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Capacitors And Dielectrics

Capacitors And Dielectrics

In this small e-book we’ll learn about capacitors and
dielectrics in short and then we’ll have some questions
discussed along with their solutions. I’ll also give you a
practices test series which you can solve on your own.

Brief notes

Capacitors And Capacitance

• A capacitor (formerly known as condenser) is a device

that can store electronic charge and energy.

• Capacitors are important components used in

electronics and telecommunication devices for example
radio , television receivers, transmitter circuits etc.

• Capacitor is a device used for storing electronic charge.

• All capacitors consists of two metal plates (or

conductors) separated by an insulator (air, vacuum or
any other dielectric medium).

• Figure 1 below shows the symbol used to represent a

capacitor.

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Capacitors And Dielectrics

• Capacitor gets charged when a battery is connected to

it.

• So when there is a potential difference between two

metal plates of the capacitor shown below in the figure.

• Capacitor gets discharged on joining two of its plates.

• If V is the potential difference between two plates of

the capacitor and q is the amount of charge developed
on each plate then q/V is constant for the capacitor
since q is proportional to V.

• The ratio of charge on either plate to the potential

difference between the plates is called capacitance C of
the capacitor. Thus,
C=q/V
or,
q=CV

• Unit of capacitance is Farads (F) or CV-1.

• 1F is very large unit of capacitance. Practically

capacitors with capacitance of the order of micro farads
(µF) are used in circuits of radio receivers, transmitters
etc. Thus,
1µF=10-6 (micro)
1nF=10-9 (nano)

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Capacitors And Dielectrics

1pF=10-12 (pico)

• For any capacitor it's capacitance is constant and

depends on shape , size , separation f the two
conductors and also on insulating medium being used
for making capacitor.

• Capacitance of parallel plate capacitor having vacuum

or air acting as dielectric or insulating medium is
C= (ε0A)/d
where,
C= capacitance of capacitor
A= area of conducting plate
d= distance between plates of the capacitor
ε0=8.854× 10-12 and is known as electric permittivity in
vacuum.

• If k is the relative permittivity of the dielectric medium

then
ε=ε0k
thus capacitance of parallel plate air capacitor in
presence of dielectric medium of electric permittivity ε
is
C=εA/d

• Capacitance of spherical capacitor having radii a, b

(b>a) with
(a) air as dielectric between them
C=(4πε0ab)/(b-a)
(b) dielectric with relative permittivity ε
C=(4πεab)/(b-a)

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Capacitors And Dielectrics

Series And Parallel Combination Of

Capacitors
(A) Parallel combination of capacitors
• Capacitors connected in parallel combination have
same potential difference across their terminals. Figure
below shows two capacitors connected in parallel
between two points A and B

• Right hand side plate of capacitors would be at same

common potential VA. Similarly left hand side plates of
capacitors would also be at same common potential VB.

• Thus in this case potential difference VAB=VA-VB would

be same for both the capacitors, and charges Q1 and Q2
on both the capacitors are not necessarily equal. So,
Q1=C1V and Q2=C2V

• Thus charge stored is divided amongst both the

capacitors in direct proportion to their capacitance.

• Total charge on both the capacitors is,

Q=Q1+Q2
=V(C1+C2)
and
Q/V=C1+C2

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Capacitors And Dielectrics

• So system is equivalent to a single capacitor of

capacitance
C=Q/V

• When capacitors are connected in parallel their

resultant capacitance C is the sum of their individual
capacitances.

• The value of equivalent capacitance of system is

greater then the greatest individual one.

• If there are number of capacitors connected in parallel

then their equivalent capacitance would be
C=C1+C2+ C3...........

• Thus for capacitors connected in parallel combination

their resultant capacitance C is the sum of their
individual capacitances.

• Also for parallel combination of capacitors their

resultant capacitance C is greater then the capacitance
of greatest individual one.

(B) Series combination of capacitors

• Figure below shows two capacitors connected in series
combination between points A and B.

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Capacitors And Dielectrics

• In series combination of capacitors potential

difference across each capacitor is different but charge
on each capacitor is same.

