Chapter 24: Capacitance and Dielectrics

Q
• Definition of Capacitance C≡
V
• Example Calculations
• Parallel Plate Capacitor A
• Cylindrical Capacitor ++++
• Spherical Capacitor d -----
• Combinations of Capacitors
• Capacitors in Parallel
• Capacitors in Series a
• Energy in Capacitors b L
• Dielectrics
a

≡
C3
a b
C1 C2 C
b
 Capacitors

New Topic
Phys 2435: Chap. 24, Pg 2
 device to store charge and energy
 connect capacitor to battery (V)
 plates become charged (Q)

charge ∝ potential difference

Q = CV

 C is called capacitance
 units: coulomb / volt ≡ Farad
 larger C ⇒ bigger Q (fixed V)
(“capacity” to hold charge)
Phys 2435: Chap. 24, Pg 3
 Example: Parallel Plate (the simplest capacitor)
 The electric field in between is
σ Q
E= =
ε 0 ε0 A
The potential difference is
⎛ d ⎞
V = Ed = ⎜ ⎟Q
€ ⎝ ε0 A ⎠
Q
Thus from C = , we get
V
Capacitance only depends on the geometry.

ε0 = 8.85 x 10-12 C2/N-m2 (permittivity of free space)

Phys 2435: Chap. 24, Pg 4
 Example: Cylindrical Capacitor
 Determine the capacitance for the cylindrical capacitor shown.

We want to use C=Q/V. What is V?

Outside: E=0 (why?)
1 Q/L
In between : E =
2πε 0 r

Q / L Ra
V= ln
2πε 0 Rb

2πε 0 L
C=
ln( Ra / Rb )
Phys 2435: Chap. 24, Pg 5
 Example: Spherical Capacitor
 Determine the capacitance for the spherical capacitor shown.

We want to use C=Q/V. What is V?

Outside: E=0 (why?)
1 Q
In between : E =
4πε 0 r 2

Q ⎛⎜ 1 1 ⎞⎟
V= ⎜ − ⎟
4πε 0 ⎝ ra rb ⎠

ra rb
C = 4πε 0
ra − rb
Phys 2435: Chap. 24, Pg 6
Example: How big is 1 Farad?

choose d = 1 mm


= ε A
 find the area A for C 0
such a capacitor
d

A = C (d/ε0)

= (1 F) (0.001 m) / (8.85x10-12)

= 1.1 x 108 m2 = 43 sq. miles!

This capacitor is as big as a city!!!

Typical capacitance is in the range of pF to µF.

Phys 2435: Chap. 24, Pg 7
 ConcepTest 24.1 (Post) Capacitors
 A parallel-plate capacitor initially has a 1) 100 V
potential difference of 400 V and is then 2) 200 V
disconnected from the charging battery.
3) 400 V
If the plate spacing is now doubled
(without changing Q), what is the new 4) 800 V
value of the voltage? 5) 1600 V

+Q –Q

Phys 2435: Chap. 24, Pg 8

 Combination of Capacitors

New Topic
Phys 2435: Chap. 24, Pg 9
 Capacitors in parallel
 Potential difference between points a and b is the same
for all 3 capacitors
 V1 = V2 = V3 = V

 However, charges add:

 Q1 + Q2 + Q3 = Q
 Since Q = C V, we have
 C1V+ C2V + C3V = CV

C = C1 + C2 + C3 C is called an
equivalent capacitor.
Phys 2435, Chap 24, Pg 10
 Capacitors in series

 Each capacitor has to hold the same charge:

 Q1 = Q2 = Q3 = Q

 However, voltages add:

 V1 + V2 + V3 = V

 SinceV = Q/C, we have

 Q/C1+ Q/C2 + Q/C3 = Q/C

1 1 1 1
= + +
C C1 C2 C3
Phys 2435, Chap 24, Pg 11
 ConcepTest 24.2(Post)
24.2 Capacitors
 What is the equivalent
capacitance, Ceq, of the o
combination shown? C
Ceq C C
(a) Ceq = (3/2)C
(b) Ceq = (2/3)C o
(c) Ceq = 3C

