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Capacitance

The document discusses the concept of capacitance, defining it as the ratio of charge to potential difference in capacitors. It covers various types of capacitors, including spherical, parallel plate, and cylindrical capacitors, along with their capacitance formulas. Additionally, it explains the energy stored in capacitors, heat produced in circuits, and the sharing of charges between connected conductors.

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27 views5 pages

Capacitance

The document discusses the concept of capacitance, defining it as the ratio of charge to potential difference in capacitors. It covers various types of capacitors, including spherical, parallel plate, and cylindrical capacitors, along with their capacitance formulas. Additionally, it explains the energy stored in capacitors, heat produced in circuits, and the sharing of charges between connected conductors.

Uploaded by

yuvrajstrange
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Chapter 16

Capacitance

CAPACITOR & CAPACITANCE


A capacitor consists of two conductors carrying charges of equal magnitude
and opposite sign. The capacitance C of any capacitor is the ratio of the charge
Q
Q on either conductor to the potential difference V between them C =
V
The capacitance depends only on the geometry of the conductors.
Capacitance of an Isolated Spherical Conductor
C = 4p ∈0 ∈r R in a medium C = 4p ∈0 R in air.
This sphere is at infinite distance from all the conductors.
Spherical Capacitor : B
It consists of two concentric spherical shells as shown in A
figure. Here capacitance of region between the two shells is a
4π ∈0 ab C1
C1 and that outside the shell is C2. We have C1 = b
b−a C2
and C2 = 4p∈0b.
Parallel Plate Capacitor
(i) Uniform Di-Electric Medium : If two parallel plates each of area A &
separated by a distance d are charged with equal & opposite charge Q,
then the system is called a parallel plate capacitor & its capacitance
∈∈ A ∈ A
is given by, C = 0 r in a medium, C = 0 with air as medium.
d d
This result is only valid when the electric field between plates of capacitor
is constant.
∈0 A
(ii) Medium Partly Air : C =
 t 
d– t − 
 ∈r 

r 

When a di-electric slab of thickness t & relative permitivity ∈r is introduced


between the plates of an air capacitor, then the distance between the plates
 t 
is effectively reduced by  t −  irrespective of the position of the di-
 ∈ r 

electric slab.
(iii) Composite Medium :
d
r 1
r 2
r3

∈0 A
C=
t1 t t
+ 2 + 3
∈r1 ∈r 2 ∈r3
t1 t2 t3

Cylindrical Capacitor :
It consists of two co-axial cylinders of radii a & b, the outer conductor is
earthed.The di-electric constant of the medium filled in the space between
the cylinders is ∈r.
b a

2π ∈0 ∈r r
The capacitance per unit length is C =
b
n  
a

Combination of Capacitors :
(i) Capacitors in Series : In this arrangement all the capacitors when
uncharged get the same charge Q but the potential difference across
each will differ (if the capacitance are unequal).
+ – + – + –

1 1 1 1 1 Q1 Q2 Q3
= + + + ........... +
Ceq. C1 C2 C3 Cn V1 V2 V3
+ –
(ii) Capacitors in Parallel : When one plate of each capacitor is connected
to the positive terminal of the battery & the other plate of each
capacitor is connected to the negative terminals of the battery, then
the capacitors are said to be parallel connection. The capacitors have
the same potential difference V, but the charge on each one is different
(if the capacitors are unequal). Ceq. = C1 + C2 + C3 + ......... + Cn.
Q1 +
–C1,V

Q2 +
–C2,V

Q3 +
–C3,V

Q +V–

Energy Stored in a Charged Capacitor


Capacitance C, Charge Q & potential difference V; then energy stored is
1 1 1 Q2
=U CV 2 =
= QV
2 2 2 C
This energy is stored in the electrostatic field set up in the di-electric medium
between the conducting plates of the capacitor.
Heat Produced in Switching in Capacitive Circuit
Due to charge flow always some amount of heat is produced when a switch is
closed in a circuit which can be obtained by energy conservation as
Heat = Work done by battery – Energy absorbed by capacitor
Work done by battery to charge a capacitor
W = CV2 = QV = Q2/C
Sharing of Charges:When two charged conductors of capacitance C1 & C2 at
potential V1 & V2 respectively are connected by a conducting wire, the charge
flows from higher potential conductor to lower potential conductor, until the
potential of the two condensers become equal. The common potential (V)
after sharing of charges;
net charge q1 + q 2 C1V1 + C2 V2
= V = =
net capacitance C1 + C2 C1 + C2
Charges after sharing q1 = C1V & q2 = C2V. In this process energy is lost in
the connecting wire as heat.
C1C 2
This loss of energy is U initial=
− U final (V1 − V2 ) 2
2(C1 + C2 )
 σ  Q2
Attractive force between capacitor plate:= F   (σ=
A)
 2 ∈0  2 ∈0 A
Charging of a capacitor: q = q0 (1 – e–t/RC ) where q0 = CV0
q
+ – R

V0
Discharging of a capacitor : q = q0e–t/RC
q
+ –
C

R
KEY TIPS

• The energy of a charged conductor resides outside the conductor


in its electric field, where as in a condenser it is stored within the
condenser in its electric field.
• The energy of an uncharged condenser = 0.
• The capacitance of a capacitor depends only on its size & geometry
& the dielectric between the conducting surface.
• The two adjacent conductors carrying same charge can be at different
potential bacause the conductors may have different sizes and means
different capacitance.
• On filling the space between the plates of a parallel plate air capacitor
with a dielectric, capacity of the capacitor is increased because the
same amount of charge can be stored at a reduced potential.
• The potential of a grounded object is taken to be zero because
capacitance of the earth is very large.

qqq

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