Chapter13 Capacitors
Chapter13 Capacitors
Chapter13 Capacitors
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Objectives Objectives
a) define capacitance (C = Q/V) f) use the formula C = r 0A/d
b) describe the mechanism of charging a g) derive and use the formulae for
parallel plate capacitor effective capacitance of capacitors in
c) use the formula C = Q/V to derive C = series and in parallel
0A/d for the capacitance of a parallel h) use the formulae U = ½ QV, U = ½
plate capacitor Q2/C, U = ½CV2 (Derivations are not
d) define relative permittivity r (dielectric required.)
constant) i) describe the charging and discharging
e) describe the effect of a dielectric in a process of a capacitor through a
parallel plate capacitor resistor
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Objectives Objectives
j) define the time constant, and use the l) derive and use the formulae
formula = RC
k) derive and use the formulae
,
for discharging a capacitor through a
resistor
m) solve problems involving charging and
and for charging a
capacitor through a resistor; discharging of a capacitor through a
resistor.
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Defining Capacitors
Short-term Charge Stores
13.1 Capacitance
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Capacitors Capacitors
Device for storing electrical Symbol in circuits is
energy which can then be
released in a controlled
manner It takes work, which is then stored as
A capacitor consists of 2 potential energy in the electric field that
conductors of any shape
placed near each other is set up between the two plates, to
without touching place charges on the conducting plates
The region between the 2 of the capacitor
conductors is usually filled Since there is an electric field between
with an electrically insulating
material called a dielectric the plates there is also a potential
difference between the plates
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Capacitors Capacitors
We usually talk When a capacitor
about capacitors in each of its 2 plates carries the
same magnitude, q, of
terms of parallel charge
conducting plates the potential of the +q plate
exceeds that of the q plate by an
They in fact can be amount V
any two conducting The charge q and potential
difference V are related by
objects
Q = C V where C is the capacitance
The SI unit for capacitance is farad
(F), where 1 farad = 1 coulomb/volt
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Capacitance of Parallel-Plate
Dielectric Constant
Capacitor
If a dielectric is inserted The capacitance of a parallel-
between the capacitor plates, plate capacitor without a
the electric field E inside the dielectric is
capacitor is weaker than the A0
C
field E0 inside the empty d
capacitor, assuming the charge
on the plates is unchanged But if a dielectric
This reduction of the field is is placed between
the plates, A
described by the dielectric C 0
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Capacitors consist
of two metal plates
separated by a
layer of insulating
material called a
dielectric.
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Schematic Symbol Comparison of Types
The symbol for a capacitor is shown
below:
Advantages: Advantages:
High capacitance Do not lose charge
Can have high working Polarity does not matter
voltages. Stable up to 106 Hz (or
more)
Disadvantages: Disadvantages:
Polarity important Low capacitance
High leakage current
Not stable above 10 kHz
Can be damaged by AC
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28 29
30 31
Q
38 39
44 45
46 47
The capacitor shown in the above figure The first dot at the base of the arrow sequence (the
left-most dot) represents the capacitor TYPE. This dot
represents either a mica capacitor or a molded is either black, white, silver, or the same color as the
paper capacitor. To determine the type and capacitor body. Mica is represented by a black or
white dot and paper by a silver dot or dot having the
value of the capacitor, hold the capacitor so same color as the body of the capacitor. The two dots
that the three arrows point left to right (>). to the immediate right of the type dot indicate the first
and second digits of the capacitance value
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54 55
58 59
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Parallel-plate Capacitors
made of two plates each of area A (the
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Parallel-plate Capacitors Parallel-plate Capacitors
The electric fields outside the plates
cancel out.
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68 69
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Parallel-Plate Capacitors
Assume electric field uniform between
the plates, we have
Q
E= =
o oA
13.3 Dielectrics
Qd
V=Ed=
oA
Q Q
C= =
V Qd oA
C= oA
(As we have argued before)
d Pictures from Serway & Beichner 72 73
Dielectrics Dielectrics
A dielectric is an insulator with polar Polar molecules rotate in the electric field
molecules that is placed between the plates of the capacitor.
of a capacitor.
