Chapter 24

Capacitance and
Dielectrics

Copyright © 2008 Pearson Education Inc., publishing as Pearson Addison-Wesley

 Introduction

Capacitors are devices that store electric charge.

Examples of where capacitors are used include:
• radio receivers
• filters in power supplies
• to eliminate sparking in automobile ignition
systems
• energy-storing devices in electronic flashes

Copyright © 2008 Pearson Education Inc., publishing as Pearson Addison-Wesley

 Keep charges apart and you get capacitance

A capacitor consists of two

conductors.
• These conductors are called
plates.
• When the conductor is
charged, the plates carry
charges of equal magnitude
and opposite signs.
A potential difference exists
between the plates due to the
charge.

Copyright © 2008 Pearson Education Inc., publishing as Pearson Addison-Wesley

 Definition of Capacitance
The capacitance, C, of a capacitor is defined as the ratio of the magnitude of
the charge on either conductor to the potential difference between the
conductors.

The SI unit of capacitance is the farad (F).

The farad is a large unit, typically you will see microfarads (mF) and picofarads
(pF).
Capacitance will always be a positive quantity
The capacitance of a given capacitor is constant.
The capacitance is a measure of the capacitor’s ability to store charge .
• The capacitance of a capacitor is the amount of charge the capacitor can
store per unit of potential difference.

Copyright © 2008 Pearson Education Inc., publishing as Pearson Addison-Wesley

 The unit of capacitance, the farad, is very large
The SI unit of capacitance is the farad, F.
1 F = 1 C/V = 1 C2/N ∙ m = 1 C2/J
One farad is a very large capacitance.
For the commercial capacitors
shown in the photograph,
C is measured in microfarads

Copyright © 2008 Pearson Education Inc., publishing as Pearson Addison-Wesley

 Parallel Plate Capacitor

Each plate is connected to a terminal

of the battery.

• The battery is a source of

potential difference.

If the capacitor is initially uncharged,

the battery establishes an electric
field in the connecting wires.

Copyright © 2008 Pearson Education Inc., publishing as Pearson Addison-Wesley

Copyright © 2008 Pearson Education Inc., publishing as Pearson Addison-Wesley
 Some examples of flat, cylindrical, and spherical capacitors

Parallel-Plate Capacitance
The charge density on the plates is σ = Q/A.
• A is the area of each plate, the area of each plate is equal
• Q is the charge on each plate, equal with opposite signs
The electric field is uniform between the plates and zero elsewhere.
The capacitance is proportional to the area of its plates and
inversely proportional to the distance between the plates.

Q Q Q εo A
C= = = =
V Ed Qd / εo A d

Copyright © 2008 Pearson Education Inc., publishing as Pearson Addison-Wesley

Copyright © 2008 Pearson Education Inc., publishing as Pearson Addison-Wesley
 Capacitance of a Cylindrical Capacitor

V = 2keln (b/a)
 = Q/l
The capacitance is
Q
C= =
V 2ke ln ( b / a )

Copyright © 2008 Pearson Education Inc., publishing as Pearson Addison-Wesley

Copyright © 2008 Pearson Education Inc., publishing as Pearson Addison-Wesley
 Capacitance of a Spherical Capacitor

The potential
difference will be
 1 1
V = keQ  − 
b a

The capacitance will

be
Q ab
C= =
V ke ( b − a )

Copyright © 2008 Pearson Education Inc., publishing as Pearson Addison-Wesley

Circuit Symbols

A circuit diagram is a simplified

representation of an actual circuit.
Circuit symbols are used to represent
the various elements.
Lines are used to represent wires.

The battery’s positive terminal is

indicated by the longer line.

Copyright © 2008 Pearson Education Inc., publishing as Pearson Addison-Wesley

 Capacitors in Parallel

When capacitors are

first connected in the
circuit, electrons are
transferred from the left
plates through the
battery to the right plate,
leaving the left plate
positively charged and
the right plate
negatively charged.