• Both the points A and B are maintained at constant

potential difference VAB.

• In series combination of capacitors right hand plate of

first capacitor is connected to left hand plate of next
capacitor and combination may be extended foe any
number of capacitors.

• In series combination of capacitors all the capacitors

would have same charge.

• Now potential difference across individual capacitors

are given by
VAR=Q/C1
and,
VRB=Q/C2

• Sum of VAR and VRB would be equal to applied

potential difference V so,
V=VAB=VAR+VRB
=Q(1/C1 + 1/C2)

• Thus,
1/C=1/C1+1/C2

• Resultant capacitance C of the capacitors connected in

series combination is equal to the sum of reciprocals
of their individual capacitances.

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Capacitors And Dielectrics

• Here in case of series combination C is less then the

capacitance of smallest individual capacitor.

Energy stored in capacitor

• Energy stored in capacitor is
E=QV/2
or E=CV2/2
or E=Q2/2C
factor 1/2 is due to average potential difference
across the capacitor while it is charged.

• Battery supply QV amount of energy during charging

a capacitor but energy stored in capacitor is QV/2 ,
the another half of energy is transferred into the
circuit resistance in the form of heat. Thus,
heat in the wire=energy supplied by battery-energy
stored in the capacitor
=QV-QV/2 = QV/2

• If u denotes the energy per unit volume or energy

density then
u=(1/2)ε0E2

• The result for above equation is generally valid even

for electrostatic field that is not constant in space.

Effect of Dielectric
• Dielectrics are non conducting materials for ex- Glass,
mica, wood etc.

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Capacitors And Dielectrics

• What happened when space between the two plates of

the capacitor is filled by a dielectric was first
discovered by faraday.

• Faraday discovered that if the space between

conductors of the capacitor is occupied by the
dielectric, the capacitance of capacitor is increased.

• If the dielectric completely fills the space between the

conductors of the capacitor, the capacitance is
increased by a factor K which is characteristics of the
dielectric and this factor is known as the dielectric
constant.

• Dielectric constant of vacuum is unity.

• Consider a capacitor of capacitance C0 is being

charged by the connecting it to a battery.

• If Q0 is the amount of charged on the capacitor at the

end of the charging and V0 is potential difference
across the plates of the capacitor then
C0=Q0 /V0
Thus charge being placed on the capacitor is
Q0=C0V0

• If the battery is disconnected and space between the

capacitor is filled by a dielectric the P.D decrease to a
new value
V=V0/K.

• Since the original charge is still on the capacitor, the

new capacitance will be
C=Q0/V=KQ0/V0=KC0

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Capacitors And Dielectrics

• From above equation it follows that C is greater then

C0.

• Again if the dielectric is inserted while the battery is

still connected then battery would have to supply
some amount of charge to maintain the Potential
Difference between the plates and then total charge
on the plates would be Q=KQ0.

• In either of the cases, capacitance of the capacitor is

increase by the amount K.

• For a parallel plate capacitor with dielectric of

dielectric constant K between its plates its capacitance
becomes
C=εA/D where ε=Kε0

• When a sufficiently strong electric field is applied to

any dielectric material it becomes a conductor and this
phenomenon is known as dielectric breakdown.

• The maximum electric field a material can withstand

without the occurrence of breakdown is called
dielectric strength of that material.

• Thus field across the capacitor should never exceed

breakdown limits in order to store charge on capacitor
without leaking.

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Capacitors And Dielectrics

Quick Recap of Formulas

S.No. Physical Quantity Formula
1 Capacitance C=Q/V

2 Capacitance of parallel C= (ε0A)/d

plate air capacitor
3 Capacitance of air C= (εA)/d
capacitor in presence of
dielectric

4 Capacitance of spherical (a) air as dielectric between

capacitor having radii a, b them
(b>a) C=(4πε0ab)/(b-a)
(b) dielectric with relative
permittivity ε
C=(4πεab)/(b-a)

5 Capacitance of a spherical 4πε 0 ab

capacitor (b>a) C=
(b − a )

