ENERGY AND CAPACITANCE
Capacitance and Capacitors
Capacitance: Single Conductor
• Consider a charged conducting sphere
– The potential of the sphere is :
𝑄
𝑉=𝑘 , r≤𝑅
𝑅
– As Q increases V increases
– The ratio Q/V is constant, however. It is the Capacitance:
𝑄 𝑅
𝐶 = = = 4π𝑅𝜀0 ,
𝑉 𝑘
• This is a constant for a given sphere and medium,
independent of V and Q.
• The SI unit of capacitance is the farad (F)
• The farad is a large unit, typically you will see microfarads
(μF) and picofarads (pF)
Capacitance of Earth
For an isolated spherical conductor of radius a:
C 4 0 a
0 8.85 10 12
Fm a 6.4 10 m 6
4
C 7 10 F 0.7mF
A Farad is REALLY BIG! We usually use pF (10 -12) or nF (10-9)
4
Capacitors
• A capacitor consists of two conductors
– These conductors are called plates
– When the conductor is charged, the plates
carry charges of equal magnitude and
opposite directions
• A potential difference exists between the plates
due to the charge
Capacitors: Definition of Capacitance
• The capacitance, C, of a capacitor is defined as the ratio of the magnitude of
the charge on either conductor to the potential difference between the
conductors
Q
C
V
• Capacitance will always be a positive quantity
• The capacitance of a given capacitor is constant
• The capacitance is a measure of the capacitor’s ability to store charge
– The capacitance of a capacitor is the amount of charge the capacitor can
store per unit of potential difference
Check Point 1
Calculating Capacitance: Parallel Plate
Capacitor
The electric Field is uniform between the plates
Q Qd
E V Ed
0 0 A 0 A
Q Q
C
V Qd / 0 A
0 A
C
d
Check Point 2
Many computer keyboard buttons are constructed of capacitors as
shown in the figure. When a key is pushed down, the soft
insulator between the movable plate and the fixed plate is
compressed. When the key is pressed, what happens to the
capacitance?
(a) It increases.
(b) It decreases.
(c) It changes in a way you
cannot determine because
the electric circuit connected
to the keyboard button may
cause a change in V.
Calculating Capacitance: Cylindrical Capacitor
A solid cylindrical conductor of radius a and
charge Q is coaxial with a cylindrical shell of
negligible thickness and radius b > a. Find the
capacitance of this cylindrical capacitor if its
length is .
2𝑘λ
𝑬= 𝑟
𝑟
Calculating Capacitance: Cylindrical Capacitor
b
Vb Va E d s
a
b b dr b
Vb Va Er dr 2ke 2ke ln
Q
a a r a
C
V
Q
2ke Q / ln b /a
2ke ln b /a
Calculating Capacitance: Cylindrical Capacitor
Capacitance per unit length is:
C 1
2ke ln b /a
Calculating Capacitance: Spherical Capacitor
A spherical capacitor consists of a spherical
conducting shell of radius b concentric with a
smaller conducting sphere of radius a. Find the
capacitance of this device.
Calculating Capacitance: Spherical Capacitor
Q b
E rˆ Vb Va E d s
4 0 r 2 a
b
b b dr 1
Vb Va Er dr ke Q ke Q
r a
2
a a r
1 1 a b
Vb Va ke Q ke Q
b a ab
Q Q ab
C
V Vb Va ke b a
Calculating Capacitance: Spherical Capacitor
If the radius b of the outer sphere approaches infinity,
what does the capacitance become?
ab ab a
C lim 4 a
b k b a ke b ke
e
This is the capacitance of a single sphere
Circuit Symbols
ENERGY AND CAPACITANCE
Energy Stored in the Electric Field
Energy To Charge Capacitor
+q
-q
1. Capacitor starts uncharged.
2. Carry +dq from bottom to top.
Now top has charge q = +dq, bottom -dq
3. Repeat
4. Finish when top has charge q = +Q, bottom -Q
Work Done Charging Capacitor
• At some point top plate has +q, bottom has –q
- Potential difference is ΔV = q / C
- Work done lifting another dq is dW = dq ΔV
+q
-q
Energy Stored in a Capacitor
• The total work required is
Q q Q2
W dq
0 C 2C
• The work done in charging the capacitor appears as electric
potential energy U:
Q2 1 1
U QV C(V )2
2C 2 2
• This applies to a capacitor of any geometry
• The energy stored increases as the charge increases and as
the potential difference increases
Energy Stored in Capacitor
Energy is stored in the E field!
o A
• Parallel-plate capacitor: C and V Ed
d
1 1 o A o E 2
Ed ( Ad ) uE (volume)
2
U CV
2
2 2 d 2
oE 2
uE E field energy density
2
Check Point 3
Q. A parallel-plate capacitor, disconnected from a battery, has
plates with equal and opposite charges, separated by a
distance d.
Suppose the plates are pulled apart until separated by a
distance D > d.
How does the final electrostatic energy stored in the capacitor
compare to the initial energy?
