=EA +EB
• E1= σA /2εo + σB /2εo
• E2= σA /2εo -σB /2εo
• E3= σA /2εo +σB /2εo
• If σA and σB are equal and opposite
• let σA=+σ and σB =-σ then
• E1= 0 E = σ/ε E= 0
2 o 3
 Capacitance of a parallel plate capacitor

• Let a parallel plate capacitor of plate area A are separated

by a distance d

+ -
+ -
A
+ -
+ -
d

• Let a charge +q is given to the first plate , then –q charge

will induce on the other plate.
• Surface charge density on the plate σ =q/A
• The electric field between the plate E = σ/ε
0
 The potential difference between the plate
• V= E.d
• V=

Hence capacitance is directly

• V= proportional to proportional to plate
area A and inversely to d
• Then C=

C=

C=
 Combination of Capacitors
• 1-Series Combination:-
• Let three capacitors of capacity C1,C2, and C3 are
connected in series with a source of emf of V volt
+
C1 +
C2 C
- - + 3 -
+ +
q q- q q- +q q-
+ - + + -
-
+ - + + -
-
V1 V2 V3

• Let q is the charge through each capacitor and V1,V2

and V3 are the potential across each capacitors
Then we know that q=CV
C1 C2 C3
-
or q=C1V1 + - + - +
-
+ - + - +
V1=q/ C1 + - + - + -
-
V2=q/ C2 + - + - +

V3=q/C3
Then V=V1+V2+ V3
V

V= -----------(1)
Let the effective capacitance is C then

V= Putting this value in equation (1)

=
Parallel combination:-
• Let three C1,C2 and C3 capacitors are connected in parallel
• Let q1 ,q2 and q3 are the charge in the capacitor C1 ,C2 and C3
respectively
• Let V is the potential across each capacitor then
C1
• q1=C1V
• q2=C2V q1
• q3=C3V C2
• The total charge q
• q= q1 +q2 +q3 q2
• q=C1V +C2V +C3V ----------(1)
• Let the effective capacitance is C then C3
• q=CV Putting this vale in equation (1)
q3
• CV=C1V +C2V +C3V V
• C = C 1 + C 2 + C3
V
 Energy stored in the capacitor
• Let a capacitor of capacity C having a charge q and potential V .Then
• q=CV
• If an additional charge dq is given to the capacitor then work done by
the external source
• dW= V.dq This work is stored
• dW= q/c.dq in the form of P.E..
•
• W=

• W=

• W=
Energy stored in series and parallel combination
• Let Three capacitors C1,C2.and C3 are connected in series with a source
and q is the charge across each capacitors then energy stored in each
capacitor is
•
• U1= U=2
U= 3

• Let the effective capacitance is C then energy stored in the combination

•
• U= But in series combination
• There fore U=

• Then U= U +U +U
1 2 3
Let the three capacitors are connected in parallel and V is the
potential across each capacitors
• Then energy stored across each capacitors is

• U 1= U 2= U3=

• Let the effective capacitance is C then energy stored in this

combination
• U =1/2 CV2 But in parallel combination C=C1+C2+C3
• Then U= 1/2 ( C1 +C2 +C3 )V2
• U = 1/2 C1V2 +1/2C2 V2 +1/2C3 V2
• U= U1 +U2 +U3
• Hence the energy stored in series and parallel combination
are equal to sum of the energy stored in each capacitors.

•
 Energy stored in terms of electric field
• The energy stored in a capacitor is
• U=1/2CV2
• But C=εo A/d and
• V=Ed then
•

• The energy stored per unit volume is

• U=1/2 εo E2
Capacitance of a parallel Plate capacitor
with dielectric slab between the plate
• Let a parallel plate capacitor of plate area A and separation between the
plate is d, let q is the charge on the plate
• The charge density
+ -
+ Eo -
+ -
• The electric Field between the plate
+ -
+ -
• E= d
o

• Eo =
Let a dielectric of dielectric constant K of thickness
t is inserted between the plate
• The reduce value of electric field inside the
dielectric is
• E= Eo / K + -
+ -
• The potential between the plate +
E -
• V= +
-
Eo(d-t) + E.t +
t
-
+
-
• V=
Eo(d-t) + Eot /K d

• V=
Eo

• V=
The capacitance of the capacitor

• C= If the dielectric is fully filled between the plate

Then t=d and the capacitance

• C=
C=
Or
• C=
C= K Co
• C=
Where Co is the capacitance
with out dielectric slab
Dielectric constant:-
• We know that
• C=K Co then
• K=C / Co
• Hence the dielectric constant of a dielectric is
define as the ratio of capacitance of a capacitor
with dielectric slab to the capacitance of the
same capacitor without dielectric slab
• Q2- A parallel plate capacitor is charged
by a battery of V volt , which is then
disconnected. A dielectric slab of dielectric
constant K is inserted in the space
between the plates. Explain what change
,if any , occur in the value of (i)
Capacitance (ii) potential difference
between the plates (iii) electric field
between the plates (iv) energy stored in
the capacitor.
Loss of Energy in combination
of capacitors
• Let two capacitors of capacitance C1 and
C2 are charged by potential V1 and V2.
• The charge on capacitor C1 is q1= C1V1
µF
• The charge on capacitor C2 is q2= C2V2
• The total charge q=q1+q2
• q= C1V1 + C2V2
• The common Potential
The energy stored in both capacitors before
combination
• The energy stored in both capacitors after
combination
• Where C is the effective capacitance of
the combination and V is the common
potential
The change in energy ΔU = U-U`