6 Capacitance of a 2πε 0l
cylindrical capacitor (b>a) C=
ln(b / a)
and l is length of cylinder

7 Parallel combination of C=C1+C2+C3...........

capacitors

8 Series combination of 1/C=1/C1+1/C2+…………

capacitors

9 Energy stored in a U=QV/2

capacitor U=CV2/2
U=Q2/2C
10 Energy density in a ε0E2
capacitor u=
2
where E is electric field in
the space between plates

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Capacitors And Dielectrics

Subjective Type Solved Problems

Question 1: A parallel plate air capacitors has plate area

0.2 m2 and has separation distance 5.5 mm. Find
(a) Its capacitance when capacitor is charged to a potential
difference of 500 volts
(b) Its charge
(c) Energy stored in it
(d) Force of attraction between the plates

Solution:
(a) We know that for a parallel air capacitor capacitance is
given by
C = (ε0A)/d
Given in the question A = 0.2 m2 and d = 5.5 mm = .0055
m also we know that ε0 = 8.854 x 10-12 C2/Nm2.
Thus,
C = (8.854 x 10-12 x 0.2 )/.0055
= 3.231 nF

(b) We know that charge on the capacitor is given by

Q = CV
Where V is the potential difference between plates of the
capacitor which is V = 500 V.
Q = 3.231 x 10-9 x 500
= 1.615 x 10-6 C

(c) Now energy stored in the capacitor is given by

U = (CV2)/2
Putting the desired values in the equation we find
U = (3.231 x 10-9 x 500 x 500)/2
= 4.04 x 10-7 Joule

(d) Now we have to calculate the attractive force between

the capacitor plates.

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Capacitors And Dielectrics

If F is the amount of force and d is the separation distance

between the plates then work done by any person to pull the
plate must be equal to the increase in energy of the system.
Thus,
W = U = Fd
Or F = U/d
Which is
F = 4.04 x 10-7 / .0055
= 7.34 x 10-5N.

Question 2: Consider a system of capacitors where two

parallel plate air capacitors each of capacitance C are
connected in series to a battery of EMF ξ. Now one of the
capacitor is filled uniformly with a dielectric of dielectric
constant K. What would happen to electric field strength of
that capacitor and what would be the change in electric field
strength? Calculate the amount of charge that flows
through the battery?

Solution:
First we would have to calculate the charge and voltage on
each capacitor. Given that capacitance of both the capacitors
is same let it be C. Since both the capacitors are connected
in series combination so charge on both the capacitors would
be same which lead to same potential difference V across
each capacitor which is
ξ = V + V or V = ξ/2
Now charge on each capacitor is
Q = CV = Cξ/2 in the absence of dielectric.
Now one of the capacitor is being filled up with dielectric of
dielectric constant K. So capacitance now becomes KC,
equivalent capacitance of the system now becomes
1 1 1
= +
C ' KC C
Or,
KC
C'=
1+ K

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Capacitors And Dielectrics

For finding change in electric field strength we’ll calculate

potential difference across the capacitor filled with the
dielectric.
Q' KC ξ 1 ξ 
V '= = =  
KC 2(1 + K ) KC 2  1 + K 
Since V is directly proportional to electric field so as V’
decreases ½(1+K) times the electric field strength also
decreases by the same amount.
Now flow of charge would be
∆Q = Q’-Q
KC C 1 (1 − K )
∆Q = ξ − ξ = Cξ
2(1 + k ) 2 2 (1 + K )
This is the required answer.

Question 3: The spherical capacitor described in has

charges + Q and - Q on its inner and outer conductors. Find
the electric potential energy stored in the capacitor?

Solution:
In this problem we have to find the energy stored in a
capacitor, U. We know that the spherical capacitor has
capacitance
4πε 0 ab
C= (1)
(b − a )
where a and b are the radii of the inner and outer
conducting spheres. For calculating energy stored in
capacitor remember the relation
U=Q2/2C (2)
Now putting the value of C from equation 1 in equation 2 we
can find the energy stored in this capacitor which is
Q 2 (b − a )
U=
8πε 0 ab

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Capacitors And Dielectrics

Question 4:
(a) Show that the normal component of electrostatic field
has a discontinuity from one side of a charged surface to
another given by
σ
(E 2 − E1 ) • n̂ =
ε0
Where n̂ a unit vector is normal to the surface at a point
and σ is the surface charge density at that point. (The
direction of n̂ is from side 1 to side 2.)
(b) Show that the tangential component of electrostatic field
is continuous from one side of a charged surface to another.