Copyright © 2008 Pearson Education Inc., publishing as Pearson Addison-Wesley

 Capacitors in Parallel, 2

The flow of charges ceases when the voltage across the

capacitors equals that of the battery.
The potential difference across the capacitors is the same.
• And each is equal to the voltage of the battery
• V1 = V2 = V
– V is the battery terminal voltage
The capacitors reach their maximum charge when the flow
of charge ceases.
The total charge is equal to the sum of the charges on the
capacitors.
• Qtot = Q1 + Q2
Copyright © 2008 Pearson Education Inc., publishing as Pearson Addison-Wesley
 Capacitors in Parallel, 3

The capacitors can be

replaced with one capacitor
with a capacitance of Ceq.
The equivalent capacitor
must have exactly the
same external effect on the
circuit as the original
capacitors.

Copyright © 2008 Pearson Education Inc., publishing as Pearson Addison-Wesley

 Capacitors in Parallel, final

The equivalent capacitance of a parallel

combination of capacitors is greater than any of
the individual capacitors.

Copyright © 2008 Pearson Education Inc., publishing as Pearson Addison-Wesley

 Capacitors in Series

When a battery is connected to the

circuit, electrons are transferred
from the left plate of C1 to the right
plate of C2 through the battery.
As this negative charge
accumulates on the right plate of
C2, an equivalent amount of
negative charge is removed from
the left plate of C2, leaving it with
an excess positive charge.
All of the right plates gain charges
of –Q and all the left plates have
charges of +Q.

Copyright © 2008 Pearson Education Inc., publishing as Pearson Addison-Wesley

 Capacitors in Series, cont.
An equivalent capacitor can be
found that performs the same
function as the series
combination.
The charges are all the same.

Q 1 = Q2 = Q

Copyright © 2008 Pearson Education Inc., publishing as Pearson Addison-Wesley

Copyright © 2008 Pearson Education Inc., publishing as Pearson Addison-Wesley
 Capacitors in Series, final

The potential differences add up to the battery voltage.

ΔVtot = V1 + V2 + …

The equivalent capacitance is

1 1 1 1
= + + +
Ceq C1 C2 C3

The equivalent capacitance of a series combination is

always less than any individual capacitor in the
combination.
Copyright © 2008 Pearson Education Inc., publishing as Pearson Addison-Wesley
 Equivalent Capacitance, Example

The 1.0-mF and 3.0-mF capacitors are in parallel as are the 6.0-mF and 2.0-
mF capacitors.
These parallel combinations are in series with the capacitors next to them.
The series combinations are in parallel and the final equivalent
capacitance can be found.

Copyright © 2008 Pearson Education Inc., publishing as Pearson Addison-Wesley

 Energy in a Capacitor – Overview
Consider the circuit to be a system.
Before the switch is closed, the
energy is stored as chemical
energy in the battery.
When the switch is closed, the
energy is transformed from
chemical potential energy to electric
potential energy.
The electric potential energy is
related to the separation of the
positive and negative charges on
the plates.
A capacitor can be described as a
device that stores energy as well as
charge.

Copyright © 2008 Pearson Education Inc., publishing as Pearson Addison-Wesley

 Energy Stored in a Capacitor
Assume the capacitor is being
charged and, at some point, has a
charge q on it.
The work needed to transfer a charge
from one plate to the other is

q
dW = Vdq = dq
C
The work required is the area of the
tan rectangle.
The total work required is

Q q Q2
W =  0 C
dq =
2C

Copyright © 2008 Pearson Education Inc., publishing as Pearson Addison-Wesley

. Energy stored in a capacitor
The potential energy stored in a capacitor is:

The capacitor energy is stored in the electric field between

the plates.
u,the energy density is; the total stored potential energy per
Volume:

Copyright © 2008 Pearson Education Inc., publishing as Pearson Addison-Wesley

 Energy, final

The energy can be considered to be stored in

the electric field .
For a parallel-plate capacitor, the energy can
be expressed in terms of the field as
U = ½ (εoAd)E2.
It can also be expressed in terms of the energy
density (energy per unit volume)
uE = ½ eoE2.

