DET10013 - ELECTRICAL TECHNOLOGY

Chapter 3:
Capacitors &
Capacitance
 COURSE LEARNING OUTCOME
1. Apply the concept and principles of the related
electrical circuit theorems and law to solve DC
electrical circuit using various method and
approach ( C3 , PLO 1 )
2. Construct DC circuit and measure related
electrical parameters using appropriate electrical
equipments ( P4 , PLO 5 )
3. Demonstrate ability to work in team to complete
assigned tasks within the stipulated time frame
( A3 , PLO 9 )
 TOPIC TITLE (RTA)
CHAPTER TITLE
1.0 INTRODUCTION TO ELECTRIC
CIRCUIT
2.0 DC EQUIVALENT CIRCUIT AND
NETWORK THEOREMS
3.0 CAPACITORS AND CAPACITANCE
4.0 INDUCTORS AND INDUCTANCE
5.0 MAGNETIC CIRCUIT,
ELECTROMAGNETISM AND
ELECTROMAGNETIC INDUCTION
 LEARNING OUTCOME (1 Hour)

3.1 Knows capacitors and capacitance.

3.1.1 List the quantities associated with
capacitance.
3.1.2 Identify the types of capacitor:
a. fixed
b. variable
3.1.3 Describe the construction of capacitor.
 LEARNING OUTCOME (1 Hour)
3.2 Understand capacitance equivalent circuits
for series and parallel connections.
3.2.1 Express the formulas for the total
capacitance in series and parallel connections.

3.3 Apply the knowledge of capacitance

equivalent circuits for series and parallel
connections.
3.3.1 Solve problems related to capacitance in
series and parallel connections.
 Capacitor
• Capacitor is an electrical
component that stores
electrical charge/energy.
• It is constructed with 2
conductive plates facing
each other separately by a
dielectric such as air,
paper, mica ceramic and
others.
Types of capacitor : Practical types of capacitor are
characterized by the material used for their dielectric. The
main types include: variable air, mica, paper ceramic,
plastic, titanium oxide and electrolytic.
Variable air capacitors.

Mica capacitors.

Paper capacitors.
Types of capacitor :
Ceramic capacitors.

Plastic capacitors.
Similar to paper
Titanium oxide capacitor
capacitors
Electrolytic capacitors
 CAPACITOR
Schematic symbol
Nominal symbol C
Unit Farad(F)
Normally in pF, nF & μF
Types of capacitor 1. Fixed capacitor
(polarized & non
polarized)
2. Variable capacitor
 Cont…
Cont…
Types of capacitor
• Fixed capacitor- dived into two types :
i. Polarity
Example: symbol :

Electrolytic Capacitors

Example: symbol :

Tantalum Bead Capacitors

 Cont…
Cont…
ii. unpolarity

Example: symbol :

Polyester, Ceramic, Polystyrene , Mica, ,

Polypropylene and other.
 Cont…
Variable capacitor
Example: symbol :

Variable capacitors

Example: symbol :

Trimmer capacitors
 Capacitance
• The property of a CAPACITOR to store
electricity is called its CAPACITANCE
• The quantities associated with capacitance :
1. Amount of electric charge, Q
2. Potential difference between capacitor

Charge
plates, V + Potential
- difference
 Capacitance
• Let us consider a cell
Ic is connected with a
capacitor
E C • Initially, current will
flow and reduce
exponentially from
maximum value
Where, Ic =
through C. (Ic)
 Capacitance
• After C is fully charged, there
would be a potential difference,
Q Vc occur across it and Ic
becomes zero.
+ • No current (I = 0A) is assumed to
Vc
E C flow now because charge, Q is
-
constant.
• Hence, in capacitive circuit, Q
is assumed to be flowing
Thus Capacitance, element instead of I

C = ---- Equ.
1
 Capacitance
Example 3.1
Determine potential difference across a 4 μF
capacitor when charged with 5 mC.

