ELECTROSTATICS

Electrostatics is study of charges that do not move. An atom has three particles: neutrons,
protons and electrons. When voltage is applied to a material, electrons in outermost shell of
atom move.

Materials are generally divided into three groups;

(i) Conductors. Materials that allow current to flow through them. Examples are
copper, aluminum, iron
(ii) Insulators. Materials that do not allow current to flow through them. They are also
called dielectrics. Examples are air, paper, plastics,
(iii) Semiconductors. Materials that partly allow current to flow through them and partly
do not. Examples are diodes and transistors

ELECTRIC CAHRGES

Quantity of electric charge, Q is product of current and time. Q =It , Q is quantity of

charge in coulombs, I is current in amperes, t is time in seconds.

Charges have an electric field around them. Make diagrams to demonstrate positive,
ve , tracting∧repelling charges .

State coulomb’s law; force between two charges Q1 and Q2 placed a distance d apart is
given by F = k Q1Q2/d2

Where k is a constant.

CAPACITOR

A capacitor is an electronic component that is able to store electric charge. Ability of a capacitor
to store electric charge is called capacitance. Capacitance is measured in farads. Capacitance
depends on;

(i) Area of the plates. The larger the area the larger the capacitance.
(ii) Separation of the plates. The larger the distance between the plates the smaller the
capacitance.
(iii) Type of dielectric. This is the insulator between the plates.

TYPES OF CAPACITORS

 Electrolytic Capacitor. Generally, the electrolyte capacitors are used when the large
capacitor values are required. ...
  Mica Capacitor. This capacitor is a group of natural minerals and the silver mica
capacitors use the dielectric. ...
 Paper Capacitor. ...
 Film Capacitor. ...
 Non-Polarized Capacitors. ...
 Ceramic Capacitor.

Variable air capacitors are used more often because of their simple construction. They are usually made
of two sets of semicircular metal plates separated by air gaps. One set is fixed and the other is attached
to a shaft which allows the user to rotate the assembly, therefore changing the capacitance as needed.

CAPACITOR CONSTRUCTION

A capacitor is constructed by placing an insulator between two metallic parallel plates . the
plates can be many to make a composite capacitor.

Variable capacitor

Paper capacitor

CAPACITORS CONNECTED IN PARALLEL

Derive expression for total capacitance for three capacitors connected in parallel
 C1

C2

C3

C1, C2 AND C3 are capacitances of three capacitors connected in parallel. Voltage across
each capacitor is the same. Charge stored in each capacitor is given by;
Q1 = C1 V, Q 2 = C2 V AND Q3 = C3 V.

Total charge, Q = Q1 + Q2 + Q3 = CT V CT V = C1 V + C2 V + C3 V. Thus, CT = C1 + C2 + C3

CAPACITORS CONNECTED IN SERIES

Derive expression for total capacitance for three capacitors connected in series

C1 C2 C3

V1 V2 V3

Charge in each capacitor is the same and the same as total charge.
Total voltage, V = V1 + V2 + V3 since W = CV, then V = Q/C

Q/CT= Q/C1 = Q/C2 + Q/C3 Thus 1/CT= 1/C1 = 1/C2 + 1/C3

TYPES OF CAPACITORS

Capacitors are named after the dielectric used. Examples are;

1. Air capacitor
2. Paper capacitor
3. Mica capacitor
4. Ceramic capacitor
5. Electrolytic capacitor mostly used in power supply to act as filters

6. Film Capacitor

ELECTRIC FIELD

In a simple parallel-plate capacitor, a voltage applied between two conductive plates creates a
uniform electric field between those plates. The electric field strength in a capacitor is directly
proportional to the voltage applied and inversely proportional to the distance between the
plates.

Like charges repel and unlike charges attract. When battery is connected to plates of capacitor,
the charges arrange as shown in the diagram.

ELECTRIC FIELD STRENGTH

Electric field strength = voltage/distance between plates, E = V/d

Example.

500 V battery is connected across parallel plate capacitor whose plates are placed 10 mm apart.
Determine the electric stress.

