Electricity & Magnetism – Lecture 8

Electric Capacitance continue..

Electric Potential Energy of Capacitor
Electrical Potential energy is stored in a capacitor. The energy comes from
the work that is done in charging the capacitor
Let q and v be the intermediate charge and potential on the capacitor
The incremental work done in bringing an incremental charge, dq, to
the capacitor is then given by
V
𝑞 𝑑𝑞 V = q/c
𝑑𝑊 = 𝑉𝑑𝑞 =
𝐶 q/c

The total work done is just the integral of this equation from 0 to Q q
dq Q
1 Q Q2
W=
C 0 q dq =
2C

Using the relationship between capacitance, voltage and charge we also

obtain
Q2 1 1
U= = C V 2 = QV where U is the stored potential energy
2C 2 2
Energy Density
The quantity that is of interest is in fact the energy density (potential energy/volume)

1 where A and d are the area of the capacitor

CV 2
Energy Density = u = 2
plates and their separation, respectively
Ad

1
Using C = 0
A
and V = E d we then have u = 0 E2
d 2

Example –Calculate the energy stored in a 10 F capacitor when it is charged

to 100 V.
1 1
E = CV 2 =  10 − 5  100 2 = 50 mJ
2 2
Capacitors in Series and Parallel

• Capacitors in parallel
• consider a voltage V applied
across two capacitors
• then the charge on each is
Q = VC Q = VC
1 1 2 2

• if the two capacitors are replaced with a single capacitor C which has a similar
effect as the pair, then

Charge stored on C = Q + Q
1 2
VC = VC + VC
1 2
C = C +C
1 2
Capacitors in Series and Parallel

• Capacitors in series
• consider a voltage V applied
across two capacitors in series

• the only charge that can be

applied to the lower plate of C1 V = V +V
1 2
is that supplied by the upper plate
Q= Q+Q
of C2. Therefore the charge on C C C
each capacitor must be identical. 1 2

Let this be Q, and therefore if a 1= 1 + 1

single capacitor C has the same C C C
1 2
effect as the pair, then
Dielectrics
Most capacitors have a non-conducting material between their plates

This nonconducting material, a dielectric, accomplishes three

things
1) Solves mechanical problem of keeping the plates separated
2) Increases the maximum potential difference allowed between the plates
3) Increases the capacitance of a given capacitor over what it would be
without the dielectric
We write 𝜀0 (permittivity of free space), with a little zero subscript. But other materials
(water, paper, plastic, even air) have different permittivities 𝜀 = k 𝜀0. The k is called the
dielectric constant or relative permittivity, and is a unit less number. For air, k =
1.00054 (we consider, 𝜀 for air is the same as for “free space”)
𝜀 is the property of every material, which measures the opposition
offered against the formation of an electric field.
Some dielectric constants
What happens when you insert a dielectric?
Experiment 2:
Experiment 1:
𝐶0 = capacitance without dielectric 𝐶0 𝑉0 = 𝐶𝑉
𝑞0
𝐶= capacitance with dielectric 𝑉0 =
𝑉0 𝐶 𝐶0
= =𝐾
𝑉 𝐶0

𝑞0 =𝐶0 𝑉0 the potential difference decreases by a factor K

V0
V=
K
𝑞0
𝑉=
𝐶
𝑞=𝐶𝑉0

This constant K is known as the dielectric constant and is

q > 𝑞0 C > 𝐶0 dependent upon the material used and is a number
C = K C0 greater than 1

Capacitance has increased by a factor of K

Molecular theory of Dielectrics
• A dielectric is any material that is not a conductor, but polarizes well.
Permanent dipoles

Induced dipoles
In the absence of
an electric field
polar molecules E0 = the applied field
orient randomly

E’ = the field due to

induced dipoles

E = E0 - E’

The net electric field is

When electric filed
E0
is applied, the E=
molecules tend to K
align with it
𝑉0 𝐸0 Induced Charges
= =𝐾
𝑉 𝐸
Dielectrics and Gauss’ Law
𝑉0 𝐸0
= =𝐾
𝑉 𝐸

𝜀0 ‫𝐸 ׯ‬0 . 𝑑𝐴 = 𝜀0 𝐸0 𝐴 = 𝑞

𝑞
𝐸0 = 1
𝜀0 𝐴

With dielectric
𝜀0 ‫𝐸 ׯ‬. 𝑑𝐴 = 𝜀0 𝐸𝐴 =?
𝜀0 ‫𝐸 ׯ‬. 𝑑𝐴 = 𝜀0 𝐸𝐴 = 𝑞 − 𝑞′ 𝑞 ′ = 𝑖𝑛𝑑𝑢𝑐𝑒𝑑 𝑐ℎ𝑎𝑟𝑔𝑒

𝑞−𝑞′ 𝑞 𝑞′ 2
E= = −
𝜀0 𝐴 𝜀0 𝐴 𝜀0 𝐴

𝐸0 𝑞 𝑞 𝑞 𝑞′ 𝑞
Again 𝐸= = = − 𝑞 − 𝑞′ =
𝐾 𝐾𝜀0 𝐴 From 2 𝐾𝜀0 𝐴 𝜀0 𝐴 𝜀0 𝐴 𝐾
Dielectrics and Gauss’ Law
𝑞
𝑞− 𝑞′ =
𝐾

1
𝑞′ = 𝑞(1 − )
𝐾

𝑞′ < 𝑞 always

= 0 If no dielectric i.e. K =1

Gauss’ law With dielectric

𝜀0 ‫𝐸 𝐾 ׯ‬. 𝑑𝐴 = 𝑞

This equation depends on K not in induced charge

RC Circuit: Charging of a capacitor
Let us assume above, that the capacitor, C is fully
“discharged” and the switch (S) is fully open. These
are the initial conditions of the circuit, then t = 0, i
= 0 and q = 0. When the switch is closed the time
begins at t = 0 and current begins to flow into the
capacitor via the resistor.

