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Capacitance

Capacitance is a measure of a capacitor's ability to store an electric charge. A capacitor consists of two conductive plates separated by an insulator. The capacitance of a parallel plate capacitor depends on the plate area, separation distance, and the dielectric material between the plates. Capacitors can be used to store energy, reduce voltage fluctuations, generate radio frequencies, and provide time delays in circuits. Capacitance is calculated based on the amount of charge stored versus the potential difference between the plates.

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Philip Moore
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659 views

Capacitance

Capacitance is a measure of a capacitor's ability to store an electric charge. A capacitor consists of two conductive plates separated by an insulator. The capacitance of a parallel plate capacitor depends on the plate area, separation distance, and the dielectric material between the plates. Capacitors can be used to store energy, reduce voltage fluctuations, generate radio frequencies, and provide time delays in circuits. Capacitance is calculated based on the amount of charge stored versus the potential difference between the plates.

Uploaded by

Philip Moore
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Capacitance

If a charge, Q, is placed on an isolated conductor, then the conductor’s potential, V, has been
changed. The conductor is said to have a capacitance as it is able to store charge. A capacitor is
simply a device which can store charge, thus changing its potential. The most common form of
capacitor is the parallel-plate capacitor. This consists of two parallel plates which are close together
and separated by an insulator called a dielectric.

The capacitance, C, of a capacitor is defined as the ratio of charge, Q, on the capacitor to the
potential, V, of the capacitor. i.e.

The unit of capacitance is the Coulomb per Volt (CV-1) or the Farad (F). Because of the size of the
Farad it is more common to use micro-Farads, nano-Farads and pico-Farads.

Capacitance of Parallel Plate Capacitors

The capacitance of a parallel plate capacitor can be calculated based on its dimensions using the
equation below.

Where:
C – capacitance
ε – permittivity of the dielectric
A – area of the plates
d – separation of the plates
The dielectric is an insulator placed between the
plates in a capacitor. It serves the purpose of
introducing an electric field inside the capacitor
and therefore increasing the capacitance of the
capacitor.

Relative Permittivity
The RELATIVE PERMITTIVITY or DIELECTRIC CONSTANT, εr, of a dielectric
material is defined by:

C – the capacitance of the capacitor when the dielectric is between its plates

OR C0 – the capacitance of the capacitor when there is free space (vacuum) between
its plates

ε – the permittivity of the dielectric

εo – the permittivity of free space

Note:

• Relative permittivity is dimensionless and has no units


• By definition, the relative permittivity of free space is equal to unity

• The absolute permittivity of a dielectric is given as:


Capacitors in Series
With series arrangements the same current, I, flows for the same time in both all capacitors.
Therefore they both have the same charge stored on them. Assuming the circuit has two capacitors
we can write the following equations:

Also the total voltage, V, is given by the sum of the voltages across the two capacitors, V1 and V2.

Substituting for voltages into the above equation gives:

which reduces to: CT – total capacitance

Capacitors in parallel
For two or more capacitors in parallel, the potential difference, V, across each is the same. Also
the total current that flows through the circuit is equal to the sum of the currents in each capacitor.
Hence the total charge in the circuit is equal to the sum of the charges on each capacitor.

This gives:

Which reduces to:


Uses of Capacitors
• To set up electric fields. Although these fields are generally small in volume they will be
uniform.
• To store energy. This is particularly useful as they may be charged either quickly or slowly.
They can in turn also be discharged quickly (camera flash) or slowly (uninterruptable power
supply).
• In simple circuits to :

• Reduce voltage fluctuations in electronic power supplies o

• Transmit pulsed signals o

• Generate or detect electromagnetic waves at radio frequencies (radio circuits)

• Provide electronic time delays in conjunction with magnetic relays o

• Filter out d.c. from power supplies.

Energy Stored on a Capacitor

In order to place a charge on a capacitor some work must be done. The work which is done is
transferred to stored energy in the electric field between the plates. If we have an isolated
conductor at potential, V, this value of V represents the energy required to place a unit charge
on the conductor. If a small charge, δQ is now placed on the conductor the small work, δW,
done in placing this charge is given by:

Integrating the above to give the total work, W, done in placing the total charge, Q, on the
capacitor and hence giving it a potential, V, we get:
This equation can also be derived as the work done/energy stored on a capacitor is calculated
as the area under a charge-voltage graph as shown in the two graphs below.
Charging a Capacitor
If a capacitor is placed in a circuit with a cell of e.m.f. (electromotive force), E, then electrons will
flow from the negative terminal of the cell to the plate of the capacitor. When electrons reach that
plate they will repel electrons from the other plate to the positive terminal of the cell. Thus a current
will flow. One plate of the capacitor is therefore positively charged and the other negatively
charged. This sets up a voltage, V, between the plates of the capacitor that is in the opposite
direction to the e.m.f. of the circuit. As the charge, Q, on the capacitor increases, so will the
potential until At this point, current will cease to flow. This implies that a direct current
(d.c.) will be unable to flow indefinitely through a capacitor.

Note: the initial potential difference across the capacitor is zero. To discharge a capacitor ‘earth’
both terminals.
Equations of Discharging Capacitors

1. Charge, Q, at a time, t

Qo, Io, Vo, represent the maximum charge, current and


voltage respectively
2. Current, I, at a time, t

R – resistance

C – capacitance
3. Voltage, V, at a time, t
RC – time constant of the capacitor. This determine the
rate at which the capacitor charges and
discharges.

Equations of Charging Capacitors


Capacitance of an Insulated Conducting Sphere

Hence:

Which leaves:
r- radius

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