A. The final stored energy is smaller
B. The final stored energy is larger
C. Stored energy does not change.
ENERGY AND CAPACITANCE
Energy Stored in the Electric Field
Energy To Charge Capacitor
+q
-q
1. Capacitor starts uncharged.
2. Carry +dq from bottom to top.
Now top has charge q = +dq, bottom -dq
3. Repeat
4. Finish when top has charge q = +Q, bottom -Q
Work Done Charging Capacitor
• At some point top plate has +q, bottom has –q
- Potential difference is ΔV = q / C
- Work done lifting another dq is dW = dq ΔV
+q
-q
Energy Stored in a Capacitor
• The total work required is
Q q Q2
W dq
0 C 2C
• The work done in charging the capacitor appears as electric
potential energy U:
Q2 1 1
U QV C(V )2
2C 2 2
• This applies to a capacitor of any geometry
• The energy stored increases as the charge increases and as
the potential difference increases
Energy Stored in Capacitor
Energy is stored in the E field!
o A
• Parallel-plate capacitor: C and V Ed
d
1 1 o A o E 2
Ed ( Ad ) uE (volume)
2
U CV
2
2 2 d 2
oE 2
uE E field energy density
2
Check Point 3
Q. A parallel-plate capacitor, disconnected from a battery, has
plates with equal and opposite charges, separated by a
distance d.
Suppose the plates are pulled apart until separated by a
distance D > d.
How does the final electrostatic energy stored in the capacitor
compare to the initial energy?
A. The final stored energy is smaller
B. The final stored energy is larger
C. Stored energy does not change.
ENERGY AND CAPACITANCE
Electric Diploe in an Electric Field
Electric Dipole
• An electric dipole consists of two charges of
equal magnitude and opposite signs
• The charges are separated by 2a
• The electric dipole moment ( p) is directed
along the line joining the charges from –q to +q
• The electric dipole moment has a magnitude of
p ≡ 2aq
Electric Dipole
• Assume the dipole is placed in a uniform external
field E
• Assume the dipole makes an angle θ with the field
• Each charge has a force of F = Eq acting on it
• The net force on the dipole is zero
• The forces produce a net torque on the dipole
2Fa sin pE sin
Electric Dipole
• The torque can also be expressed as the cross product of the
moment and the field:
t = p´ E
• The system of the dipole and the external electric field can be
modeled as an isolated system for energy
• If an external torque is applied to rotate the dipole in the field –
without changing the kinetic energy- then :
Wext =Uf – Ui
Energy of Dipole
dW d
pE sin
f f f
U f U i d pE sin d pE sin d
i i i
pE cos pE cos i cos f
f
i
U E pE cos
Electric Dipole
• The electric potential energy of a an electric dipole in an electric
field is:
U E p E
• The potential energy is minimum (U= -pE) when the diploe is
aligned with the field.
• The potential energy is maximum (U= pE) when the diploe is
aligned against the field.
Check Point 4
Q: An electric diploe is aligned parallel to a uniform electric field.
The work done by an external torque to align the dipole
perpendicular to the field is:
A. Positive
B. Negative
C. Zero
ENERGY AND CAPACITANCE
Capacitors with Dielectrics
Dielectrics
• A dielectric is a non-conductor or insulator
- Examples: rubber, glass, waxed paper
• When placed in a charged capacitor, the dielectric
reduces the potential difference between the two
plates and thus increases capacitance.
37
Molecular View of Dielectrics
Polar Dielectrics :
Dielectrics with permanent electric dipole moments
Example: Water
Molecular View of Dielectrics
Non-Polar Dielectrics
Dielectrics with induced electric dipole moments
Example: CH4
Dielectric in Capacitor
Potential difference decreases because dielectric
polarization decreases Electric Field!
Dielectric Constant k
• Dielectric weakens original field by a factor k
𝑉0
k 0 E
E0
𝑉=
k k
Dielectric constants
Vacuum 1.0
Paper 3.7
Pyrex Glass 5.6
Water 80
Dielectric in a Capacitor
• Constant charge condition:
Q0= constant after battery is disconnected
V0
Upon inserting a dielectric: V
k
Q Q0 Q0
C k k C0
V V0 / k V0
Check Point 5
A parallel plate capacitor is charged to a total charge Q
and the battery removed. A slab of material with
dielectric constant k in inserted between the plates.
The charge stored in the capacitor
1. Increases
+ + + + + + + +
2. Decreases
3. Stays the Same
k
- - - - - - - -
Check Point 6
Q: A parallel plate capacitor is charged to a total
charge Q and the battery removed. A slab of material
with dielectric constant k in inserted between the
plates. The energy stored in the capacitor
1. Increases + + + + + + + +
2. Decreases
3. Stays the Same k
- - - - - - - -
Dielectric in a Capacitor
• Constant potential condition
V0 = constant when battery remains connected
Q CV k C0V0
Upon inserting a dielectric: Q k Q0
Check Point 7
Q: A parallel plate capacitor is charged to a total
charge Q and remains connected to the battery. A
slab of material with dielectric constant k in inserted
between the plates. The electric field between the
plates of the capacitor
1. Increases
+ + + + + + + +
2. Decreases
3. Stays the Same
k
- - - - - - - -
Check Point 8
Q: A parallel plate capacitor is charged to a potential
difference 𝑉0 and remains connected to the battery. A
slab of material with dielectric constant k in inserted
between the plates. The energy stored in the capacitor
1. Increases
+ + + + + + + +
2. Decreases
3. Stays the Same k
- - - - - - - -
Example: Dielectric removed from
capacitor
A parallel-plate capacitor, filled with a dielectric with k = 4, is
connected to a 100-V battery. After the capacitor is fully charged,
the battery is disconnected. The plates have area A = 4.0 m2 and
are separated by d = 4.0 mm. (a) Find the capacitance, the charge
on the capacitor, the electric field strength, and the energy stored in
the capacitor. (b) The dielectric is then carefully removed without
changing the plate separation. Find the new values of capacitance,
electric field strength, voltage between the plates, energy stored in
the capacitor, and the work required to remove the dielectric.
