Review Guide Series ELECTROSTATIC /

CERTC-RF REVIEW CENTER Review Guide Series ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING Capacitance

ELECTOSTATIC / CAPACITANCE εr – relative permittivity or dielectric

constant
I. ELECTROSTATICS/CAPACITANCE εr = 1 – free space
Electrostatics is the branch of science d – distance between the charged
that deals with the phenomena and particles in meters
properties of stationary or slow-moving
(without acceleration ) electric charges. In CGS:
F – force in Dyne
Q1, Q2 – respective charges on the
II. LAWS OF ELECTROSTATICS: particles in Statcoulomb
Like charges repel each other, unlike d – distance between the charged
charges attract each other. The force particles in centimeters
exerted between two charges is directly
Capacitance is the ability of a body to
proportional to the product of their
hold an electrical charge.
strengths and is inversely proportional to
the square of the distance between the
two charges.
IV. ELECTRIC INTENSITY: E OR (FIELD
INTENSITY)
III. COULOMB’S LAW:

The fundamental equation of E

electrostatics is Coulomb's law, which
describes the force between two point +Q
charges. The magnitude of the d
electrostatic force between two point
electric charges Q1 and Q2 is directly
proportional to the product of the E
magnitudes of each charge and inversely
proportional to the surface area of a
sphere whose radius is equal to the
distance between the charges: E - Electric Intensity in
Newton/Coulomb
Q – charge in Coulombs
F=k d – distance in meters

V. POTENTIAL AT A POINT: V
k= 9 x 109
V
Where:
V – potential at a point
F – force in Newton in volts
Q1, Q2 – respective charges on the Q – charge in Coulombs
particles in Coulombs d – distance in meters
εo – absolute permittivity
εo – 8.854·10-12 Farad/meter
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 Review Guide Series ELECTROSTATIC /
CERTC-RF REVIEW CENTER Review Guide Series ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING Capacitance

VI. ELECTRIC FIELD OUTSIDE AN

ISOLATED SPHERE IN FREE SPACE: E 14. Determine the energy stored in a
d
3μF capacitor when charged to 400 V.
V Find also the average power developed
E = 9·109 if this energy is dissipated in a time of
10μs.
A. 26 kW B. 32 kW
E – electric field outside an isolated C. 24 kW * D. 29 kW
sphere in free space in volts/meter
C=
15. A 12μF capacitor is required to
Q – the total charge in Coulombs store 4J of energy. Find the voltage to
d – the distance from the center of an which the capacitor must be charged.
isolated sphere located in free space C – capacitance in Farad A. 726.8 V B. 527.3 V
in meters. A – area of each plate sq. meters C. 941.5 V D. 816.5 V *
d - thickness of the dielectric material in
meters 16. A capacitor has a capacitance of
VII. ELECTRIC FLUX DENSITY: D 8µF with air between its plates.
Determine its capacitance when a
X. CAPACITANCE OF “N” PARALLEL PLATES dielectric of value 6 is placed between
D D CAPACITOR WITH THE SAME DIELECTRIC its plates.
MATERIAL AND THICKNESS OF INSULATION: A. 31µF B. 48µF *
C. 59µF D. 72µF
D – electric flux density in 17. The potential difference between
Coulombs /sq. meter metal plates is 120 volts. If the distance
εr εr εr between theses plates is 3.0mm,
Ψ – electric flux in Coulombs
A – area in sq. meters calculate the electric field between
d d d them.
A. 31kV/m B. 40kV/m *
C. 64kV/m D. 42kV/m
VII. CAPACITANCE: C C=
18. A charge Q1of 0.20µC is 30cm from
ü is the property of the capacitor which another charge Q2 of 3.0µF in vacuum.
delays any change of voltage across Calculate the work needed to bring Q1
it. C – capacitance in Farad 18 cm closer to Q2.
n – the number of plates A. 0.132J B. 0.232J
C – capacitance in Farad C. 0.079J D. 0.027J *
C= Q – charge in Coulombs
V – voltage in Volts XI. CAPACITANCE OF SEVERAL PARALLEL PLATES 19. A charge Q1 of 2.0µF is place at
CAPACITOR WITH DIFFERENT DIELECTRIC point (0,0) while a second charge Q2 is
MATERIAL AND THICKNESS OF INSULATION: place at point (100,0) cm. Determine at
VIII. ELASTANCE: S what point in the positive x-axis will the
absolute potential be zero
ü the reciprocal of capacitance
εr1 εr2 εr3 A. 63cm B. 40cm *
C. 50cm D. 32cm
S – elastance in Daraf
S= Q – charge in Coulombs d1 d2 d3 20. Three point charges are located at
V – voltage in Volts the corners of a square of side L equal
Notes: to 30cm. The charge Q1 of -4µC is at
(0,0), charge Q2 of 8µC is at (L,0),
charge Q3 of -5µC is at (L,L), Calculate
IX. CAPACITANCE OF TWO PARALLEL PLATE the electric field strength at (L,0)
CAPACITOR:

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 Review Guide Series ELECTROSTATIC /
CERTC-RF REVIEW CENTER Review Guide Series ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING Capacitance

A. 2.45N B. 0.79N XIII. CAPACITANCE OF A SPHERICAL CAPACITOR:

C. 1.48N * D. 1.95N SAMPLE PROBLEMS:
C=
21. Three point charges are placed at - - - Example1: Calculate the force between
the corners of an equilateral triangle. εr +
+Q two charged particles placed 10-13 m.
The charge Q1 of 2µC is at (0,0), - + + - C = 4π·εo·εr·
+
r1
+ apart from each other. The charge of
charge Q2 of 3µC is at (20,0), and r2
-
- each particle is 3.5◌ּ10-19 C.
charge Q3 of 4µC is placed at the 1st Example2: Two identical charge
quadrant. Calculate the force on Q3. PROPERTIES OF VARIOUS
particles 1.5 meters apart placed
A. 3.9 N * B. 2.5 N INSULATING
XIV. CAPACITANCE OF COAXIAL CABLE: under water experience a force of 2
C. 4.2 N D. 3.1 N (DIELECTRIC) MATERIALS
Newton. If the dielectric constant of water
22. Determine the electric field strength Vacuum 1 is 80, calculate each charge.
E at a distance 30cm away from a point Air 1.0006 C= (Farad/meter)
charge of 5nF. Asbestos 2 r1 Example3: Q1 and Q2 are placed 50 cm
A. 0.62 kN/C B. 0.36 kN/C Bakelite 5 r2 apart in an x-axis. In between the two
C. 0.49 kN/C D. 0.50 kN/C * Cellulose film 5.8 charges another charge Q3 is placed
23. In a concentric cable capacitor the Marble 7 20cm from Q1. If Q1= 3µC, Q2= 8µC and
diameters of the inner and outer Mica 6 Q3=-5µC, calculate the net force on Q3.
cylinders are 3 and 10 mm respectivelv. Paper (Dry) 2.2 XV. CAPACITORS IN SERIES:
If the relative permittivity for insulation Paper (Treated) 3.2 Example4: Three point charges are
is 3 find its capacitance per metre. Glass 6 placed at the corners of an equilateral
= + +… triangle as shown. Calculate the resultant
A. 241.7pF B. 138.8pF * Porcelain 5.7
C. 337.1pF D. 291.5pF Pressboard 6.2 force exerted on the charge 3Q where Q
Quartz, fused 3.5 = 2μC.
24. The conductors of a two-wire
transmission line (4 km long) are Rubber 2.6
XVI. CAPACITORS IN PARALLEL: Example5: Two charges are placed 40
spaced 45cm between centre. If each Silica, fused 3.6
conductor has a diameter of 1.5 cm, cm apart on the x-axis. Q1=3µC is placed
Water 70
calculate the capacitance of the line. at 0 while Q2= 5µC is at 40cm.
Wax, paraffin 2.2 CT = C1 + C2 + … Cn
A. 31.6 nF B. 27.2 nF * Calculate the distance from Q1 a new
C. 25.3 nF D. 34.9 nF negatively charge Q3 be placed if the
Major Types of Capacitors: force on it is zero.
END 1 Electrolytics
2 Dielectrics Example6: Calculate the electric field E
3 Plastic film types in air at a distance of 30 cm from a point
GODBLESS J XVII. ENERGY STORED IN A CAPACITOR: charge Q1=5.0x10-9 C.
4 Metallized plastic types
5 Glass and ceramics
6 Mica and mica/paper types Example7:. Two spheres having charges
7 Air/vacuum types W = ½ C·V2 = ½ = ½V·Q of Q1=5µC and Q2=3µC are placed 20cm
apart. The spheres are made to touch
each other and then again separated at a
XII. CAPACITANCE OF AN ISOLATED SPHERE:
distance of 30cm. Calculate the force
after this condition.
W – stored energy in (Joules)
εr + + +Q C – capacitance in (Farads) Example8: Two positive point charges of
+ + V – voltage across a capacitor in (Volts) Q1=12x10-10C and Q2=8x10-10C are
r C = 4π · εo · εr · r
+
+
+ Q – charge in (Coulombs) placed 10 cm apart. Find the work done
in bringing the two charges 4 cm
closer.
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 Review Guide Series ELECTROSTATIC /
CERTC-RF REVIEW CENTER Review Guide Series ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING Capacitance