V = = = 1.25 kV
 Capacitance Equivalent Circuit
Series Connection

a b

C1 C2 C3 Cn
 Capacitance Equivalent Circuit
Parallel Connection

C1 C2 C3 Cn
b

= = C1 + C2 + C3 +…… + Cn
 Capacitance Equivalent Circuit
Example 3.2
Calculate the equivalent capacitance of two
capacitors of 6 μF and 4 μF connected
(a) in parallel and
(b) in series
 Capacitance Equivalent Circuit
Solution
 Exercises
1. Determine the equivalent capacitance when the
following capacitors are connected
(a) in parallel and
(b) in series
(i) 2 μF, 4 μF and 8 μF
(ii) 0.02 μF, 0.05 μF and 0.10 μF
(iii) 50 pF and 450 pF
(iv) 0.01 μF and 200 pF

Answer :
(a) (i) 14 μF (ii) 0.17 μF (iii) 500 pF (iv) 0.0102 μF(b) (i) 117μF (ii)
0.0125 μF (iii) 45 pF (iv) 196.1 pF
 LEARNING OUTCOME (2 Hours)
3.4 Understand circuits with capacitive load.
3.4.1 Describe that current is the time rate of
change of charge, i = dQ/dt.
3.4.2 Describe the following:
a. electric flux
b. electric flux density
c. electric field strength
d. dielectric
e. absolute permittivity
3.4.3 Explain the factors affecting capacitance
based on related equations.
 Current & Charge Relationship
• Current: - motion of charge
- depends on the rate of flow of charge
- electric fluid
- unit of current is ampere (A)
• Equation: dq = changing of charge
I = dt = changing of time
I = current (ampere)
• For steady state condition: Q = charge (coulomb)
I = , thus Q = It t = time (second)
 Capacitive Circuit (some definitions)

ELECTRIC FLUX (ψ)

- Known as the total of

electric lines of force ψ
that moves out from
positive charge in
electric field
- electric flux, ψ is
measured in
= Charge, Q
coulombs,
 Capacitive Circuit (some definitions)
A
ELECTRIC FLUX
DENSITY (D)
Q
- Electric flux density is
the ratio between the
charge of the capacitor
and the surface area of
the capacitor plates
D=
and can be expressed
as
 Capacitive Circuit (some definitions)
ELECTRIC FIELD
STRENGTH (E)

V d
• the ratio between
the potential
difference (V) or
voltage and the
thickness of the
dielectric (d), it can E=
be expressed as
 Capacitive Circuit (some definitions)

DIELECTRIC

- insulating material
that is sandwiched
between the two
conducting plates.
- Examples : air,
mica, ceramic,
paper
 Capacitive Circuit (some definitions)
ABSOLUTE
PERMITTIVITY (ε)

- The ratio of electric

flux density (D) to
the electric field ε = (Unit : )
strength (E) is called
absolute permittivity
(ε) of a dielectric and
can be expressed as Equ. 1
 Capacitive Circuit (some definitions)
ABSOLUTE PERMITTIVITY
(ε)

- The absolute permittivity of

free space or vacuum also
called the dielectric constant ()
ε = (Unit : )
- Where = 8.854x 10-12F/m
- The relative permittivity ()of
dielectric is different between
materials
- The relative permittivity of Equ. 2
free space or vacuum is 1. (= 1)
 Capacitive Circuit
Example 3.3:
Two parallel rectangular plates measuring 20
cm by 40 cm carry an electric charge of 0.2
μC. Calculate the electric flux density. If the
plates are spaced 5 mm apart and the voltage
between them is 0.25 kV determine the
electric field strength.
 Capacitive Circuit
Solutions
 Influent Factors of Capacitance
A capacitor value depends on these three factors:
1. Conductive surface area, A-
Larger area gives greater capacitance
2. Distance between the plate, d –
Closer distance gives greater capacitance
3. Type of dielectric (dielectric constant ) –
Greater permittivity gives greater capacitance
Absolute permittivity, ε = r * 0
 Influent Factors of Capacitance
Thus, the capacitance of a capacitor also could
be obtained from:

------- Equ.
2

Where r= relative permittivity

0= permittivity of free space / dielectric (F/m)
constant
A = surface area of plate ()
d = distance between the plate (m)
 Influent Factors of Capacitance
Example 3.4:
A waxed paper capacitor has two parallel
plates, each of effective area 800 . If the
capacitance of the capacitor is 4425 pF
determine the effective thickness of the paper
if its relative permittivity is 2.5.
 Influent Factors of Capacitance
Solutions
 LEARNING OUTCOME (1 Hour)

3.5 Understand the process of charging and

discharging in a capacitor.
3.5.1 Explain the process of charging and
discharging based on the voltage and current
curves.
3.5.2 Express the instantaneous voltage/current
equation.
 Charging Process of Capacitor

t=0

• Capacitor is said to be in charging mode

whenever it is connected to a voltage supply.
(switch, SW at point a)
 Charging Process of Capacitor
SW at point a:

• Time constant, τ = CR (unit: s)

• Max. voltage of capacitance,

Vmax = E (unit: V)

• Max. current of capacitance,

Imax = (unit: A)
 Charging Process of Capacitor
SW at point a:

• Charging voltage of capacitor,

vc = Vmax (1 – e –t/)

• Charging current of capacitor,

ic = Imax (e –t/)

• Time for charging to maximum, • Energy stored in capacitor,

tmax = 5τ (unit: s) Ec= *C*V2 (unit: J)
 Discharging Process of Capacitor

t=0

• Capacitor is said to be in discharging mode

whenever it is disconnected from a voltage
supply that initially connected to it. (switch,
SW at point b)
 Discharging Process of Capacitor
SW at point b:

• Time constant, τ = CR (unit:

s)

• Max. voltage of capacitance,

Vmax = E (unit: V)

• Max. current of capacitance,

Imax = (unit: A)
 Discharging Process of Capacitor
SW at point b:

• Discharging voltage of
capacitor, vc = Vmax (e –t/)

• Discharging current of
capacitor, ic = - Imax (e –t/)

• Time for discharging to zero,

t0 = 5τ (unit: s)
 LEARNING OUTCOME (1 Hour)

3.6 Apply the understanding of charging and

discharging process in a capacitor.
3.6.1 Calculate the time constant, τ
3.6.2 Calculate the energy stored in a capacitor.
3.6.3 Solve problems on capacitors charging and
discharging process.
 Example 3.5
1. Figure below shows a schematic diagram that
consists of resistive and capacitive load. If the
switch SW is switched to node a at t= 0s.
 Example 3.5
a) EXPLAIN why the capacitor, C is said to be in charging mode.
[CLO 1]
b) COMPUTE the time constant, τ [CLO 1]
c) PREDICT the maximum voltage of the capacitor. [CLO 1]
d) CALCULATE the instantaneous value of current when t =
2ms. [CLO 2]
e) CALCULATE the time taken to make the instantaneous value
of charging voltage equals to 12V.
f) CALCULATE the maximum energy stored by the capacitor
 Example 3.5 (Solutions)
a) The capacitor is in charging mode because it is connecting to
a voltage source that causes potential voltage to be
exponentially rising inside the capacitor.
b) Time constant, τ = RC = 100 x 10μ = 1 ms
c) VC(max) = E = 24V

d)
 Example 3.5 (Solutions)
e)

f)
 Self Exercise
1. Figure below shows a schematic diagram that
consists of resistive and capacitive load. If the
switch SW is switched to node a at t= 0s.
 Self-Exercise
a) COMPUTE the time constant, τ
b) PREDICT the maximum voltage of the capacitor.
c) CALCULATE the instantaneous value of current when t =
0.25ms.
d) CALCULATE the time taken to make the instantaneous value
of charging voltage equals to 15V.
e) CALCULATE the maximum energy stored by the capacitor

Answer :
f) τ = 250ms, b) vc = 100V, c) t = 155.76 mA, d) t = 0.1625 ms
e) Ec= 2.5 J
 RECAP
• Capacitor is a device that stores electric
charge/energy.
• Capacitance is the property of a capacitor which
delays and change of voltage across it.
• For Parallel Capacitance, = + … +
• For Series Capacitance, =
• During charging process, voltage is rising
exponentially while current is reducing exponentially
at same time
• For discharging process, voltage and current reduce
exponentially at the same time.