74 75
Dielectrics Dielectrics
The net charge inside the dielectric is zero. But there is leftover charge on the
surfaces of the dielectric.
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Dielectrics Dielectrics
A dielectric is an insulating material in which the individual
molecules polarize in proportion to the the strength of an
This charge produces an electric field that external electric field.
opposes the electric field of the plates. This reduces the electric field inside the dielectric by a
factor , called the dielectric constant.
For fixed charge Q on plates
E of plates E0 V0
E and V
Capacitance is
increased by .
E of dielectric
C C0
01/31/2005 Phys112, Walker Chapter 20 79
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Q CV Q0 C C0 Q CV Q0
Q Q0 Q Q0
C C0 C C0
V V0 V V0
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Insert a dielectric Q0 Q0 Q0
Q Q
C C0
Q Q V V0 V0
dielectric constant: k = C/C 0
Dielectric constant is a material property
V0 V
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Capacitors with dielectrics - notes Capacitors with dielectrics - notes
Capacitance is multiplied by a factor The capacitance is limited from
k when the dielectric fills the region above by the electric discharge that
between the plates completely can occur through the dielectric
material separating the plates
E.g., for a parallel-plate capacitor
In other words, there exists a
maximum of the electric field,
A sometimes called dielectric strength,
C 0 that can be produced in the dielectric
d before it breaks down
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Example
Dielectric constants and dielectric Take a parallel plate capacitor whose plates
strengths of various materials at room have an area of 2.0 m2 and are separated by
temperature a distance of 1mm. The capacitor is charged
Material Dielectric Dielectric to an initial voltage of 3 kV and then
constant, k strength (V/m) disconnected from the charging source. An
Vacuum 1.00 -- insulating material is placed between the
Air 1.00059 3 106 plates, completely filling the space, resulting
Water 80 -- in a decrease in the capacitors voltage to 1
Fused quartz 3.78 9 106 kV. Determine the original and new
capacitance, the charge on the capacitor, and
the dielectric constant of the material.
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Take a parallel plate capacitor whose plates have an area of 2 m2 and are separated by a Take a parallel plate capacitor whose plates have an area of 2 m2 and are separated by a
distance of 1mm. The capacitor is charged to an initial voltage of 3 kV and then distance of 1mm. The capacitor is charged to an initial voltage of 3 kV and then
disconnected from the charging source. An insulating material is placed between the disconnected from the charging source. An insulating material is placed between the
plates, completely filling the space, resulting in a decrease in the capacitors voltage to plates, completely filling the space, resulting in a decrease in the capacitors voltage to
1 kV. Determine the original and new capacitance, the charge on the capacitor, and the 1 kV. Determine the original and new capacitance, the charge on the capacitor, and the
dielectric constant of the material. dielectric constant of the material.
Given: Since we are dealing with the parallel- Given: The dielectric constant and the new capacitance
V1=3,000 V plate capacitor, the original capacitance V1=3,000 V are
V2=1,000 V can be found as V2=1,000 V V1
A = 2.00 m2 A A = 2.00 m2 C C0 C0 3 X 18nF 54 nF
d = 0.01 m C0 0 d = 0.01 m V2
d
The charge on the capacitor can be found to be
Find:
2.00m 2 Find:
(8.85 10 12 C 2 / N m 2 )
C=?
1.00 10 3 m C=? Q C0 V 18 10 9 F 3000V 5.4 10 5 C
C0=? C0=?
Q=? Q=?
k=?
18nF k=?
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Why are the charges the same on Why are the charges the same on
capacitors in series? capacitors in series?
q q q q
Before we start charging the two capacitors, A the capacitors charge, the charge within
the charge within the dashed box is zero. the dashed box remains zero.
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Why are the charges the same on Why are the charges the same on
capacitors in series? capacitors in series?
+Q Q +Q Q +Q Q
When the left plate of the left capacitor The charge within the box must remain zero,
acquires its final charge +Q so the right capacitor must have the same
charge is Q. charge as the left capacitor.
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Caps in Series - Equation 2 Caps in Series - Equation
1
RT
1 1 1
...