Copyright © 2008 Pearson Education Inc., publishing as Pearson Addison-Wesley

 Capacitors with Dielectrics
A dielectric is a nonconducting material that, when placed between the
plates of a capacitor, increases the capacitance.
• Dielectrics include rubber, glass, and waxed paper
With a dielectric, the capacitance becomes C = κ Co.
• The capacitance increases by the factor κ when the dielectric
completely fills the region between the plates.
• κ is the dielectric constant of the material.
• Since Q is unchanged, the capacitance C = Q/V is increased with
the dielectric.
If the capacitor remains connected to a battery, the voltage across the
capacitor necessarily remains the same.
If the capacitor is disconnected from the battery, the capacitor is an
isolated system and the charge remains the same.
Copyright © 2008 Pearson Education Inc., publishing as Pearson Addison-Wesley
 Dielectrics, cont
For a parallel-plate capacitor, C = κ (εo A) / d
In theory, d could be made very small to create a very large
capacitance.
In practice, there is a limit to d.
• d is limited by the electric discharge that could occur
though the dielectric medium separating the plates.
For a given d, the maximum voltage that can be applied to
a capacitor without causing a discharge depends on the
dielectric strength of the material.

Copyright © 2008 Pearson Education Inc., publishing as Pearson Addison-Wesley

. The dielectric constant
When an insulating material is inserted between the plates of a capacitor
whose original capacitance is C0, the new capacitance is greater by a
factor K, where K is the dielectric constant of the material.

The energy density in the capacitor also increases:

Copyright © 2008 Pearson Education Inc., publishing as Pearson Addison-Wesley

 Dielectrics, final

Dielectrics provide the following advantages:

• Increase in capacitance
• Increase the maximum operating voltage
• Possible mechanical support between the plates
– This allows the plates to be close together without
touching.
– This decreases d and increases C.

Copyright © 2008 Pearson Education Inc., publishing as Pearson Addison-Wesley

 Table 24.1—Dielectric constants

Copyright © 2008 Pearson Education Inc., publishing as Pearson Addison-Wesley

 Dielectrics change the potential difference

Copyright © 2008 Pearson Education Inc., publishing as Pearson Addison-Wesley

 Field lines as dielectrics change

Copyright © 2008 Pearson Education Inc., publishing as Pearson Addison-Wesley

Q.1
The two conductors a and b are
insulated from each other, forming a
capacitor. You increase the charge on
a to +2Q and increase the charge on b
to –2Q, while keeping the conductors
in the same positions.
As a result of this change, the
capacitance C of the two conductors

A. becomes 4 times great. B. becomes twice as great.

C. remains the same. D. becomes 1/2 as great.
E. becomes 1/4 as great.

Copyright © 2008 Pearson Education Inc., publishing as Pearson Addison-Wesley

A.1
The two conductors a and b are
insulated from each other, forming a
capacitor. You increase the charge on
a to +2Q and increase the charge on b
to –2Q, while keeping the conductors
in the same positions.
As a result of this change, the
capacitance C of the two conductors

A. becomes 4 times great. B. becomes twice as great.

C. remains the same. D. becomes 1/2 as great.
E. becomes 1/4 as great.

Copyright © 2008 Pearson Education Inc., publishing as Pearson Addison-Wesley

Q.2
You reposition the two plates of a capacitor so that the
capacitance doubles. There is vacuum between the plates.
If the charges +Q and –Q on the two plates are kept constant in
this process, what happens to the potential difference Vab
between the two plates?

A. Vab becomes 4 times as great

B. Vab becomes twice as great
C. Vab remains the same
D. Vab becomes 1/2 as great
E. Vab becomes 1/4 as great

Copyright © 2008 Pearson Education Inc., publishing as Pearson Addison-Wesley

A.2
You reposition the two plates of a capacitor so that the
capacitance doubles. There is vacuum between the plates.
If the charges +Q and –Q on the two plates are kept constant in
this process, what happens to the potential difference Vab
between the two plates?

