Chapter 24:

Capacitors and Capacitance.

You must be able to apply the equation C=Q/V.

Capacitors: parallel plate, cylindrical, spherical.

You must be able to calculate the capacitance of capacitors having these geometries.

Energy Storage in Capacitors.

You must be able to calculate the energy stored in a capacitor.

Circuits containing capacitors in series and parallel.

You must understand the differences between, and be able to calculate the “equivalent
capacitance” of, capacitors connected in series and parallel.

Dielectrics.
You must understand why dielectrics are used, and be able include dielectric constants in
capacitor calculations.
Capacitor (device) & Capacitance (property)

What is a capacitor?

It is a device for storing charge.

A
A capacitor is any configuration of two conductors that are
close but not touching.
The conductors carry charges of equal magnitude and
opposite sign; Q.
Thus, a potential difference exists between the conductors i.e.
across the capacitor; V.
 Capacitor (device) & Capacitance (property)
How much charge can a capacitor store?
Experiment shows that when a capacitor is connected to a battery,
the charge Q on its plates is proportional to the battery voltage V,
with the proportionality constant equal to the Capacitance C.
Q V is really |V|, the potential
Capacitance: C difference across the capacitor
V which is equal to Vbattery

Capacitance is a measure of the capacitor’s ability to store

charge. Thus (by definition), C is always a positive quantity.
C is constant for a given capacitor and depends only on the
geometry of the device and not on Q or V. It is a device property.
PHY 101
The SI unit of capacitance is the Farad (F),
named in honor of Faraday , 1 F = 1 C/V
 Capacitors in circuits
symbol for capacitor (two parallel plates)

symbol for battery, or external potential

+ -
V
Parallel Plate Capacitor in a circuit
Capacitor Voltage across the
capacitor is the battery
voltage V which is
actually the potential
difference between the
terminals
Capacitor plates build
up charges +Q and –Q.
When battery is
disconnected, charge
remains on plates.
Chapter 24:

Capacitors and Capacitance.

You must be able to apply the equation C=Q/V.

Capacitors: parallel plate, cylindrical, spherical.

You must be able to calculate the capacitance of capacitors having these geometries.

Energy Storage in Capacitors.

You must be able to calculate the energy stored in a capacitor.

Circuits containing capacitors in series and parallel.

You must understand the differences between, and be able to calculate the “equivalent
capacitance” of, capacitors connected in series and parallel.

Dielectrics.
You must understand why dielectrics are used, and be able include dielectric constants in
capacitor calculations.
Capacitance of parallel plate capacitor

electric field between two parallel charged -Q +Q

plates:
 Q E
E  .
0 0 A
Q is magnitude of charge on either plate. V0 d V1
A
potential difference across the capacitor:
r r
d d
V  V1  V0    E  d l  E  dx  Ed
Recall: ε0=8.85x10-12 C2/Nm2
ε0=8.85x10-12 F/m
0 0

Q Q Q 0 A
capacitance: C    common
V Ed  Q  d
 d sense:
 0 A  CαA
Parallel plate capacitance depends “only” on geometry. C α 1/d
Capacitance of coaxial cylinder

• capacitors do not have to consist of parallel plates, other

geometries are possible

• capacitor made of two coaxial cylinders:

L
 r r
b b
from Gauss law:
ΔV = Vb - Va = -  E  d l = -  E r dr (see Examples 13 and 14)
a a

Gaussian
surface

b
r
a
Q
E
C depends only
on geometry. -Q
dl
capacitance per unit length:
common sense:
C α L C α 1/b Cαa
Capacitance of Concentric Spheres

If you have to calculate the capacitance of a concentric

spherical capacitor of charge Q…

In between the spheres (Gauss’ Law)

Q b
E
4 0 r 2 a

+Q
Q b dr Q 1 1 
V 
40 
a r 2

40  a  b 
-Q

Q 4 0
C  Note again that the capacitance depends
V 1 1  only on the geometry of the device
 a  b 
Isolated Sphere Capacitance
We can obtain the capacitance of a single
conducting sphere (of radius R) from the
previous result by assuming that the outer
spherical conductor is infinitely far away. R
With b = ꚙ and a = R, the capacitance of
an isolated spherical conductor is given by

Q 4 0
C 
V 1 1 
 a  b 
Thus if C = 1F, R = 9x109 m !!
Q Radius of earth is ~ 6x106 m.
C  40 R.
V Farad is extremely large unit.

micro 10-6, nano 10-9, pico 10-12 (Know for exam!)