Solution:
(a) We know that statement of Gauss’s law in integral form
is
Q enc
∫ E.dS = ε0 (1)

Now we have to show that that the electric field always

undergoes a discontinuity when surface charge σ is crossed.

E1

σ
E2
Figure 1

Let’s draw a wafer-thin Gaussian pillbox, extending just over

the edge in each direction. Apply Gauss’s law to Gaussian
pillbox S of cross-sectional area A whose two ends are

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Capacitors And Dielectrics

parallel to the interface. The ends of the box can be made

arbitrarily close together. In this limit, the flux of the electric
field out of the sides of the box is obviously negligible, and
the only contribution to the flux comes from the two ends.
Thus

∫ E.dS = (E 1 − E 2 ) • n̂A

where E1 is the component of electric field normal to the

interface immediately above the surface and E2 is the
component of electric field normal to the interface
immediately below the surface The charge enclosed by the
pill-box is simply σA, where σ is the sheet charge density on
the interface . Thus, Gauss’ law yields
σ
(E 2 − E1 ) • n̂ =
ε0
Where n̂ a unit vector is normal to the surface at a point
and σ is the surface charge density at that point. (The
direction of n̂ is from side 1 to side 2.) Thus that the normal
component of electrostatic field has a discontinuity from one
side of a charged surface to another i.e., the presence of a
charge sheet on an interface causes a discontinuity in the
perpendicular component of the electric field.
Just outside a conductor, the electric field is (σ n̂ ) /ε0.

(b) Now we have to show that tangential component of E,

by contrast, is always continuous. For this consider the
figure shown below

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Capacitors And Dielectrics

l
ε
Eabove
σ
Ebelow
Figure 2
In the above figure consider the thin rectangular loop of
length l and width ε → o .
Now we consider one of the Maxwell’s equation known
Faraday’s law in integral form which is

Here right hand side leads to A(B)normal , but A―›0 as sides

of the loop are very short nearly approaching zero i.e.,
ε → o , hence contribution due to magnetic effects vanishes.
We thus have,

∫ E • dl = 0
Now if we apply this integral to thin rectangular loop as
shown in figure 2 then the dominant contribution to the loop
integral comes from the long sides because he length of the
short sides is assumed to be arbitrarily small which ends up
giving nothing. Thus we have
E above − E below = 0
or ,
E above = E below

where, Eabove and Ebelow are tangential components of electric

field thus there can be no discontinuity in the parallel
component of the electric field across an interface.

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Capacitors And Dielectrics

Question 5: Find the capacitance of an isolated spherical

conductor of radius r1 surrounded by an adjacent concentric
layer of dielectric with dielectric constant K and outside
radius r2.
Solution:
Let us consider that conductor in the problem has charge
equals +Q Coulomb shown below in the figure.

r1
-Q
+Q r2

To determine the capacitance we need to find the potential

difference between conductor inside the concentric dielectric
layer and the region outside the dielectric layer wich is
supposed to have charge –Q. Thus,
r2 ∞
Q Q
V+ − V− = ∫ dr + ∫ dr
r1 4πε0 Kr r2 4πε0 r
2 2

Q 1 1 Q
V+ − V− =  −  +
4πε0 K  r1 r2  4πε0 r2
Thus,
Q  (K − 1) 1 
V+ − V− =  + 
4πε 0 K  r2 r1 
Hence the required capacitance is

Q Q4πε0 K 4πε0 Kr1

C= = =
V+ − V−  (K − 1) 1  (K − 1) r1 + 1
Q − 
 2 r r1  r2

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Capacitors And Dielectrics

Objective Type Problems

Question 1: Capacitance of a parallel plate air capacitor
depends on
(a) Thickness of conducting plates
(b) Charge on the conducting plates
(c) Area of the conducting plates
(d) Distance of separation between the conducting
plates