R1 R2 Rn
1
C1 C2
CT
1 1 1
CT
C1 C2
...
Cn C1 C2
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CT in Series - Example
CT
Determine the total capacitance of a
series circuit containing three capacitors
in Series
whose values are 0.01 µF, 0.25 µF, and Solution
50,000 pF,
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CT = C1 + C2 + C3 n
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12 V C1 4 F C2 6 F
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Answer Parallel Questions Series
What is the single capacitor equivalent of
12 V C1 4 F C2 6 F this circuit below?
What is the charge on each capacitor?
Ctotal = C1 + C2 Charge on C2 , Q2 What are the voltmeter readings?
= = 6 10-6 F 12 V
= 7.2 10-5C C1 C2
= 72 mC 12 V
C1 4 F 6 F
Total charge, Q
= 48 mC + 72 mC
= 120 mC
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Answer Series
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q q+ q Q
Charge on plates
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Measuring Stored Energy Stored Energy Question 1
Calculate the charge and energy stored in
a l0 F capacitor charged to a potential
difference of:
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Energy in a Capacitor Energy Density
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Energy Density
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1
12 V
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1 1
12 V 12 V
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Capacitors in Circuits Capacitors in Circuits
Eventually, the capacitor becomes fully First, ignore the branch with the
charged. No more current flows. What is capacitor.
the final voltage on the capacitor? Rtotal=3 . I = 4 A. V across the 1
+
5
20 resistor is IR = 4 V. +
5
20
1 1
12 V 12 V
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1
12 V
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RC Discharging RC Discharging
Charge a capacitor I Look at the voltage
I with a battery to a around the circuit. We
voltage V.
Disconnect the rule:
capacitor and attach I
Q0 it to a resistor. Q
Q(t) The initial charge is IR 0
Q=CV. C
VR IR
The charge decays VC
Q
t to zero but what is C
Q(t)?
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RC Discharging RC Discharging
I I
Q Q
IR 0 IR 0
C C
I 0, Q 0 I 0, Q 0
Q
VR IR dQ Q
VR IR dQ
VC I VC I
C dt C dt
Q dQ
The minus sign comes from: R 0
C dt
1)I > 0 dQ 1
Q (t )
2)Q is the charge on the capacitor dQ dt RC
0
3)The capacitor is discharging so dt
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RC Discharging RC Discharging
dQ 1 dQ 1
Q(t ) dt
dt RC Q RC
This is a differential equation, but it is a really easy Q(t ) t
dQ 1
one to solve. dt
Q0
Q RC 0
equations. Q (t ) 1
ln t, RC
dQ 1 dQ 1 Qf Q0 RC
dt dt ln t/
Q RC Q RC Qi Q (t ) Q0e
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RC Charging RC Charging
I
C A capacitor is initially We again use
V0 uncharged.
RC Charging RC Charging
dQ Q
I
We again use V0 R 0
dt C
This differential equation has the solution:
Q
VR IR
V0 IR 0
C Q (t ) Q f 1 e t/
Q
V0 VC dQ
C I 0 Qf CV0
dt
RC
dQ Q
V0 R 0 Try plugging the solution into the differential
dt C equation and see if it works!
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Charging and Discharging
RC Charging
Charging Charging Capacitors Current falls away as
capacitors with it becomes less
What happens to attractive for
1 three different current as time
1 time constants. electrons to move to
e =1 =2 passes?
=3 the plate from the
s s cell.
s The time
constant is the
time it takes the Note: The area under
charge to rise to the current-time
1-1/e of its final graph is equal to the
value. amount of charge
stored on the plates.
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Discharging Capacitors
Discharging Capacitors
Initially there is a
large current due to
the large potential
difference across the
plates.
The current drops as Charge drops quickly at first (due to the
pd drops. large current - which is of course, a large
Notice that the electrons are now moving the flow of charge).
opposite way round the circuit so the graph As the charge and therefore the pd across
the plates drops, so the charge drops
shows the current as negative to show this. more slowly.
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Decay Decay
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Summary
By Carsten Denker
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