• Then
This energy is lost in the combination of
capacitors
• The loss of energy is in the form of
electro-magnetic radiation( spark)
Q3-Two parallel plate capacitors X and Y have the
same area of plates and same separation between
them X has air between the plates and Y contain a
dielectric of medium K=4

• Calculate the capacitance of each capacitor if

equivalent capacitance of the combination is 4µF.
• Potential difference between X and Y.
• Ratio of energy stored in X and Y

X Y

12V
Let area and separation between the plates
are A and d then
• The capacitance of capacitor X is
• The capacitance of capacitor Y is

• Cx and Cy are connected in series, then

Cx = 5µF

Hence Cy= 20µF

Charge through the network
q = CV
q = 4µF X 12V
q= 48µC
potential across Cx is
potential across Cy is

• Or

• The energy stored in Cx is

• The ratio of energy stored

The capacitance of a parallel plate capacitor
is C. If two dielectric of dielectric constant K1
and K2 are inserted between the plates as
shown in figure then, what will be new
capacitance in two cases.
C
• Case (I) A/2
• There are two A
A
capacitors having A/2

dielectric constant K1
and K2 d d/2 d d/2

K1
K1 K2

K2
Capacitance of first part of capacitor is

• Similarly capacitance of second part of

capacitor is

• Both the parts are connected in parallel

• then effective resistance in first case is
• Ca = C1 + C2
In second case the capacitance of first part
is

• Similarly capacitance of second part of

capacitor is
• Both the parts are connected in series
Or

• Or

• The ratio of capacitance in two case

•
Find the equivalent capacitance of the of the
network between A and B.
• C1,C2 and C3
are in parallel 2 4
A 1 3 B
C`=C1+C2+C3 2µF 3µF 5µF 10µF

C1
C`= 10µF
C4
1 C2 2
C` and C4 are A B
in series, then 3 4
10µF

C3
C=5µF
A slab of dielectric constant K has the same
late area as that of parallel plate capacitor
but has thickness 2d/3,where d is the
separation between the plates. Find the
expression for its capacitance when the
dielectric is inserted between the plates.
• We know that capacitance of a parallel
plate capacitor with partially filled dielectric
slab

• Here t= 2d/3
or

Or
2d/3 d/3
 A 10µF capacitor is charged by a 30V supply
and then connected across an uncharged
50µF capacitor. Calculate
(1) The final P.D. across the combination
(2) The initial and final energy stored , how you will
account for the difference in energy
Sol. C1=10µF=10X 10-6 F , C2= 50µF=50X10-6F
V1= 30V , V2 = 0
The common potential difference
or

(2) Initial energy of the capacitor is

New capacitance of the combination

Final energy of the combination

• Or

• The energy decreases after connection.

• This energy appears as heat and radiate
in the form of electromagnetic radiation.
Find the ratio of potential difference that must be
applied across the parallel and series combination
of two capacitors C1 and C2 with their capacitance
in the ratio 1:2 s that energy stored in the to case
becomes the same.
• Let the capacitance are C1=C and C2=2C
• In parallel combination effective
capacitance Cp = C1 + C2 = 3C
• Energy stored in parallel
Effective capacitance in series combination

• Energy stored in series combination

Given that U1 = U2

• Or
A point charge q is placed at point O as shown in
the figure. Is VP- VQ positive or negative , when
(i)q>0 (ii) q <0 Justify your answer.
q
• We know that
O P Q
Or

• (i) if q> 0 then q is positive and (rQ-rP) is

also positive, so VP- VQ is positive.
• (ii) if q <0 then q is negative and (rQ-rP) is
positive ,so VP- VQ is negative.
Four charges Q, q, Q and q are placed at
the corners of a square of side a as shown
in the figure. Find
Q q
(i) Resultant electric force A D

on a charge Q. a
(ii) Potential energy of the q
Q
system B a C

Solution : We calculate force Q q

A D
on charge Q at C
Force on Q at C due to a

charge q at B q Q F1
B a C
Force on Q at C due to charge q at D

• AC = a√2 Q q
A D
• Force on Q at C due to
charge Q at A a

q Q F1
B a C

F2 F3
• Component of force
along BC and DC will be
• F3Cos 45 = F3/√2
Total force along BC is F1 + F3/√2 = F13

Total force along DC is F2 + F3/√2 = F23

Resultant force
But F13 and F23 are equal then