(1) Capacitance of a conductor : Charge given to a conductor increases it’s

potential i.e., Q  V  Q = CV
Where C is a proportionality constant, called capacity or capacitance of
conductor. Hence capacitance is the ability of conductor to hold the charge.
Coulomb
(2) It's S.I. unit is Volt
= Farad (F)

Smaller S.I. units are mF, F, nF and pF ( 1mF = 10 −3 F , 1F = 10 −6 F , 1nF = 10 −9 F ,

1 pF = 1F = 10 −12 F )

(3) It's C.G.S. unit is Stat Farad 1 F = 9  10 11 Stat Farad .

(4) It's dimension : [C] = [M −1 L−2 T 4 A 2 ] .

(5) Capacity of a body is independent of charge given to the body or it’s potential
raised and depends on shape and size only.
(6) Capacity of an isolated spherical conductor : When charge Q is given to a
spherical conductor of radius + + + +Q
+
+ +
R +
R, then potential at the surface ++ +
+
O +
of sphere is V=
1 Q
 +
+ + +
+
4 0 R
Fig. 18.84
Q
= 4 0 R
V
1
C = 4 πε 0 R = .R
9  10 9

If earth is assumed to be a conducting sphere having radius R = 6400 km . It’s

theoretical capacitance C = 711 F . But for all practical purpose capacitance of earth is
taken infinity and its potential V = 0 .
(7) Energy of a charged conductor : Electrostatic potential energy of a
conductor carrying charge Q, capacitance C and potential V is given by
1 1 Q2
U= QV = CV 2 =
2 2 2C

Combination of Charged Drops

Suppose we have n identical drops each having Radius – r, Capacitance – c, Charge
– q, Potential – v and Energy – u.
If these drops are combined to form a big drop of Radius – R, Capacitance – C,
Charge – Q, Potential – V and Energy – U then
 (1) Charge on big drop : Q = nq

(2) Radius of big drop : Volume of big drop = n  volume of a single drop i.e.,
4 4
R 3 = n  r 3 , R = n 1 /3 r
3 3

(3) Capacitance of big drop : C = n 1 /3 c

(4) Potential of big drop : V = QC = 1nq/ 3 V = n 2 /3 v
n c
1 1
(5) Energy of big drop : U=
2
CV 2 = (n 1 / 3 c) (n 2 / 3 v) 2
2

U = n 5 /3 u
(6) Energy difference : Total energy of big drop is greater than the total energy
all smaller drop. Hence energy difference
U = U – nu = U − n  U5 / 3 = U 1 − 21/ 3 
n  n 

Redistribution of Charges and Loss of Energy

When two charged conductors joined together through a conducting wire, charge
begins to flow from one conductor to another from higher potential to lower
potential.
This flow of charge stops when they attain the same potential.
Due to flow of charge, loss of energy also takes place in the form of heat through
the connecting wire.
Suppose there are two spherical conductors of radii r1 and r2 , having charge Q1 and
Q 2 , potential V1 and V2 , energies U1 and U 2 and capacitance C1 and C 2 respectively.
Q1 Q2
C1 r1 r2 C2
V1 V2
U1 U2
Q1= C1V1 Q2= C2V2
Fig. 18.85

If these two spheres are connected through a conducting wire, then alteration of
charge, potential and energy takes place.
Q1 Q2
C1 r1 r2 C2
V V
U1 U2
Q1=C1V Q2=C2V

Fig. 18.86
 (1) New charge : According to the conservation of charge
Q1' C r
Q1 + Q 2 = Q1' + Q 2' = Q (say), also = 1 = 1
Q 2' C 2 r2
 r   r 
 Q 2' = Q  2  and similarly Q1' = Q  1 
 r1 + r2   r1 + r2 

(2) Common potential : Common potential

Total charge Q + Q2 Q ' + Q 2' C V + C 2 V2
(V ) = = 1 = 1 = 1 1
Total capacity C1 + C 2 C1 + C 2 C1 + C 2

(3) Energy loss : The loss of energy due to redistribution of charge is given by
C1C 2
 U = Ui − U f = (V1 − V2 )2
2(C1 + C 2 )

