This activity introduces a new electrical component, the capacitor. Capacitors possess the electrical property of capacitance.

The symbol for a capacitor is shown in figure 1. Capacitors are physically two metallic plates separated by an insulator called a dielectric. Figure 2 shows the physical contents of a capacitor. The dielectric material can be paper, plastic film, mica, ceramic or certain metal oxides. Each dielectric material has different characteristics. Many capacitors are constructed from a layer of metal foil, a layer of dielectric and another layer of metal foil. The foil and dielectric layers are often rolled into a compact cylinder. Capacitance is the property of an electrical circuit that tends to oppose a change in voltage. The key word is change. Capacitors do not oppose voltage. Capacitors oppose changes in voltage. Capacitors store energy in the form of an electrical charge. The unit of measure for capacitance is the farad. Most capacitors are in the range of a few picofarads to a few thousand microfarads. A picofarad is also known as a micromicrofarad. A picofarad is 1X 10 -12 farad. A microfarad is 1X 10 -6 farad. Current rises immediately to a large value when the switch closes in figure 3. The current at the moment the switch makes contact can be calculated with Ohm's law.
V I = ----R

The capacitor acts as a short at the moment the switch closes. Notice that current decreases rapidly at first then more slowly toward zero as charge accumulates on the capacitor. The capacitor charge is shown as + and - signs on the animation in figure 3. Every increase in capacitor charge leads to a decrease in available charging voltage. Eventually the capacitor charge reaches the supply voltage. The circuit current will then be zero amperes. Notice the charge remains on the capacitor plates after the switch is opened. The capacitor now contains stored energy. The graph in figure 4 shows circuit voltage vs. time for RC series circuits. The time interval Tc can be calculated using the formula below.
Calculate the circuit time constant for R = 20K and C = 2F in figure 3.

Tc = RC = (20)(103)(2)(10-6) = 40mS
Calculate the capacitor voltage at the end of each time constant. Use the percentages from the graph in figure 4.

VC1TC = (100V)(63.2%) = 63.2V VC2TC = (100V)(86.5%) = 86.5V VC3TC = (100V)(95%) = 95V VC4TC = (100V)(98.2%) = 98.2V VC5TC = (100V)(99.3%) = 99.3V

Voltage after one time constant, 40mS Current after two time constants, 80mS Current after three time constants, 120mS Current after four time constants, 160mS Current after five time constants, 200mS

Notice that the capacitor voltage is within one percent of the supply voltage after the 5 th time constant. It is common practice to use 5 time constants as the time for full capacitor charge. How much time is required for full capacitor charge in figure 3?

T = (5)(TC) = 5(40mS) = 200mS

Calculate the voltage across the resistor at each time constant in figure 3. We can use Kirchhoff's law to calculate the resistor voltages.

VR1TC = Vs - Vc1TC = 100V - 63.2V = 36.8V VR2TC = Vs - Vc2TC = 100V - 86.5V = 13.5V VR3TC = Vs - Vc3TC = 100V - 95V = 5V VR4TC = Vs - Vc4TC = 100V - 98.2V = 1.8V VR5TC = Vs - Vc5TC = 100V - 99.3V = 0.7V

(Essentially 0V)

Calculate the circuit current each time constant in figure 3. Ohm's law can be used for this calculation.

I1TC = VR/R = 36.8V/20K = 1.84mA I2TC = VR/R = 13.5V/20K = 675A I3TC = VR/R = 5V/20K = 250A I4TC = VR/R = 1.8V/20K = 90A I5TC = VR/R = 0.7V/20K = 35A The formula below can be used to calculate the capacitor voltage for a RC circuit at any time. We are not restricted to time constant intervals.

VC = VC = VC = VC = VC = VC =

VS (1 - e -t/RC) 100V (1 - e -20mS/(20K)(2F)) 100V (1 - e -0.5) 100V (1 - 0.6065) 100V (0.3935) 39.35V

Use the formula to calculate the capacitor voltage 20mS after the switch closes in figure 3.

Click the Page 2 tab for additional information about RC transient circuits.

Capacitor Discharge
A charged capacitor can hold a charge for a significant time if no discharge path is present. The capacitor in figure 1 holds a charge of 100 volts while the switch is open. The capacitor discharges through the resistor when the switch closes. A capacitor discharges at the same rate as a capacitor charges. Watch the animation for a few cycles. 63.2% of the initial charge is lost after 1 time constant. 86.5% of the initial charge is lost after 2 time constants. 95% of the initial charge is lost after 3 time constants. 98.2% of the initial charge is lost after 4 time constants. 99.3% of the initial charge is lost after 5 time constants. We generally consider the capacitor discharged after 5 time constants. The voltage on the capacitor in figure 1 at the end of each time constant is calculated below. VC1TC = 100V - 63.2%(100V) = 36.8V VC2TC = 100V - 86.5%(100V) = 13.5V VC3TC = 100V - 95%(100V) = 5V VC4TC = 100V - 98.2%(100V) = 1.8V VC5TC = 100V - 99.3%(100V) = 0.7V = 700mV The capacitor and resistor are effectively in parallel in figure 1 when the switch is closed. Therefore, the voltage across the resistor will be the same as the capacitor voltage while discharging the capacitor. VR1TC = 36.8V VR2TC = 13.5V VR3TC = 5V VR4TC = 1.8V VR5TC = 700mV

Capacitors in Series
Capacitors can be connected in series as shown in figure 2. The total capacitance of series capacitors is calculated in the same way as parallel resistors. The total capacitance formula for series capacitors is shown below. This formula can be expanded or contracted as required. 1 1 1 1 ----- = ----- + ----- + ----CT C1 C2 C3
The total capacitance for figure 2 is calculated below. Only two terms are required.

1 1 1 ----- = --------- + ---------

CT

.47F

.22 F

1 ----- = 2127659.57 + 4545454.55 CT 1 ----- = 6673114.12 CT CT = .149855 X 10-6 = .149855F

Capacitors in Parallel
Capacitors can be connected in parallel as shown in figure 3. The total capacitance of parallel capacitors is calculated in the same way as series resistors. The total capacitance formula for parallel capacitors is shown below.
This formula can be extended for any number of capacitors.

CT = C1 + C2 + C3
The total inductance for figure 3 is calculated below.

CT = 15F + 22F + 2F = 39F