Solution

Electric field strength = Electric field stress = V/d = 500/0.01 = 50 kV/m

DIELECTRIC STRENGTH

If the potential difference between the plates is increased beyond a certain value, the insulator
breaks. The capacitor starts to conduct and becomes useless as a capacitor. This electric field
strength that causes breakdown of insulator is called dielectric strength.

ELECTRIC FLUX DENSITY

Electric flux is equivalent to charge in a capacitor. Electric flux density is flux per unit area .
D = Q/A

Charge = capacitance X Voltage, Q = CV. Since D = εE then Q/A = ε V/d CV/A = ε V/d
Thus C = ε A/d = εr εo A/d C = Capacitance d = distance between the plates
εo = Permittivity of free space = 8.85 X 10 -12 F/M εr = relative permittivity.

Note that absolute permittivity is given by; ε = εr εo

EXAMPLE

A parallel plate capacitor has two plates each of are 20 cm2 placed 5 mm apart. If the dielectric
is paper of relative permittivity 4 , determine capacitance of the capacitor.

Solution

C = εr εo A/d = 4 X 8.85 X 10 -12 X20 X 10 -4 /0.005 = 14.16 X 10 -12 F

CHARGE STORED IN CAPACITOR

Q = CV

Where Q = charge in coulombs, C = capacitance in farads ,

V voltage in volts across the capacitor.

ENERGY STORED IN CAPACITOR

Energy stored in a capacitor is given by Energy = ½ CV2

WHERE; C= capacitance in farads V = voltage applied

SI units for energy is joules

Example

In the capacitor network shown, determine;

20 µF 5 µF

(i) Total capacitance

(ii) Total charge
(iii) Voltage across the 30 µF capacitor 16 µF
(iv) Energy stored in the 16 µF capacitor
. 50 V 30 µF

Solution

20 // 5 = 4 µF

(i) 16 + 4 = 20 µF , Total capacitance = 20//30 = 20 x 30 /50 = 12 µF

 (ii) Total charge; Q = CV = 12 X 50 = 600 µC
(iii) Voltage = charge/capacitance; V = Q/C = 600/30 = 20 volts
(iv) Energy stored in the 16 µF capacitor = ½ CV2 = ½X 16 X 10 – 6 X 302 = 0.0036 joules

Example

Two capacitors; 15 µF and 25 µF are connected in series and the combination is connected
across 50 V battery. After they are fully charged, the circuit is broken and the like poles of the
capacitors are connected. Determine the common voltage.

Solution

For series. Total capacitance = 15//25 = 9.375 µF

Total charge q = CV = 9.375 X 50 = 468.75 µC

Charge in each is same since they are in series.

After breaking circuit and connecting them in parallel, charge redistributes such that voltage
becomes the same

Total charge = 468.75 + 468.75 = 937.5 µC

Total capacitance = 15 + 25 = 40 µF

Using Q=CV . Common voltage = Q/C = 937.5/40 = 23.4375 V

Example

A capacitor consists of two metal plates each of area 900 cm 2, spaced 3 mm apart. The whole
space between the plates is filled with mica of relative permittivity 6. A potential difference of
500 V is maintained across the capacitor. Calculate;

(i) Capacitance of the capacitor

(ii) Charge stored in the capacitor.
(iii) Electric field strength
(iv) Electric flux density.

Solution

(i) 1.593 X 10 -9 F (ii) 7.9 X 10 -7 C (iii) 166.67 kV/m (iv) 8.7 X 10 -6 C/m2

Example
Two capacitors A and B are connected in series across 200 V dc supply. The pd across A is 120 V.
this pd becomes 140 V when a 3µ F capacitor is connected in parallel with B. calculate the
capacitance of A and B.

Solution

Equating charge in A and B Q = CV, 120A = 80B

After connecting the 3 µF equate charge, 140A = 60(B + 3) Solving gives,

A = 3.6 µF and B = 5.4 µF

ASSIGNMENT

(a) State four properties of dielectrics

(b) Derive the expression for capacitance of parallel plate capacitor