Capacitor or Condenser
(1) A capacitor is a device that stores electric energy. or A capacitor is a pair of
two conductors of any shape, which are
close to each other and have equal and
opposite charge.
(2) The capacitance of a capacitor is
defined as the magnitude of the charge
Q on the positive plate divided by the
magnitude of the potential difference V
between the plates i.e., C = QV
(3) A capacitor get’s charged when
a battery is connected across the plates.
Once capacitor get’s fully charged,
Fig. 18.87
flow of charge carriers stops in the
circuit and in this condition potential
difference across the plates of capacitor
is same as the potential difference across the terminals of battery.
(4) Net charge on a capacitor is always zero, but when we speak of the charge Q
on a capacitor, we are referring to the magnitude of the charge on each plate.
(5) Energy stored : When a capacitor is charged by a voltage source (say
battery) it stores the electric energy. If C = Capacitance of capacitor; Q = Charge
on capacitor and V = Potential difference across capacitor then energy stored in
2
capacitor U = 12 CV 2 = 12 QV = Q2C
In charging capacitor by battery half the energy supplied is stored in the capacitor
and remaining half energy (1/2 QV) is lost in the form of heat.
Dielectric
Conductor
(Metal foil)

Conductor Dielectric
(Metal foil) (Plastic sheet)

Dielectrics are insulating (non-conducting) materials which transmits electric

effect without conducting.
Dielectrics are of two types
(1) Polar dielectrics : A polar molecule has permanent electric dipole moment

(p) in the absence of electric field also. But a polar dielectric has net dipole moment

zero in the absence of electric field because polar molecules are randomly oriented
as shown in figure. – – +
+ +
–
–
+ +
–

Fig. 18.88

In the presence of electric field polar molecules tends to line up in the direction
of electric field, and the substance has finite dipole moment e.g. water, Alcohol, CO 2
, NH 3 , HCl etc. are made of polar atoms/molecules.
(2) Non polar dielectric : In non-polar molecules, Each molecule has zero dipole
moment in its normal state.
When electric field is applied, molecules becomes induced electric dipole e.g. N 2
, O 2 , Benzene, Methane etc. are made of non-polar atoms/molecules
In general, any non-conducting, material can be called as a dielectric but broadly
non conducting material having non polar molecules referred to as dielectric.
(3) Polarization of a dielectric slab : It is the process of inducing equal and
opposite charges on the two faces of the dielectric on the application of electric field.
+
– + – + –
+

– + – + –
+
Ei
– + – + –
+

+ –
– + – +

+ –
– + – +

E
Fig. 18.89
 (i) Electric field between the plates in the presence of dielectric medium is
E' = E − Ei where E = Main field, E' = Induced field.

(ii) Dielectric constant of dielectric medium is defined as :

E Electric field between the plates with air
= =K
E' Electric field between the plates with medium

(iii) K is also known as relative permittivity ( r ) of the material or SIC (Specific

Inductive Capacitance)
(4) Dielectric breakdown and dielectric strength : If a very high electric field
is created in a dielectric,. The dielectric then behaves like a conductor. This
phenomenon is known as dielectric breakdown.
The maximum value of electric field (or potential gradient) that a dielectric
material can tolerate without it’s electric breakdown is called it’s dielectric
strength.
V kV
S.I. unit of dielectric strength of a material is m
but practical unit is mm
.
Capacity of Various Capacitor
(1) Parallel plate capacitor : It consists of two parallel metallic plates (may be
circular, rectangular, square) separated by a small distance. If A = Effective
overlapping area of each plate.
 Q
(i) Electric field between the plates : E= =
 0 A 0
d
(ii) Potential difference between the plates : V = Ed =
0
0 A A
(iii) Capacitance : C=
d
. In C.G.S. : C=
4 d

(iv) If a dielectric medium of dielectric constant K is filled completely between

the plates then capacitance increases by K times i.e. C ' = K A  C' = KC 0
d
 1
(v) The capacitance of parallel plate capacitor depends on A (C  A) and d C  
 d
. It does not depend on the charge on the plates or the potential difference between
the plates. + –

(vi) If a dielectric slab is partially filled between the plates + t –

+ –
A
0 A
 C' =
+ –
t K
d −t+ + –
K
+ –
E
d

Fig. 18.90
 (vii) If a number of dielectric slabs are inserted between the plate as shown

A K1 K2 K3

t1 t2 t3

Fig. 18.91

0 A
C' =
 t t t 
d − (t1 + t 2 + t 3 + ........) +  1 + 2 + 3 + ........ 

 1
K K 2 K 3 
A K=
(viii) When a metallic slab is inserted between the plates
0 A
C' =
(d − t)
d
If metallic slab fills the complete space between the plates
Fig. 18.92
(i.e. t = d) or both plates are joined through a metallic wire then
capacitance becomes infinite.

(ix) Force between the plates of a parallel plate capacitor.

 2A Q2 CV 2
| F| = = =
2 0 2 0 A 2d

(x) Energy density between the plates of a parallel plate capacitor.