Question 2: Equivalent capacitance of system of capacitors

shown below in the figure is

C C
C

C
C

(a) C/2
(b) 2C
(c) C
(d) None of these

Question 3: A parallel plate air capacitor with no dielectric

between the plates is connected to the constant voltage
source. How would capacitance and charge change if
dielectric of dielectric constant K=2 is inserted between the
plates. C0 and Q0 are the capacitance and charge of the
capacitor before the introduction of the dielectric.
(a) C=C0/2 ; Q=2Q0
(b) C=2C0 ; Q=Q0/2
(c) C=C0/2 ; Q=Q0/2
(d) C=2C0 ; Q=2Q0

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Capacitors And Dielectrics

Question 4: A parallel plate capacitor of capacitance C is

connected to a battery and is charged to a potential
difference V. Another capacitor of capacitance 2C is similarly
charged to a potential difference 2V. The charging battery is
then disconnected and the capacitors are connected in
parallel to each other in such a way that the positive
terminal of one is connected to the negative terminal of the
other. The final energy of the configuration is
(a) Zero
(b) 3CV2/2
(c) 25CV2/6
(d) 9CV2/2

Question 5: A parallel plate air capacitor is connected to a

battery. The quantities charge, voltage, electric field, and
energy associated with this capacitor are given by Q0, V0, E0
and U0 respectively. A dielectric slab is now introduced to fill
the space between the plates with battery still in connection.
The corresponding quantities are now given by Q, V, E and U
are related to previous quantities as
(a) Q> Q0
(b) V> V0
(c) E> E0
(d) U> U0

Answers:
1. (a), (c) and (d)
2. (b)
3. (d)
4. (b)
5. (a) and (d)

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Capacitors And Dielectrics

Solution 1: For parallel plate air capacitor

C = (ε0A)/d
Which clearly shows that capacitance does not depend on
charge on both the conducting plates. Hence answer is
(a), (c) and (d)

Solution 2: Equivalent capacitance of two capacitors each

having capacitance C are connected in series combination
1 1 1 2
= + =
C′ C C C
Or,
C
C′ =
2
Now circuit given in question takes the form

C/2

A C B

C/2

All the three capacitors in above figure are connected in

parallel combination
Thus,
C”=C/2 +C/2 + C = 2C
This is the required equivalent capacitance.

Solution 3: Given that C0 and Q0 are the capacitance and

charge of the capacitor before the introduction of the
dielectric. Now in the presence of the dielectric capacitance
of capacitor becomes
C = (εA)/d

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Capacitors And Dielectrics

But we know that relative permittivity of any material is

given by
ε=Kε0
Where K is the dielectric constant of material.
Thus,
C = (Kε0A)/d
= K C0
Or, C= 2 C0
Again charge on the capacitor after the introduction of
dielectric is given as
Q=CV (a)
And before the introduction of dielectric
Q0= C0V
Now putting the value of C in equation (a) we find
Q=2 C0V
Or, Q=2 Q0
Where V is same before and after the introduction of
dielectric as voltage source used is a constant voltage source.

Solution 4: Charge accumulated on the first capacitor

Q1=CV and charge accumulated on second capacitor is Q2=
(2C) x (2V) = 4CV. Since the capacitors are connected in
parallel such that the plates of opposite polarity are
connected together, the common potential of the whole
system is
Q2 − Q1 4CV − CV
V′ = = =V
C1 + C 2 C + 2C
Equivalent capacitance C’=C+2C=3C. hence the final energy
of the configuration is
U’=C’V’2/2 = 3CV2/2

Solution 5: The potential difference between the plates

remains unchanged after the introduction of dielectric
because capacitor remains connected to the battery. Thus V
remains equal to V0. Introduction of dielectric increases the
capacitance C and hence charge stored in the capacitor also
increases since Q=CV thus Q>Q0. Since plate distance and V

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Capacitors And Dielectrics

remains unchanged this implies Electric field E=V/d also

remains unchanged. Energy stored in the capacitor increases
as it depends on the capacitance C of the capacitor since
U=CV2/2. Thus U>U0.

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