Example 34: calculate the capacitance of a capacitor whose
plates are 20 cm x 3 cm and are separated by a 1.0 mm air gap.

0 A
C
d

C
 8.85  10 12
  0.2  0.03 F
0.001
d = 0.001m
C  53  1012 F area =
0.2m x 0.03m
C  53 pF

If you keep everything in SI (mks) units, the result is “automatically” in SI units.

Example 34: what is the charge on each plate if the capacitor
is connected to a 12 volt* battery?

0V
Q  CV

Q   53 1012  12  C V= 12V

Q  6.4 1010 C
+12 V

*Remember, it’s the potential difference that matters.

Example 34: what is the electric field between the plates?

V 0V
E
d

12V V= 12V

E E
0.001 m
d = 0.001
r V
E  12000 ,"up." +12 V
m
Chapter 24:

Capacitors and Capacitance.

You must be able to apply the equation C=Q/V.

Capacitors: parallel plate, cylindrical, spherical.

You must be able to calculate the capacitance of capacitors having these geometries.

Energy Storage in Capacitors.

You must be able to calculate the energy stored in a capacitor.

Circuits containing capacitors in series and parallel.

You must understand the differences between, and be able to calculate the “equivalent
capacitance” of, capacitors connected in series and parallel.

Dielectrics.
You must understand why dielectrics are used, and be able include dielectric constants in
capacitor calculations.
Energy Storage in Capacitors (energy stored in spring)

Work required to charge a capacitor:

• capacitor already has charge q, voltage (difference) V
• move extra charge element dq from one plate to the other
• external work required: dW = dq V. V
+ -
dq
q +
dW  V dq  dq from q=CV
C

• start with zero charge, end up with Q: +q -q

2 Q
Q Q q q Q2
W   dW   dq   .
0 0 C 2C 0 2C Hmm .. can you safely
take C out of the Integral?
• work required to charge the capacitor = change in potential
energy
Uf  Ui  Wext
• when starting from empty capacitor: Ui  0

Q2
potential energy stored in capacitor: U .
2C

Using Q=CV, three equivalent expressions:

Quiz: the slope is: 1/C
Q2 CV 2 QV
U   .
2C 2 2

All three equations are valid; Elastic potential

use the one most convenient energy stored in
spring = kx2/2
for the problem at hand.
Example 35: a camera flash unit stores energy in a 150 F
capacitor at 200 V. How much electric energy can be stored?

CV 2
U
2

U
150  10 6
 
200 2

J
2

U3J

How many electron volts is this?

If you keep everything in SI (mks) units, the result is “automatically” in SI units.

 Where does the stored energy reside?

Energy is stored in the V

1
U  C  V 
2 + -
capacitor:
2
E
1  0 A 
  Ed 
A
U 
2
C  0 and V  Ed
d
2 d 
d
1 +Q -Q
U   0 Ad  E2
2 area A

The “interior volume of the capacitor” is Ad

 Energy Storage in Capacitors (defibrillator shock!!)
energy density u (energy per unit volume – J/m3):
V
+ -
1
U 2  0 Ad  E 2
1
u   0 E 2 E
Ad Ad 2
energy resides in the electric field d
between the plates +Q -Q

1 area A
u  0 E 2
2 This result, although derived for a
parallel plate capacitor, is in fact
The amount of energy density much more general. The electric
transferred by the electric waves potential energy stored in any
is proportional to the square of electric field per unit volume
the magnitude of the electric field. occupied by that field can be
described using this equation.
 C,Q, and U of a Capacitor: brush up!
A capacitor is a device for storing charge.
C is a measure of the capacitor’s ability to store charge.
Capacitance: C  Q C is always a positive quantity. It is a device property.
SI : Farad (F) , 1 F = 1 C/V V C is constant for a given capacitor, depends on geometry.

1) Capacitance 0 A 3) Capacitance of
of parallel plate C concentric spheres
capacitor d
6) Energy density,
Q 4 0
2) Capacitance of C C 
coaxial cylinders u, stored in any V 1 1 
electric field  a  b 
L 2πε 0 L
C= = 1
b b u  0 E 2 5) Energy, U, stored
2k ln   ln  
a a 2 in a capacitor
4) Isolated sphere capacitance
Q2 CV 2 QV
Farad is extremely U   .
large unit. 2C 2 2
Chapter 24:

Capacitors and Capacitance.

