Fundamentals Physics

Eleventh Edition

Halliday

Chapter 25
Capacitance
25-1 Capacitance (1 of 6)
Learning Objectives
25.01 Sketch a schematic diagram of a circuit with a parallel-
plate capacitor, a battery, and an open or closed switch.
25.02 In a circuit with a battery, an open switch, and an
uncharged capacitor, explain what happens to the
conduction electrons when the switch is closed.
25.03 For a capacitor, apply the relationship between the
magnitude of charge q on either plate (“the charge on
the capacitor”), the potential difference V between the
plates (“the potential across the capacitor”), and the
capacitance C of the capacitor.
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25-1 Capacitance (2 of 6)
A capacitor consists of two isolated conductors (the
plates) with charges +q and −q. Its capacitance C is
defined from
q  CV .

where V is the potential difference between the plates.

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25-1 Capacitance (3 of 6)
A parallel-plate
capacitor, made up
of two plates of
area A separated
by a distance d.
The charges on the
facing plate
surfaces have the
same magnitude q
but opposite signs

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25-1 Capacitance (4 of 6)
As the field lines
show, the electric
field due to the
charged plates is
uniform in the central
region between the
plates. The field is not
uniform at the edges
of the plates, as
indicated by the
“fringing” of the field
lines there.

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25-1 Capacitance (5 of 6)
Charging Capacitor
When a circuit with a battery, an open switch, and an
uncharged capacitor is completed by closing the switch,
conduction electrons shift, leaving the capacitor plates
with opposite charges.

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25-1 Capacitance (6 of 6)

In Figure. a, a battery B, a switch S, an uncharged capacitor C, and

interconnecting wires form a circuit. The same circuit is shown in the
schematic diagram of Figure. b, in which the symbols for a battery, a
switch, and a capacitor represent those devices. The battery maintains
potential difference V between its terminals. The terminal of higher
potential is labeled + and is often called the positive terminal; the terminal
of lower potential is labeled − and is often called the negative terminal.
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25-2 Calculating the Capacitance (1 of 12)
Learning Objectives
25.04 Explain how Gauss’ law is used to find the
capacitance of a parallel-plate capacitor.
25.05 For a parallel-plate capacitor, a cylindrical
capacitor, a spherical capacitor, and an isolated
sphere, calculate the capacitance.

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25-2 Calculating the Capacitance (2 of 12)
Calculating electric field and potential difference
To relate the electric field E between the plates of a capacitor to
the charge q on either plate, we shall use Gauss’ law:
ur ur
ÑE ×d A = q.
e0 ò

the potential difference between the plates of a capacitor is related

to the field E by
f
V f  Vi    E  ds,
i

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25-2 Calculating the Capacitance (3 of 12)
Letting V represent the difference V f  Vi , we can then recast the
above equation as:

V   E ds


A charged parallel-plate capacitor. A Gaussian surface encloses the

charge on the positive plate. The integration is taken along a path
extending directly from the negative plate to the positive plate.
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25-2 Calculating the Capacitance (4 of 12)
Parallel-Plate Capacitor
We assume, as Figure suggests, that the plates of our parallel-plate
capacitor are so large and so close together that we can neglect the
fringing of the electric field at the edges of the plates, taking E to be
constant throughout the region between the plates.
We draw a Gaussian surface that encloses just the charge q on the
positive plate

q   0 EA

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25-2 Calculating the Capacitance (5 of 12)
where A is the area of the plate. And therefore,
 d
V   E ds  E  ds  Ed .
 0

Now if we substitute q in the above relations to q = CV, we get,

0 A
C  parallel-plate capacitor  .
d

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25-2 Calculating the Capacitance (6 of 12)

A charged parallel-plate capacitor. A Gaussian surface encloses the

charge on the positive plate. The integration is taken along a path
extending directly from the negative plate to the positive plate.
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25-2 Calculating the Capacitance (7 of 12)
Cylindrical Capacitor
Figure shows, in cross section, a cylindrical capacitor of
length L formed by two coaxial cylinders of radii a and b.
We assume that L ? b so that we can neglect the fringing
of the electric field that occurs at the ends of the cylinders.
Each plate contains a charge of magnitude q. Here, charge
and the field magnitude E is related as follows,

q   0 EA   0 E  2 rL 

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25-2 Calculating the Capacitance (8 of 12)
Solving for E field:

 2q0 L ln  ba 
a
V   E ds   2 0 L  q dr
 b r

From the relation C  Vq , we then have

L
C  2 0  cylindrical capacitor .
ln  b
a 

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25-2 Calculating the Capacitance (9 of 12)

A cross section of a long cylindrical capacitor, showing a cylindrical

Gaussian surface of radius r (that encloses the positive plate) and
the radial path of integration. This figure also serves to illustrate a
spherical capacitor in a cross section through its center.
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25-2 Calculating the Capacitance (10 of 12)
Others…
For spherical capacitor the capacitance is:
ab
C  4 0  spherical capacitor .
ba

Capacitance of an isolated sphere:

C  4 0 R  isolated sphere .

