Capacitor:

A capacitor consists of two parallel conducting plates, separated by an insulator.

A capacitor is used to store energy. When there is no p.d. across the capacitor the plates are
neutral and they have an equal number of electrons and positive ions. When a p.d. is applied
to the plates, electrons are forced to move and the plates acquire equal and opposite charges.
This stores energy until the electrons can flow back.
Capacitance: Capacitance is the amount of electric charge that can be stored per unit change in
electric potential.

𝑐ℎ𝑎𝑟𝑔𝑒 𝑜𝑛 𝑎 𝑝𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑒 𝑄
Capacitance = 𝑝𝑑 𝑏𝑒𝑡𝑤𝑒𝑒𝑛 𝑝𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑠 C= 𝑉
⬚

It is measured in units of F but more commonly will be given in μF or nF.

Where εo is the permittivity of free space = 8.85 × 10-12 F m-1.

The area required for a practical value of capacitance is very large, even when d is only a
fraction of a mm. Therefore, instead of air or a vacuum, a dielectric is used. This is an insulating
material which increases the capacitance without changing the dimensions:
As one plate is positive and the other negative an electric field is created in the gap from the
diagram above. The strength of this E field can be calculated using this equation:
V
E= 𝑑
Energy:
An important difference to note is that the capacitor does not store charge, as the combined
charge of both plates is 0, but it does store energy. The energy can be calculated using this
equation:
1
U= 𝑄𝑉
2

Combining this with the equation for capacitance gives two other equations for energy.

1 𝑄2
U= 𝐶V 2 , U=
2 2𝐶

Combining capacitors:
Series
In series, the pd of the supply is shared (not always equally) across the capacitors but the
charge on each capacitor is equal. This gives the following equation to calculate the total
capacitance.

1 1 1 1
= + + … ….
𝐶𝑇𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝐶1 𝐶2 𝐶3
Parallel
In parallel the pd across each capacitor is equal but the charge will be shared. This gives the
following equation:

𝐶𝑇𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 = C1 + C2 + C3 ……
Charging:
When charging a capacitor, a current flows effectively causing electrons to move from one
plate to the other.

This graph shows how the charge increases when charging the capacitor.

As Q ∝ V, the graph for p.d. will be the same shape. This equation can be used to calculate Q
at a time t.
𝑡
𝑄 = 𝑄𝑂 (1 − 𝑒 −𝑅𝐶 )

Discharging:
When discharging, the current will flow in the opposite direction, effectively moving the
electrons back.

This graph shows the discharging of a capacitor. This equation can be used to calculate Q at a
time t when discharging.

𝑡
𝑄 = 𝑄𝑂 (𝑒 −𝑅𝐶 )
RC is known as the time constant, τ. This is the time for the charge to decrease to 1⁄ e = 37%
of its original value.

PRACTICE PROBLEMS: SECTION A

2. If the plate separation for a capacitor is 2.0x10-3 m, determine the area of the plates if the
capacitance is exactly 1 F.

3. Calculate the voltage of a battery connected to a parallel plate capacitor with a plate area
of 2.0 cm2 and a plate separation of 2 mm if the charge stored on the plates is 4.0pC.

4. A parallel plate capacitor is constructed of metal plates, each with an area of 0.2 m 2. The
capacitance is 7.9nF. Determine the plate separation distance.

5. C1 = 10 F and C2 = 5 F. Determine the effective capacitance for C1 and C2 connected in series

6. If the two capacitors in question #7 were connected to a 50-volt battery determine the
voltage across the capacitors for each connection type.

7. A parallel plate capacitor kept in the air has an area of 0.50m 2 and is separated from each
other by a distance of 0.04m. Calculate the parallel plate capacitor.

9. Calculate the capacitance of an empty parallel-plate capacitor with metal plates with an
area of 1.00 m2, separated by 1.00 mm.

10 . (a) Obtain a relation for the equivalent capacitance of the series combination of capacitors. Draw
a circuit diagram.
(b) 10 capacitors each of capacity 10μF are joined first in series and then in parallel. Write the value
of the product of equivalent capacitances.
(c) What will be the value of capacitance of a 4μF capacitor if a dielectric of dielectric constant 2 is
inserted fully between the plates of a parallel plate capacitor?