You must be able to apply the equation C=Q/V.

Capacitors: parallel plate, cylindrical, spherical.

You must be able to calculate the capacitance of capacitors having these geometries.

Energy Storage in Capacitors.

You must be able to calculate the energy stored in a capacitor.

Circuits containing capacitors in series and parallel.

You must understand the differences between, and be able to calculate the “equivalent
capacitance” of, capacitors connected in series and parallel.

Dielectrics.
You must understand why dielectrics are used, and be able include dielectric constants in
capacitor calculations.
Circuits Containing Capacitors in Parallel
Vab

Capacitors connected in parallel:

C1

(+ve, +ve) (-ve, -ve) a

C2
b
C3

+ -

V
all three capacitors must have the same potential difference
(voltage drop) Vab = V

General concept: When circuit components (being C or R) are connected in

parallel, then the voltage drops across these components are all the same.
 C1
Q1
+ C2 -
 Q1 = C1 V a
Q2
& Q2 = C2 V C3
Q3
& Q3 = C3 V + -

Imagine replacing the parallel combination of Ceq

a
capacitors by a single equivalent capacitor Qtotal

“equivalent” means “stores the same total

+ -
charge if the voltage is the same.”
V

Qtotal = Ceq V = Q1 + Q2 + Q3
Junction Split
 Summarizing the equations on the last slide:
C1

C2
Q1 = C1 V Q2 = C2 V Q3 = C3 V a b
C3
Q1 + Q2 + Q3 = Ceq V Important!
0 A
C
d + -
Using Q1 = C1V, etc., gives
Additive V
C1V + C2V + C3V = Ceq V

C1 + C2 + C3 = Ceq (after dividing both sides by V)

Generalizing: Ceq = i Ci (capacitances in parallel add up)

Circuits Containing Capacitors in Series
Capacitors connected in series:

C1 C2 C3

+ -
+Q V -Q

charge +Q flows from the battery to the left plate of C1

charge -Q flows from the battery to the right plate of C3

(+Q and –Q: the same in magnitude but of opposite sign)
Charges +Q and –Q attract equal and opposite charges to the
other plates of their respective capacitors:
C1 C2 C3
A B
+Q -Q +Q -Q +Q -Q

+ -

V
These equal and opposite charges came from the originally
neutral circuit regions A and B.

Because region A must be neutral, there must be a charge +Q

on the left plate of C2.

Because region B must be neutral, there must be a charge -Q

on the right plate of C2.
 Vab

C1 C2 C3
a A B b
+Q -Q +Q -Q +Q -Q
V1 V2 V3
+ -

V
The charges on C1, C2, and C3 are the same (notice: there is
no junction to split the charges), and are

Q = C1 V1 Q = C2 V2 Q = C3 V3

The voltage drops across C1, C2, and C3 add up

Vab = V1 + V2 + V3.

General concept: When circuit components (being C or R) are connected in series,

then the voltage drops across these components add up to the total voltage drop.
replace the three capacitors by a single equivalent capacitor

Ceq

+Q -Q
V
+ -

“equivalent” means it has the same charge Q and the same

voltage drop V as the three capacitors

Q = Ceq V
Collecting equations:

Q = C1 V1 Q = C2 V2 Q = C3 V3 Important!

Vab = V = V1 + V2 + V3.

Q = Ceq V
Q Q Q
Substituting for V1, V2, and V3: V= + +
C1 C 2 C 3

Q Q Q Q
Substituting for V: = + +
Ceq C1 C2 C3

1 1 1 1
Dividing both sides by Q: = + +
Ceq C1 C2 C3
Generalizing:
1 1
= (capacitors in series)
Ceq i Ci

At the end of your calculation, do NOT forget to invert Ceq ,

otherwise, your “grade” will be simply inverted!
Summary (know for exam!):
Parallel Series
C1
C1 C2 C3
C2

C3

equivalent
capacitance Ceq   Ci 1

1
i Ceq i Ci

charge Q’s add V’s add

voltage same V same Q

Example 36: determine the
capacitance of a single capacitor
C2
that will have the same effect as
the combination shown. C1
Use C1 = C2 = C3 = C. C3

Start by combining parallel combination of C2 and C3

C23 = C2 + C3 = C + C = 2C
Now I see a series combination.
C23 = 2C C 1= C
1 1 1
= +
Ceq C1 C23

1 1 1 2 1 3
= + = + =
Ceq C 2C 2C 2C 2C

2
Ceq = C
3
Example 37: for the capacitor circuit shown, C1 = 3F, C2 =
6F, C3 = 2F, and C4 =4F. (a) Find the equivalent capacitance.
(b) if V=12 V, find the potential difference across C4.