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25-2 Calculating the Capacitance (11 of 12)
Checkpoint 2
For capacitors charged by the same battery, does the charge stored
by the capacitor increase, decrease, or remain the same in each of
the following situations? (a) The plate separation of a parallel-plate
capacitor is increased. (b) The radius of the inner cylinder of a
cylindrical capacitor is increased. (c) The radius of the outer
spherical shell of a spherical capacitor is increased.
Answer:
(a) decreases
(b) increases
(c) increases
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25-2 Calculating the Capacitance (12 of 12)

A cross section of a long cylindrical capacitor, showing a cylindrical

Gaussian surface of radius r (that encloses the positive plate) and the
radial path of integration. This figure also serves to illustrate a spherical
capacitor in a cross section through its center.
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25-3 Capacitors in Parallel and in
Series (1 of 9)
Learning Objectives
25.06 Sketch schematic diagrams for a battery and (a) three
capacitors in parallel and (b) three capacitors in series.
25.07 Identify that capacitors in parallel have the same
potential difference, which is the same value that their
equivalent capacitor has.
25.08 Calculate the equivalent of parallel capacitors.
25.09 Identify that the total charge stored on parallel
capacitors the sum of the charges stored on the
individual capacitors.
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25-3 Capacitors in Parallel and in
Series (2 of 9)
25.10 Identify that capacitors in series have the same charge, which
is the same value that their equivalent capacitor has.
25.11 Calculate the equivalent of series capacitors.
25.12 Identify that the potential applied to capacitors in series is
equal to the sum of the potentials across the individual
capacitors.
25.13 For a circuit with a battery and some capacitors in parallel
and some in series, simplify the circuit in steps by finding
equivalent capacitors, until the charge and potential on the
final equivalent capacitor can be determined, and then
reverse the steps to find the charge and potential on the
individual capacitors.
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25-3 Capacitors in Parallel and in
Series (3 of 9)
25.14 For a circuit with a battery, an open switch, and one or more
uncharged capacitors, determine the amount of charge that
moves through a point in the circuit when the switch is
closed.
25.15 When a charged capacitor is connected in parallel to one or
more uncharged capacitors, determine the charge and
potential difference on each capacitor when equilibrium is
reached.

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25-3 Capacitors in Parallel and in
Series (4 of 9)
Capacitors in Parallel
When a potential difference V is applied across several capacitors
connected in parallel, that potential difference V is applied across
each capacitor. The total charge q stored on the capacitors is the sum
of the charges stored on all the capacitors.
q1  C1V , q2  C2V , and q3  C3V .

The total charge on the parallel combination of Figure. 25-8a is then

q  q1  q2  q3   C1  C2  C3 V .

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25-3 Capacitors in Parallel and in
Series (5 of 9)
The equivalent capacitance, with the same total charge q and
applied potential difference V as the combination, is then
Ceq  Vq  C1  C2  C3 ,

a result that we can easily extend to any number n of capacitors, as

n
Ceq   C j  n capacitors in parallel  .
j 1

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25-3 Capacitors in Parallel and in
Series (6 of 9)

Capacitors connected in parallel can be replaced with an equivalent

capacitor that has the same total charge q and the same potential
difference V as the actual capacitors.
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25-3 Capacitors in Parallel and in
Series (7 of 9)
Capacitors in Series
When a potential difference V is applied across several capacitors
connected in series, the capacitors have identical charge q. The sum
of the potential differences across all the capacitors is equal to the
applied potential difference V.
q q q
V1  , V2  , and V3  .
C1 C2 C3

The total potential difference V due to the battery is the sum

1 1 1 
V  V1  V2  V3  q     .
 C1 C2 C3 

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25-3 Capacitors in Parallel and in
Series (8 of 9)
The equivalent capacitance is then
q 1
Ceq   1 1 1 ,
V C1  C2  C3
or
1 1 1 1
   .
Ceq C1 C2 C3

n
1 1
  n capacitors in series  .
Ceq j 1 C j

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25-3 Capacitors in Parallel and in
Series (9 of 9)

Capacitors that are connected in series can be replaced with an equivalent

capacitor that has the same charge q and the same total potential
difference V as the actual series capacitors.
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25-4 Energy Stored in an Electric
Field (1 of 3)
Learning Objectives
25.16 Explain how the work required to charge a capacitor results
in the potential energy of the capacitor.
25.17 For a capacitor, apply the relationship between the potential
energy U, the capacitance C, and the potential difference V.
25.18 For a capacitor, apply the relationship between the potential
energy, the internal volume, and the internal energy density.
25.19 For any electric field, apply the relationship between the
potential energy density u in the field and the field’s
magnitude E.
25.20 Explain the danger of sparks in airborne dust.

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25-4 Energy Stored in an Electric
Field (2 of 3)
The electric potential energy U of a charged capacitor,
q2
U  potential energy  .
2C
and

U  12 CV 2  potential energy  .
is equal to the work required to charge the capacitor. This energy
can be associated with the capacitor’s electric field E .