11 . Two parallel-plate capacitors, each of capacitance 40μF, are connected in series. The space
between the plates of one capacitor is filled with a dielectric of dielectric constant K=3, then the
equivalent capacitance of the combination is
12 . Two identical parallel plate capacitors are connected in series and then joined in series with a
battery of 100V. A slab of dielectric constant K=3 is inserted between the plates of the first capacitor.
Then, the potential difference across the capacitors will be respectively,

13 . A parallel plate capacitor has an area of 6 cm2 and a separation of 3 mm. The gap between the
plates is filled with three dielectric materials of equal thickness as shown. The equivalent dielectric
constant of a material that would give the same capacitance when fully inserted in the capacitor
would be?

14 . Determine the net capacitance C of the capacitor combination shown in the figure when
the capacitances are C1=12.0μF, C2=2.0μF,𝐶1=12.0𝜇F,𝐶2=2.0𝜇F, and C3=4.0μF𝐶3=4.0𝜇F.
When a 12.0-V potential difference is maintained across the combination, find the charge and
the voltage across each capacitor.
PRACTICE PROBLEMS: SECTION B

• 1
• .

Identify the total capacitance of the circuit below.

• 2.

Given the figure below, find the total capacitance of the circuit. Round off your answer to the
nearest tenths.
• 3.

Use the illustration below and determine the total capacitance of the circuit. Round off your
answer to the nearest tenths.

• 4.
 Analyze the diagram below. What is the total capacitance of the circuit? Round off your answer
to the nearest hundredths.

• 5.

Which of the following choices corresponds to the total capacitance of the circuit?

• 6.
 With the circuit represented below, calculate for the total capacitance and round off your
answer to the nearest tenths.

• 7.

Evaluate the circuit displayed below. Solve for the total capacitance.
• 8.

Compute the total capacitance of the circuit drawn below. Round off your answer to the nearest
hundredths.

• 9.

Find the total capacitance of the circuit below and round off your answer to the nearest
hundredths.

• 10.
 Given of the figure below, determine the total capacitance of the circuit. Round off your answer
to the nearest hundredths.

• 11.

Use the illustration below and identify the total capacitance of the circuit. Round off your answer
to the nearest hundredths.

• 12.
 Assess the diagram below. How much is the total capacitance of the circuit? Round off your
answer to the nearest hundredths.

• 13.

With the circuit shown below, compute for the total capacitance and round off your answer to
the nearest hundredths.

• 14.
 Analyze the circuit displayed below. Calculate the total capcaitance and round off your answer to
the nearest hundredths.

• 15.

Solve for the total capacitance of the circuit drawn below. Round off your answer to the nearest
hundredths.

• 16.

Determine the total capacitance of the circuit shown below. Round off your answer to the
nearest hundredths.
• 17.

Given of the illustration of a circuit below, identify the total capacitance. Round off your answer
to the nearest hundredths.

• 18.

Analyze the circuit below. What is the total capacitance? Round off your answer to the nearest
tenths.
• 19.

Using the circuit represented below, find the total capacitance. Round off your answer to the
nearest hundredths.

• 20.

Which of the following choices corresponds to the total capacitance of the circuit below?
• 21.

Evaluate the circuit below and calculate the total capacitance. Round off your answer to the
nearest tenths.

• 22.

How much is the total capacitance of the circuit displayed below? Round off your answer to the
nearest hundredths.
• 23.

Solve for the total capacitance of the circuit drawn below. Round off your answer to the nearest
hundredths.

• 24.

Identify the total capacitance of the circuit shown below. Round off your answer to the nearest
hundredths.
• 25.

With the illustration of a circuit given below, find the total capacitance. Round off your answer to
the nearest hundredths.
• 26.

Asess the circuit below. Which of the following is the total capacitance of the circuit?

• 27.

Use the circuit represented below to determine the total capacitance. Round off your answer to
the nearest hundredths.
• 28.

What is the total capacitance of the circuit below? Round off your answer to the nearest
hundredths.

• 29.

Analyze the circuit below and compute the total capacitance. Round off your answer to the
nearest hundredths.
• 30.

Calculate for the total capacitance of the circuit drawn below. Round off your answer to the
nearest hundredths.