Phys 2435, Chap 24, Pg 12

 Electric Energy Storage

New Topic
Phys 2435: Chap. 24, Pg 13
 Energy of a Capacitor
• How much energy is stored in a charged capacitor?
– Calculate the work provided (usually by a battery) to charge a
capacitor to +/- Q:

Calculate incremental work dW needed to add charge dq to

capacitor at voltage V: - +

⎛ q⎞
dW = dq ( V) = dq ⎜ ⎟
⎝ C⎠

• The total work W to charge to Q is then given by:

Q 2
1 1 Q 1 Q2
W = ∫ qdq = U =
2 C
C0 2 C

2
• Since Q=CV, we can write: 1 Q = 1 CV = 1 QV
U = 2

2 C 2 2
 Where is the Energy Stored?
• Claim: energy is stored in the Electric Field itself. Think of
the energy needed to charge the capacitor as being the
energy needed to create the field.

• To calculate the energy density in the field, first consider the

constant field generated by a parallel plate capacitor:

1 1 ⎛ ε0 A ⎞ 1 A
U = CV = ⎜
2
( )
⎟ Ed = ε 0 E 2 Ad
2
++++
2 2⎝ d ⎠ 2
d -----

• The energy density (u = U / volume) in the field is given by:

J
Units:
m3
Valid for any capacitor.
 ConcepTest 24.3(Post) Capacitors
Capacitors 1 and 2 have the
same voltage, but capacitor 2 (1) U/4
stores twice the charge of (2) U/2
capacitor 1. If the energy (3) U
stored in capacitor 1 is U, the (4) 2U
energy stored in capacitor 2 is (5) 4U
 Dielectrics

New Topic
Phys 2435: Chap. 24, Pg 17
 Dielectrics

 Experimental observation: When a piece of material fills the space in

a capacitor, the potential difference decreases by a factor: V=V0/K.

Since the charge on the capacitor remains the same, it

means, according to Q=CV, that the capacitance increases
by the same factor: C=KC0.
A +Q
K is called dielectric constant d
Dielectric Dielectric
Material constant strength -Q
K (V/m)  Benefits of dielectrics:
Air 1.0006 3x106  Increase capacitance
Paper 3.7 15x106 (C=KC0)
Glass 5 14x106  Higher voltage possible
Water 80  Decrease spacing without
Mica 7 150x106 touching (increase C)
Strontium  Store more energy
300 8x106
titanate
Phys 2435: Chap. 24, Pg 18
 Dielectrics
A +Q
d
permittivity of vacuum : ε 0
-Q
permittivity of dielectric : ε = Kε 0

Replace everywhere: ε0 ε = Kε 0

A A
For example: C0 = ε 0 C =ε = KC 0
d d

For constant Q, electric field E0=σ/ε0. With dielectrics: E=σ/ε

=E0/K. Then V=Ed=V0/K. Then U=1/2 CQ=K U0.

Phys 2435: Chap. 24, Pg 19

 Molecular View of Dielectrics
Fixed charge capacitor Polarization of molecules

Net polarization How much induced charge?

Phys 2435: Chap. 24, Pg 20

 Application of Capacitors
lightening Hitting a key

Rolling it up Turning a knob

Phys 2435: Chap. 24, Pg 21

 Problem 24.59: capacitor calculations

 In the figure, C1= C5 =8.4 µF, C2= C3

= C4 =4.2 µF. The applied potential is
Vab=220 V.
 What is the equivalence
capacitance of the network
between points a and b?
 What is the charge on each
capacitor?
 What is the voltage across each
capacitor?
 What’s the total energy stored in
the system?

What happens if a dielectric of K=100 fills every capacitor?

Phys 2435, Chap 24, Pg 22

 ConcepTest 24.4(Post)
24.4 Capacitors
 A parallel-plate capacitor is connected to
a battery so that the voltage is constant.
A +Q
If a dielectric is inserted, how does the +
d K = V
charge change?
(a) increases
-
(b) stays the same -Q
(c) decreases

Phys 2435, Chap 24, Pg 23