A. Vab becomes 4 times as great

B. Vab becomes twice as great
C. Vab remains the same
D. Vab becomes 1/2 as great
E. Vab becomes 1/4 as great

Copyright © 2008 Pearson Education Inc., publishing as Pearson Addison-Wesley

Q.3
a
A 12–mF capacitor and a 6–mF capacitor
are connected together as shown. What is
the equivalent capacitance of the two 12 mF
capacitors as a unit?

A. Ceq = 18 mF
6 mF
B. Ceq = 9 mF
C. Ceq = 6 mF
b
D. Ceq = 4 mF
E. Ceq = 2 mF

Copyright © 2008 Pearson Education Inc., publishing as Pearson Addison-Wesley

A.3
a
A 12–mF capacitor and a 6–mF capacitor
are connected together as shown. What is
the equivalent capacitance of the two 12 mF
capacitors as a unit?

A. Ceq = 18 mF
6 mF
B. Ceq = 9 mF
C. Ceq = 6 mF
b
D. Ceq = 4 mF
E. Ceq = 2 mF

Copyright © 2008 Pearson Education Inc., publishing as Pearson Addison-Wesley

Q.4
a
A 12–mF capacitor and a 6–mF capacitor
are connected together as shown. If the
charge on the 12–mF capacitor is 24 12 mF
microcoulombs (24 mC), what is the
charge on the 6–mF capacitor?

A. 48 mC 6 mF
B. 36 mC
C. 24 mC b
D. 12 mC
E. 6 mC

Copyright © 2008 Pearson Education Inc., publishing as Pearson Addison-Wesley

A.4
a
A 12–mF capacitor and a 6–mF capacitor
are connected together as shown. If the
charge on the 12–mF capacitor is 24 12 mF
microcoulombs (24 mC), what is the
charge on the 6–mF capacitor?

A. 48 mC 6 mF
B. 36 mC
C. 24 mC b
D. 12 mC
E. 6 mC

Copyright © 2008 Pearson Education Inc., publishing as Pearson Addison-Wesley

Q.5
a
A 12–mF capacitor and a 6–mF capacitor
are connected together as shown. What is
the equivalent capacitance of the two
capacitors as a unit? 12 mF 6 mF

A. Ceq = 18 mF
B. Ceq = 9 mF
C. Ceq = 6 mF
b
D. Ceq = 4 mF
E. Ceq = 2 mF

Copyright © 2008 Pearson Education Inc., publishing as Pearson Addison-Wesley

A.5
a
A 12–mF capacitor and a 6–mF capacitor
are connected together as shown. What is
the equivalent capacitance of the two
capacitors as a unit? 12 mF 6 mF

A. Ceq = 18 mF
B. Ceq = 9 mF
C. Ceq = 6 mF
b
D. Ceq = 4 mF
E. Ceq = 2 mF

Copyright © 2008 Pearson Education Inc., publishing as Pearson Addison-Wesley

Q.6
a
A 12–mF capacitor and a 6–mF capacitor
are connected together as shown. If the
charge on the 12–mF capacitor is 24
microcoulombs (24 mC), what is the 12 mF 6 mF
charge on the 6–mF capacitor?

A. 48 mC
B. 36 mC
C. 24 mC b
D. 12 mC
E. 6 mC

Copyright © 2008 Pearson Education Inc., publishing as Pearson Addison-Wesley

A.6
a
A 12–mF capacitor and a 6–mF capacitor
are connected together as shown. If the
charge on the 12–mF capacitor is 24
microcoulombs (24 mC), what is the 12 mF 6 mF
charge on the 6–mF capacitor?