C1 C2
C4
Free tip: each capacitor has associated
with it a Q, C, and V. If you don’t know
what to do next, near each capacitor, write
C3 down Q= , C= , and V= . Next to the =
sign record the known value or a “?” if you
don’t know the value. As soon as you know
any two of Q, C, and V, you can determine
V the third. This technique often provides
visual clues about what to do next.
(a) Find Ceq. (b) if V=12 V, find V4.

C1=3F C2=6F
C4=4F C1 and C3 are not in parallel. Make
sure you understand why!

C3=2F
C2 and C4 are not in series. Make
sure you understand why!
V=12 V

C1 and C2 are in series. Make sure you use the correct equation!

1 1 1 1 1 2 1 3 1
= + = + = + = =
C12 C1 C 2 3 6 6 6 6 2

Don’t forget to invert: C12 = 2 F.

(a) Find Ceq. (b) if V=12 V, find V4.

C12=2F
C4=4F C12 and C4 are not in series. Make
sure you understand why!

C3=2F

V=12 V

C12 and C3 are in parallel. Make sure you use the correct
equation!

C123 = C12 + C3 = 2 + 2 = 4μF

(a) Find Ceq. (b) if V=12 V, find V4.

Remember: Q123 = Q4 !!
C123=4F C4=4F

C123 and C4 are in series. Make

sure you understand why!
Combined, they make Ceq.

V=12 V

Make sure you use the correct equation!

1 1 1 1 1 2 1
= + = + = =
Ceq C123 C24 4 4 4 2

Don’t forget to invert: Ceq = 2 F.

(a) Find Ceq. (b) if V=12 V, find V4.

Ceq=2F

Ceq = 2 F.

V=12 V

Qeq = C eq V =  2  12  = 24μC = Q 4

(a) Find Ceq. (b) if V=12 V, find V4.

Q1=? Q2=?
C1=3F C2=6F Q =?
4
V1=? V2=? C =4F
4
V4=?

Q3=?
C3=2F
V3=?

V=12 V

We know C4 and want to find V4. If we know Q4 we can

calculate V4. Maybe that is a good way to proceed.
(a) Find Ceq. (b) if V=12 V, find V4.

Q123=? Q4=?
C123=4F C4=4F
V123=? V4=?
C4 is in series with C123 and
together they form Ceq.

Therefore Q4 = Q123 = Qeq.

V=12 V

Qeq = C eq V =  2  12  = 24μC = Q 4

Q Q Q4 24
C=  V=  V4 = = = 6V
V C C4 4
 You really need to know this:

Capacitors in series…
all have the same charge (No junction)
add the voltages to get the total voltage

Capacitors in parallel…
all have the same voltage (+ve,+ve) (-ve,-ve)
add the charges to get the total charge

(and it would be nice if you could explain why)

A “toy” to play with…

[Link]
(You might even learn something.)

For now, select

“multiple
capacitors.”

Pick a circuit.
Chapter 24:

Capacitors and Capacitance.

You must be able to apply the equation C=Q/V.

Capacitors: parallel plate, cylindrical, spherical.

You must be able to calculate the capacitance of capacitors having these geometries.

Energy Storage in Capacitors.

You must be able to calculate the energy stored in a capacitor.

Circuits containing capacitors in series and parallel.

You must understand the differences between, and be able to calculate the “equivalent
capacitance” of, capacitors connected in series and parallel.

Dielectrics.
You must understand why dielectrics are used, and be able include dielectric constants in
capacitor calculations.
Dielectrics

• if insulating material (“dielectric”) is

placed between capacitor plates,
dielectric
capacitance increases by factor 
•  (greek letter kappa) is the
dielectric constant

 A
C= .
d

•  depends on the material

vacuum = 1
air = 1.0006
glass ≈ 3
water ≈ 80
Example 38: a parallel plate capacitor has an area of 10 cm2
and plate separation 5 mm. A 300 V battery is connected to its
plates. If dielectric (= 6.7) is inserted between its plates, how
much charge does the capacitor hold.