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25-4 Energy Stored in an Electric
Field (3 of 3)
The potential energy of a charged capacitor may be
viewed as being stored in the electric field between its
plates.
Every electric field, in a capacitor or from any other
source, has an associated stored energy. In vacuum, the
energy density u (potential energy per unit volume) in a
field of magnitude E is

u  12  0 E 2  energy density .

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25-5 Capacitor with a Dielectric (1 of 7)
Learning Objectives
25.21 Identify that capacitance is increased if the space
between the plates is filled with a dielectric material.
25.22 For a capacitor, calculate the capacitance with and
without a dielectric.
25.23 For a region filled with a dielectric material with a
given dielectric constant  , identify that all electrostatic
equations containing the permittivity constant  0 are
modified by multiplying that constant by the dielectric
constant to get  0 .
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25-5 Capacitor with a Dielectric (2 of 7)
25.24 Name some of the common dielectrics.
25.25 In adding a dielectric to a charged capacitor,
distinguish the results for a capacitor (a) connected
to a battery and (b) not connected to a battery.
25.26 Distinguish polar dielectrics from non-polar
dielectrics.
25.27 In adding a dielectric to a charged capacitor,
explain what happens to the electric field between
the plates in terms of what happens to the atoms in
the dielectric.
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25-5 Capacitor with a Dielectric (3 of 7)
If the space between the plates of a capacitor is
completely filled with a dielectric material, the
capacitance C in vacuum (or, effectively, in air) is
multiplied by the material’s dielectric constant  ,
(Greek kappa) which is a number greater than 1.
In a region completely filled by a dielectric material of
dielectric constant  , all electrostatic equations containing
the permittivity constant  0 are to be modified by replacing
 0 with  0 .

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25-5 Capacitor with a Dielectric (4 of 7)

(a) If the potential difference between the plates of a capacitor is

maintained, as by the presence of battery B, the effect of a dielectric
is to increase the charge on the plates.

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25-5 Capacitor with a Dielectric (5 of 7)

(b) If the charge on the capacitor plates is maintained, as in this case

by isolating the capacitor, the effect of a dielectric is to reduce the
potential difference between the plates. The scale shown is that of a
potentiometer, a device used to measure potential difference (here,
between the plates). A capacitor cannot discharge through a
potentiometer.
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25-5 Capacitor with a Dielectric (6 of 7)
An Atomic View

(a) Molecules with a permanent electric dipole moment,

showing their random orientation in the absence of an external
electric field.
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25-5 Capacitor with a Dielectric (7 of 7)
(b) An electric field is
applied, producing partial
alignment of the dipoles.
Thermal agitation prevents
complete alignment.

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25-6 Dielectrics and Gauss’ Law (1 of 4)
Learning Objectives
25.28 In a capacitor with a dielectric, distinguish free
charge from induced charge.
25.29 When a dielectric partially or fully fills the space in
a capacitor, find the free charge, the induced charge,
the electric field between the plates (if there is a
gap, there is more than one field value), and the
potential between the plates.

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25-6 Dielectrics and Gauss’ Law (2 of 4)
• Inserting a dielectric into a capacitor causes induced charge to
appear on the faces of the dielectric and weakens the electric field
between the plates.
• The induced charge is less than the free charge on the plates.
When a dielectric is present, Gauss’ law may be generalized to
ur ur
Ñk E ×d A = q (Gauss' law with dielectric).
e0 ò

where q is the free charge. Any induced surface charge is accounted

for by including the dielectric constant  inside the integral.

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25-6 Dielectrics and Gauss’ Law (3 of 4)
Note:
The flux integral now involves  E , not just E. The vector
 0 E is sometimes called the electric displacement D,
so that the above equation can be written in the form
ur ur
òÑD ×d A = q.

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25-6 Dielectrics and Gauss’ Law (4 of 4)

A parallel-plate capacitor (a) without and (b) with a dielectric slab

inserted. The charge q on the plates is assumed to be the same in
both cases.
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25 Summary (1 of 4)
Capacitor and Capacitance
• The capacitance of a capacitor is defined as:
q  CV Equation (25-1)
Determining Capacitance
• Parallel-plate capacitor:
0A
C . Equation (25-9)
d
• Cylindrical Capacitor:
L
C  2 0 . Equation (25-14)
ln  b
a 
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25 Summary (2 of 4)
• Spherical Capacitor:
ab
C  4 0 . Equation (25-17)
ba
• Isolated sphere:
C  4 0 R. Equation (25-18)

Capacitor in parallel and series

• In parallel:
n
Ceq   C j Equation (25-19)
j 1

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25 Summary (3 of 4)
• In series
n
1 1
 Equation (25-20)
C eq j 1 C j

Potential Energy and Energy Density

• Electric Potential Energy (U):
q2 1
U  2 CV 2 Equation (25-21&22)
2C
• Energy density (u)
u  12  0 E 2 . Equation (25-25)

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25 Summary (4 of 4)
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  , called the dielectric constant, which is characteristic of
the material.
Gauss’ Law with a Dielectric
• When a dielectric is present, Gauss’ law may be generalized to
ur ur
Ñk E ×d A = q.
e0 ò Equation (25-36)

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