A. 48 mC
B. 36 mC
C. 24 mC b
D. 12 mC
E. 6 mC

Copyright © 2008 Pearson Education Inc., publishing as Pearson Addison-Wesley

Q.7
You reposition the two plates of a capacitor so that the
capacitance doubles. There is vacuum between the plates.
If the charges +Q and –Q on the two plates are kept constant in
this process, the energy stored in the capacitor
A. becomes 4 times greater.
B. becomes twice as great.
C. remains the same.
D. becomes 1/2 as great.
E. becomes 1/4 as great.

Copyright © 2008 Pearson Education Inc., publishing as Pearson Addison-Wesley

A.7
You reposition the two plates of a capacitor so that the
capacitance doubles. There is vacuum between the plates.
If the charges +Q and –Q on the two plates are kept constant in
this process, the energy stored in the capacitor
A. becomes 4 times greater.
B. becomes twice as great.
C. remains the same.
D. becomes 1/2 as great.
E. becomes 1/4 as great.

Copyright © 2008 Pearson Education Inc., publishing as Pearson Addison-Wesley

Q.8
You slide a slab of dielectric between the plates of a parallel-plate
capacitor. As you do this, the charges on the plates remain
constant.
What effect does adding the dielectric have on the potential
difference between the capacitor plates?

A. The potential difference increases.

B. The potential difference remains the same.
C. The potential difference decreases.
D. not enough information given to decide

Copyright © 2008 Pearson Education Inc., publishing as Pearson Addison-Wesley

A.8
You slide a slab of dielectric between the plates of a parallel-plate
capacitor. As you do this, the charges on the plates remain
constant.
What effect does adding the dielectric have on the potential
difference between the capacitor plates?

A. The potential difference increases.

B. The potential difference remains the same.
C. The potential difference decreases.
D. not enough information given to decide

Copyright © 2008 Pearson Education Inc., publishing as Pearson Addison-Wesley

Q.10
You slide a slab of dielectric between the plates of a parallel-plate
capacitor. As you do this, the potential difference between the
plates remains constant.
What effect does adding the dielectric have on the amount of
charge on each of the capacitor plates?

A. The amount of charge increases.

B. The amount of charge remains the same.
C. The amount of charge decreases.
D. not enough information given to decide

Copyright © 2008 Pearson Education Inc., publishing as Pearson Addison-Wesley

A.10
You slide a slab of dielectric between the plates of a parallel-plate
capacitor. As you do this, the potential difference between the
plates remains constant.
What effect does adding the dielectric have on the amount of
charge on each of the capacitor plates?

A. The amount of charge increases.

B. The amount of charge remains the same.
C. The amount of charge decreases.
D. not enough information given to decide

Copyright © 2008 Pearson Education Inc., publishing as Pearson Addison-Wesley

 HERE SOME EXAMPLES:

Solution:

Copyright © 2008 Pearson Education Inc., publishing as Pearson Addison-Wesley

Copyright © 2008 Pearson Education Inc., publishing as Pearson Addison-Wesley
 Solution:

Copyright © 2008 Pearson Education Inc., publishing as Pearson Addison-Wesley

Copyright © 2008 Pearson Education Inc., publishing as Pearson Addison-Wesley
Copyright © 2008 Pearson Education Inc., publishing as Pearson Addison-Wesley
 Solution:

Copyright © 2008 Pearson Education Inc., publishing as Pearson Addison-Wesley

Copyright © 2008 Pearson Education Inc., publishing as Pearson Addison-Wesley
Copyright © 2008 Pearson Education Inc., publishing as Pearson Addison-Wesley
Copyright © 2008 Pearson Education Inc., publishing as Pearson Addison-Wesley
 ➔

Copyright © 2008 Pearson Education Inc., publishing as Pearson Addison-Wesley

 SOLUTION

C1 = C2 =

Copyright © 2008 Pearson Education Inc., publishing as Pearson Addison-Wesley

Copyright © 2008 Pearson Education Inc., publishing as Pearson Addison-Wesley
 SOLUTION

Copyright © 2008 Pearson Education Inc., publishing as Pearson Addison-Wesley

Copyright © 2008 Pearson Education Inc., publishing as Pearson Addison-Wesley