A=10 cm2
 A
C=
d
 6.7   8.85×10-12 10×10-4 
C= F
5×10 -3
=6.7

C =1.19 10-11 F
V=300 V
Q = CV d=5 mm 300 V

   
Q = 1.19 10-11  300  C  3.56 10-9 C = 3.56 nC
Example: how much charge would the capacitor on the
previous slide hold if the dielectric were air?

A=10 cm2
The calculation is the
same, except replace 6.7
by 1.

Or just divide the charge on the =1

previous page by 6.7 to get…

Q = 0.53 nC V=300 V
d=5 mm 300 V
Example: find the energy stored in the capacitor.
C =1.19 10-11 F

1
U= C  V 
2
A=10 cm2
2
1

U= 1.19 10  300  J
2
-11 2

U = 5.36 10-7 J =6.7

Recall the results from the previous lecture

about the three equations of U. We said
that one needs to use the equation most V=300 V
convenient for the problem at hand. d=5 mm 300 V

Q2 CV 2 QV
U   .
2C 2 2
 Homework hints:

• if you charge a capacitor and then disconnect the battery

without discharging the capacitor, Q stays the same
(charge cannot leave the plates!)
V, and U may change

• if you charge a capacitor and keep the battery connected,

V stays the same (voltage is fixed by the battery)
Q, and U may change

Bear in mind that C is constant for a given capacitor.

It depends only on the geometry of the device and
the value of . It has nothing to do with Q or V.
Example 38 –cont.: the battery is now disconnected and the dielectric is
removed without changing the plate separation. What are the charge,
capacitance, potential difference, and energy stored in the capacitor?

A=10 cm2
The charge remains unchanged,
because there is nowhere for it
to go.
=6.7
Q = 3.56 nC

V=?
V=300 V
d=5 mm
Example 38 –cont.: the battery is now disconnected and the dielectric is
removed without changing the plate separation. What are the charge,
capacitance, potential difference, and energy stored in the capacitor?

A=10 cm2
 A
C=
d

C=
 8.85×10 10×10 
-12

F
-4

5×10-3

V=?
C =1.78 10-12 F
d=5 mm
C = 1.78 pF
Example 38 –cont.: the battery is now disconnected and the dielectric is
removed without changing the plate separation. What are the charge,
capacitance, potential difference, and energy stored in the capacitor?

A=10 cm2
Knowing C and Q we can
calculate the new potential
difference.

Q
V = =
 3.56 
V
10 -9

C 1.78 10 
-12

V=?
V = 2020 V d=5 mm
Example 38 –cont.: the battery is now disconnected and the dielectric is
removed without changing the plate separation. What are the charge,
capacitance, potential difference, and energy stored in the capacitor?

A=10 cm2
1
U= C  V 
2

1
 
U= 1.78 10 2020  J
2
-12 2

U = 3.63 10-6 J V=2020 V

d=5 mm
 Ubefore = 5.36 10-7 J

Uafter = 3.63 10-6 J

Uafter
= 6.7
Ubefore

Huh?? The energy stored increases by a factor of ??

Sure. It took work to remove the dielectric. The stored energy

increased by the amount of work done.

U= Wexternal
Example 39: A parallel plate capacitor with plate separation d
and plate area A is charged by connecting it across a potential
difference of ΔV0. A dielectric slab that just fills the space
between the plates is inserted between the plates while the
voltage source remains connected to the plates.

If the energy stored in the capacitor increases by a factor of 4

when the dielectric is inserted, find the dielectric constant .

A d
V0 
Before:
 A A d
C0 =
d
V0
1   A 
  ΔV0 
2
U0 = 
2 d 

After:
 A A d
C1 =
d
V0 
1   A 
  0  = 4U0
2
U1 =  ΔV
2 d 
U1 = 4U0

U1
=4
U0

1   A 
  ΔV0 
2

2 d 
=4
1   A 
  ΔV0 
2

2 d 

= 4
Dielectric Strength

The dielectric strength of an insulating material is a measure

of its ability to withstand potential difference. If the electric
field strength in the dielectric exceeds the dielectric strength,
the dielectric breaks down and begins to conduct charge
between the plates via a spark, which usually destroys the
capacitor. Capacitors are normally specified by the value of
their capacitance and by the maximum potential difference
they are designed to handle. The dielectric strength (in V/m)
of some insulating materials are listed in Table 24.2.
A “toy” to play with…

[Link]

(You might even learn something.)