Example9: A capacitor Example16: Two capacitors are relative permittivity 100. Calculate the
consists of 15 aluminum sheets connected in series and the series capacitance of the capacitor in
connected in parallel separated by plates combination is connected in parallel with picofarads.
of glass in between having dielectric a third capacitor. If the three capacitors A. 5340 pF B. 4760 pF
constant of 6 and a thickness of 2 mm. If are of the same value, i.e. 150μF, what is C. 2580 pF D. 3540 pF *
the area of each sheet is 5 cm by 10 cm, the total capacitance? 7. A waxed paper capacitor has two
calculate the charge on the capacitor Example17: A length of a co-axial cable parallel plates, each of effective area
when 24 volts is applied to it. 800cm2. If the capacitance of the
is 300 km long. Its conductor has a
capacitor is 4425pF, determine the
Example10: Two metallic plates diameter of 0.5cm and its insulation
effective thickness of the paper if its
separated by 1-cm are connected covering is 0.4cm thick. Calculate the relative permittivity is 2.5.
across a 12-V battery. A certain plastic capacitance of the cable if the insulation A. 0.62 mm B. 0.4 mm *
material is inserted completely filling the covering has a relative permittivity of 4.5. C. 1.2 mm D. 0.95 mm
space between the plates and the charge
8. A parallel plate capacitor has nineteen
on each plate is observed to double.
interleaved plates each 75mm by 75mm
What is the dielectric constant of the
separated by mica sheets 0.2mm thick.
plastic material? Problems to Solve
Assuming the relative permittivity of the
Example11. An isolated charge sphere mica is 5, calculate the capacitance of
having a radius of 0.1cm is place in a 1. Determine the voltage across a 4μF the capacitor.
medium having a dielectric of 2.2. capacitor when charged with 5mC. A. 22.4 nF * B. 22.4 nF
Determine its capacitance. A. 2.25 kV B. 6.55 kV C. 22.4 nF D. 22.4 nF
C. 3.25 kV D. 1.25 kV *
Example12: Two conductors having a 9. Calculate the equivalent capacitance of
diameter each of 1.5-cm are placed 45- 2. Two identical charges are place 1.5 two capacitors of 6μF and 4μF
cm apart from each other. What is the meters apart. If the force on each connected in parallel.
capacitance of the line in Farad per charge is about 2 Newton, calculate A. 15 μ F B. 21 μ F
how large is the charge of each? C. 10 μ F * D. 9 μ F
meter.
A. 4x10-6C B. 7x10-9C 10. Calculate the equivalent capacitance of
Example13: The series combination of C. 5x10-9C D. 2x10-5C * two capacitors of 6μF and 4μF
two capacitors is connected to a voltage 3. A direct current of 4A flows into a connected in series.
source of 1000 volts. If C1= 3pF and C2= previously uncharged 20μF capacitor A. 2.4 μF * B. 1.9 μF
6pF, calculate (a) its equivalent for 3ms. Determine the voltage between C. 3.2 μF D. 2.6 μF
capacitance Ceq (b) the charges on each the plates. 11. What capacitance must be connected in
capacitors: Q1, Q2 (c) the voltage across A. 220 V B. 600 V * series with a 30μF capacitor for the
each capacitors: V1, V2 (d) the energy C. 410 V D. 650 V equivalent capacitance to be 12μF?
stored in each capacitor: W1, W2. 4. Two parallel rectangular plates A. 42 μF B. 20 μF *
Example14: The parallel combination of measuring 20cm by 40cm carry an C. 36 μF D. 29 μF
two capacitors is connected across a electric charge of 0.2μC. Calculate the 12. Capacitances of 1μF, 3μF, 5μF and 6μF
voltage source of 120 volts. If C1=2pF electric flux density. are connected in parallel to a direct
and C2=6pF, calculate (a) its equivalent A. 2.5 μC/m2* B. 3.5 μC/m3 voltage supply of 100V. Determine the
capacitance: Ceq (b) its equivalent C. 6.5 μC/m5 D. 2.7 μC/m2 total charge.
elastance: St. 5. The flux density between two plates A. 0.3 mC B. 2.1 mC
separated by mica of relative permittivity C. 1.5 mC * D. 1.3 mC
Example15 Two capacitors 3µF and 4µF 13. Capacitances of 3μF, 6μF and 12μF
5 is 2μ C/m2 . Find the voltage
are individually charged across a dc are connected in series across a 350
gradient between the plates.
voltage source of 6.0 volts. After being A. 15.7 kV/m B. 47.1 kV/m V supply. Calculate the voltage
disconnected from the dc source, the C. 45.2 kV/m * D. 32.9 kV/m across capacitor 1.
capacitors are connected with the A. 120 V B. 210 V
negative plate of one end attached to the 6. A ceramic capacitor has an C. 350 V D. 200
positive plate of the other. Calculate the effective plate area of 4cm 2 5 V*
final charge on each capacitor. separated by 0.1mm of ceramic of