C H A P T E R 6

I N D U C T A N C E

A N D

C A P A C I T A N C E
E E 2 3 0 - 0 1 C I R C U I T A N A LY S I S I

DR. BHUSHAN DHARMADHIKARI

 • This chapter will introduce two
new linear circuit elements:
• The capacitor
• The inductor
• Unlike resistors, these
Overview elements do not dissipate
energy
• They instead store energy
• We will also look at how to
analyze them in a circuit
Inductors
• An inductor is a passive
element that stores energy in
its magnetic field Joseph
• They have applications in Henry
(1797–
power supplies, transformers, 1878),
radios, TVs, radars, and electric
motors.
• Any conductor has inductance,
but the effect is typically
enhanced by coiling the wire Electrical Circuit Symbol
up.
Inductors
• If a current is passed through an inductor, the voltage across it
is directly proportional to the time rate of change in the current
𝑑𝑖
𝑣 =𝐿
𝑑𝑡

• Where L is the unit of inductance, measured in Henries, H.

• On Henry is one volt-second per ampere.
• The voltage developed tends to oppose a changing flow of
current.
Inductors
• The current-voltage relationship for an inductor is:
𝑡
1
𝐼= ∫ 𝑣 (𝜏 ) 𝑑𝜏 +𝑖(𝑡 0)
𝐿𝑡 0

[ ]
𝑡
• The power delivered to the
1 inductor is:
𝑝=𝑣 ∫ 𝑣 ( 𝜏 ) 𝑑 𝜏 +𝑖 ( 𝑡 0 )
𝐿 𝑡0

• The energy stored is:

 If the current through an inductor is
constant, the voltage across it is
zero
Thus, an inductor acts as a short for
DC.
Properties
The current through an inductor
of cannot change instantaneously
Inductors If this did happen, the voltage
across the inductor would be
infinity!
This is an important consideration if
an inductor is to be turned off
abruptly; it will produce a high-
voltage
 The ideal inductor does not dissipate
energy stored in it.

Energy stored will be returned to the

circuit later

Properties In reality, inductors have internal

resistance due to the wiring used to
of make them.
A real inductor thus has a winding
Inductors resistance in series with it.

There is also a small winding capacitance

due to the closeness of the windings

These two characteristics are typically

small, though at high frequencies, the
capacitance may matter.
 Series Inductors
• First, let’s consider a series
combination of inductors

• Applying KVL to the loop:

𝐿𝑒𝑞=𝐿1 +𝐿2 +𝐿3+…+𝐿𝑁
𝑑𝑖 𝑑𝑖 𝑑𝑖 𝑑𝑖 𝑁
𝑣=𝐿1 +𝐿2 +𝐿3 +…+𝐿𝑁 ¿ ∑ 𝐿𝑘
𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑡 𝑘=1 ( )
𝑑𝑖
𝑑𝑡
=𝐿𝑒𝑞
𝑑𝑖
𝑑𝑡
 Parallel Inductors
• Now consider a parallel
combination of inductors:
• Applying KCL to the circuit:
• 𝑖=𝑖1+𝑖2+𝑖3+…+𝑖𝑁

( )
𝑁 𝑡 𝑁 𝑡
1 1
𝑖= ∑ ∫ 𝑣𝑑𝑡+∑ 𝑖𝑘 ( 𝑡 0 )= ∫ 𝑣𝑑𝑡+𝑖(𝑡0 )
𝑘=1 𝐿𝑘 𝑡 𝑘=1 𝐿𝑒𝑞 𝑡
• The equivalent
0 inductance
0 is thus:
1 1 1 1 1
= + + +…+
𝐿𝑒𝑞 𝐿1 𝐿2 𝐿3 𝐿𝑁
 Due to their bulky size, inductors are
less frequently used than capacitors.
However, they are best suited for
some applications.

They can be used to create a large

Application amount of current or voltage for a

short period of time.
s of
Inductors Their resistance to sudden changes in
current can be used for spark
suppression.