Energy 1
Energy density = = 0 E2.
Volume 2
Table 18.7 : Variation of different variable (Q, C, V, E and U) of parallel plate
capacitor
Quantity Battery is Battery
Removed Remains
connected

A K
A K

d
d
V

Capacity C = KC C = KC
Charge Q = Q Q = KQ
Potential V = V/K V = V
Intensity E = E/K E = E
Energy U = U/K U' = KU

Grouping of Capacitor
(1) Series grouping
(i) Charge on each capacitor remains same and equals to the main charge supplied
by the battery but potential difference distributes i.e. V = V1 + V2 + V3
(ii) Equivalent capacitance
1 1 1 1
= + + or C = (C + C + C ) eq
−1
1
−1
2
−1 −1
3
Ceq C1 C2 C3

C1 C2 C3
+Q –Q +Q –Q +Q –Q
+ – + – + –
+ – + – + –
+ – + – + –
Q + – + – + –
V1 V2 V3

+ –
V
Fig. 18.96
 (iii) In series combination potential difference and energy distributes in the
reverse ratio of capacitance i.e.,
1 1
V
C
and U
C
.
(iv) If two capacitors having capacitances C1 and C2 are connected in series then
C1 C 2 Multiplication
C eq = =
C1 + C 2 Addition
 C2   C1 
V1 =  .V

and V2 =  .V

 C1 + C 2   C1 + C 2 

(v) If n identical capacitors each having capacitances C are connected in series

with supply voltage V then Equivalent capacitance C eq = Cn and Potential difference
V
across each capacitor V' =
n
.
(vi) If n identical plates are arranged as shown below, they constitute (n – 1)
capacitors in series. If each capacitors having capacitance  0dA then Ceq =  0 A
(n − 1)d
+ – + – + – + –
+ –
+ – + – + – + –
+ – + – + – + –
+ – + – + – + –

Fig. 18.97

In this situation except two extreme plates each plate is common to adjacent
capacitors.
(2) Parallel grouping
(i) Potential difference across each capacitor remains same and equal to the
applied potential difference
+Q – Q but charge distributes i.e. Q = Q1 + Q2 + Q3
1 1
+ –
+ –
+ –
+ –
Q1
+Q2 –Q2
+ –
+ –
Q2 ++ ––
Q Q3 +Q3 –Q3
+ –
+ –
+ –
+ –

V
Fig. 18.98

(ii) Ceq = C1 + C2 + C3
(iii) In parallel combination charge and energy distributes in the ratio of
capacitance i.e. Q  C and U  C
 (iv) If two capacitors having capacitance C1 and C2 respectively are connected in
parallel then C eq = C1 + C 2
 C1   C2 
Q1 =  .Q

and Q 2 =  .Q

 C1 + C 2   C1 + C 2 

(v) If n identical capacitors are connected in parallel

Q
Equivalent capacitance C eq = nC and Charge on each capacitor Q' =
n
If n identical plates are arranged such that even numbered of plates are connected
together and odd numbered plates are connected together, then (n – 1) capacitors
will be formed and they will be in parallel grouping.

2 4 6
1 3 5 7

Fig. 18.99

Equivalent capacitance C ' = (n − 1) C

0 A
where C = capacitance of a capacitor =
d

Charging and Discharging of Capacitor in Series RC Circuit

As shown in the following figure (A) when switch S is closed, capacitor start
charging. In this transient state potential difference appears across capacitor as well
as resistor. When capacitor gets fully charged the entire potential difference
appeared across the capacitor and nothing is left for the resistor. [Shown in figure
(B)]
C R C R
+ – + –

V V V0

+ – + –
S S
V0 V0

(A) Transient state (B) Steady state

Fig. 18.100
 (i) Charging : In transient state of charging charge on the capacitor at any instant
 −t   −t 
Q = Q 0  1 − e RC  and potential difference across the capacitor at any instant V = V0  1 − e RC 
   
   

(Here Q and V are the instantaneous values of charge and potential difference
while maximum charge on capacitor is Q0 = CV0 )
(ii) Discharging : After the completion of charging, if battery is removed
capacitor starts discharging. In transient state charge on the capacitor at any instant
Q = Q 0 e − t / RC and potential difference cross the capacitor at any instant V = V0 e − t / CR .

Q0 Q0

Q Q = Q0 e–t/RC
Q Q = Q0(1 – e–t/RC)

O t O t

Charge on the capacitor increases with time Charge on the capacitor decreases with time
during charging. during discharging.

Fig. 18.101

(iii) Time constant () : The quantity RC is called the time constant as it has the
dimension of time during charging if t =  = RC , Q = Q0 (1 − e −1 ) = 0.63 Q0 = 63% of Q0 (
1
= 0 . 37 ) or during discharging it is defined as the time during which charge on a
e

capacitor falls to 0.37 times (37%) of the initial charge on the capacitor.