Using Kirchhoff’s voltage law (KVL),

𝜀
𝜀 = 𝑖𝑅 + 𝑉𝑐

We know,
When a voltage source is applied to an RC 𝑑𝑞 𝑞
circuit, the capacitor, C charges up through 𝑖= 𝑉𝑐 =
𝑑𝑡 𝐶
the resistance, R
𝑑𝑞 𝑞
𝑅 + =𝜀
𝑑𝑡 𝐶

𝑑𝑞 𝜀 𝑞 𝜀𝐶−𝑞
= - =
𝑑𝑡 𝑅 𝑅𝐶 𝑅𝐶
RC Circuit: Charging of a capacitor
𝑡
− 𝑅𝐶
𝑑𝑞 𝑑𝑡 𝑞 = 𝜀𝑐 (1 − 𝑒 )
=
𝜀𝐶−𝑞 𝑅𝐶 𝑡
− 𝑅𝐶 𝐴𝑠 𝑞0 = 𝜀𝐶
𝑞 =𝑞0 (1 − 𝑒 )
Integrating,

𝑞 𝑡
𝑑𝑞 𝑑𝑡
න − = න −
0 𝜀𝐶 − 𝑞 0 𝑅𝐶
𝑞0

𝜀𝐶 − 𝑞 𝑡 0.632𝑞0
ln =−
𝜀𝐶 𝑅𝐶

𝑡
𝜀𝐶−𝑞 − 𝑅𝐶
=𝑒
𝜀𝐶

𝑡
− 𝑅𝐶
𝜀𝑐 − 𝑞 = 𝜀𝑐 𝑒
RC Circuit: Charging of a capacitor
The Current
𝑡
𝑑𝑞 𝑑 − 𝑅𝐶
𝑖= = 𝑞0 (1 − 𝑒 )
𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑡

1 − 𝑡
= 𝑞0 𝑒 𝑅𝐶
𝑅𝐶
𝜀𝐶 − 𝑡
= 𝑒 𝑅𝐶
𝑅𝐶
𝜀 − 𝑡
= 𝑒 𝑅𝐶
𝑅
𝑡
− 𝑅𝐶
= 𝑖0 𝑒

This suggests that the current grows instantaneously from zero to /R as soon as the switch is closed,
and then it decays exponentially.
RC Circuit: Charging of a capacitor
𝑡 𝐶𝑜𝑢𝑙 𝐶𝑜𝑢𝑙
− 𝑅𝐶 RC= Ohms farad = ohms 𝑉𝑜𝑙𝑡 = 𝑎𝑚𝑝 = 𝑆𝑒𝑐
𝑞 =𝑞0 (1 − 𝑒 )

When t = RC 𝑞 =𝑞0 (1 − 𝑒 − 1 ) 𝑞0

0.632𝑞0
= 0.632𝑞0

Capacitive Time Constant = RC= τ

The product RC (having units of time) has a special significance; it is called

the capacitive time constant of the circuit. The time constant is the amount of
time required for the charge on a charging capacitor to rise to 63% (approx…
2/3) of its final value.
RC Circuit: Discharging of a capacitor
𝑑𝑞 𝑞
𝑅 + =0
𝑑𝑡 𝐶

𝑑𝑞 𝑑𝑡
=-
𝑞 𝑅𝐶
𝑞
If charge from 𝑞0 to q in time interval t, then the q 𝑞0
after time t is obtained by integrating above equation

𝑞 𝑡 0.632𝑞0
𝑑𝑞 𝑑𝑡
න = න −
𝑞0 𝑞 0 𝑅𝐶
0.368𝑞0

𝑞 𝑡
ln = −
𝑞0 𝑅𝐶

𝑡
𝑞= 𝑞0 𝑒 −𝑅𝐶 Time constant of a RC circuit is thus also the time during which the charge on the
capacitor falls from its maximum value to 0.368 (approx… 1/3) of its maximum
value.
RC Circuit: Discharging of a capacitor
In a RC Discharging Circuit the time constant ( τ ) is still equal to the
value of 63%. Then for a RC discharging circuit that is initially fully
charged, the voltage across the capacitor after one time constant, 1T, has
dropped by 63% of its initial value which is 1 – 0.63 = 0.37 or 37% of its
final value.

Thus the time constant of the circuit is given as the time taken for the
capacitor to discharge down to within 63% of its fully charged value. So
one time constant for an RC discharge circuit is given as the voltage
across the plates representing 37% of its final value, with its final value
being zero volts (fully discharged), and this is given as 0.37Vc.
RC Circuit: Discharging of a capacitor
The Current
𝑡
𝑑𝑞 𝑑 −𝑅𝐶
𝑖= = 𝑞0 𝑒
𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑡

𝑞0 − 𝑡
=− 𝑒 𝑅𝐶
𝑅𝐶
𝑡
− 𝑅𝐶
= − 𝑖0 𝑒
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qV-XRsgBonA