Along with capacitors, they can be

used for frequency discrimination.
Capacitors Michael
Faraday
(1791–1867),

• A capacitor is a passive element that

stores energy in its electric field
• It consists of two conducting plates
separated by an insulator (or
dielectric)
• The plates are typically aluminum foil
Electrical Circuit Symbol
• The dielectric is often air, ceramic,
paper, plastic, or mica
Capacitors
• When a voltage source v is connected to the
capacitor, the source deposits a positive
charge q on one plate and a negative
charge –q on the other.
• The charges will be equal in magnitude
• The amount of charge is proportional to the
voltage:
𝑞=𝐶𝑣
Where C is the capacitance
Capacitors
• The unit of capacitance is the Farad (F)
• One Farad is 1 Coulomb/Volt

microfarad (𝛍𝐅)
• Most capacitors are rated in picofarad (pF) and

• The geometry of the capacitor determines capacitance:

• Proportional to the area of the plates (A)
• Inversely proportional to the space between them (d)

𝛆 is the permittivity of the dielectric

 • Capacitors have a
wide range of
applications, some of
which are:
• Blocking DC
Application • Passing AC
s for • Shift phase
Capacitors • Store energy
• Suppress noise
• Start motors
Capacitors Current Voltage
Relationship
• Using the formula for the charge stored in a capacitor,
we can find the current-voltage relationship
• Take the first derivative with respect to time:

• This assumes the passive sign convention

• Similarly, the voltage-current relationship is

𝑡
1
𝑣 (𝑡)= ∫
𝐶 𝑡
𝑖 ( 𝜏 ) 𝑑 𝜏 +𝑣 (𝑡 0)
0
Capacitors – Power and energy
• The instantaneous power delivered to the capacitor is
𝑑𝑣
𝑝=𝑣𝑖=𝐶𝑣
𝑑𝑡

• The energy stored in a capacitor is:

1 2
𝑤= 𝐶 𝑣
2
 When the voltage is not changing, the
current through the cap is zero.

This means that with DC applied to the

terminals, no current will flow. Thus, the
capacitor acts as an open circuit for DC.
Properties
of Except, the voltage on the capacitor’s plates
can’t change instantaneously.
Capacitors
An abrupt change in voltage would require
an infinite current!

This means if the voltage on the cap does

not equal the applied voltage, the charge
will flow, and the voltage will finally reach
the applied voltage.
Properties of
Capacitors
An ideal capacitor does not dissipate
energy, meaning stored energy may
be retrieved later

A real capacitor has a parallel-model

leakage resistance, leading to a slow
loss of the stored energy internally

This resistance is typically very high,

on the order of 100 MΩ and thus can
be ignored for many circuit
applications.
Parallel Capacitors

• We learned with resistors that applying the

equivalent series and parallel combinations can
simply many circuits.
• Starting with N parallel capacitors, one can note
that the voltages on all the caps are the same
• Applying KCL:
• 𝑖=𝑖1𝑑𝑣
( )
𝑁
𝑑𝑣 𝑁𝑑𝑣
+𝑖2+𝑖3+…+𝑖 𝑑𝑣 𝑑𝑣 𝑑𝑣
𝑖=𝐶 1 +𝐶 2 +𝐶 3 +…+𝐶 𝑁 ¿ ∑ 𝐶𝑘
𝑑𝑡
=𝐶 𝑒𝑞
𝑑𝑡
𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑡 𝑘=1
Parallel Capacitors
Where

𝐶𝑒𝑞=𝐶1+𝐶2+𝐶3+…+𝐶𝑁

• From this, we find that parallel capacitors combine as

the sum of all capacitance
 Series Capacitors
• Turning our attention to a series arrangement
of capacitors:
• Here each capacitor shares the same current
• Applying KVL to the loop:

• Now apply the voltage current relationship

𝑡 𝑡 𝑡 𝑡
1 1 1 1
𝑣= ∫
𝐶1 𝑡
𝑖 ( 𝜏 ) 𝑑 𝜏+ 𝑣 1 ( 𝑡 0 ) + ∫
𝐶2 𝑡
𝑖 ( 𝜏 ) 𝑑 𝜏 + 𝑣 2 ( 𝑡0 ) + ∫
𝐶3 𝑡
𝑖 (𝜏 ) 𝑑 𝜏 +𝑣 3 ( 𝑡 0 ) +¿ … + ∫ 𝑖 ( 𝜏 ) 𝑑 𝜏 +𝑣 𝑁 ( 𝑡 0 ) ¿
𝐶𝑁 𝑡
0 0 0 0

𝑡
¿
(
1
+
1
+
𝐶1 𝐶2 𝐶3
1
+…
1
𝐶𝑁 )∫ 𝑖 ( 𝜏 ) 𝑑 𝜏 + 𝑣 (𝑡 )+𝑣 (𝑡 )+𝑣 (𝑡 )+ …+𝑣
𝑡0
1 0 2 0 3 0 𝑁 (𝑡 0)
Series Capacitors
• Where

• From this we see that the

series combination of
capacitors resembles the
parallel combination of
resistors.