Pîrî Reis University

Spring 2019

Physics 121Y

Chapter 24
 Programme
Week Chapters Subjects

1-2 Ch.21 Electric Charge & Field E-charge, insulators, conductors, Coulomb’s law, E-field

3 Ch.23 Electric Potential E-potential energy, potential difference, charge distribution

4 C.24 Capacitance, Dielectrics Capacitors, capacitance, E-energy storage, dielectrics

5 C.25 Electric Currents & Res. Batteries, E-current, Ohm’s law, power, current density
EMF, resistors in series/parallel, Kirchhoff’s rules, RC
6 Ch.26 DC Circuits
circ’s
7 Review of Chs. 21-26 .

8 Midterm .

9 Ch.27 Magnetism Magnets, magnetic fields

10 Force on an E-current in a M-field, M-field due to a wire

Ch.28 Sources of
Magnetic Field
11 Ampère’s law, Biot-Savart law

12 C.29 EM Ind. & Faraday’s law Induced EMF, Faraday’s law, moving conductors

C.30 Inductance & AC

13 Inductance, magnetic energy, EM oscillations, AC circuits
Circuits
14 Review of Chs. 27-30 .
 Chapter 24
Capacitance, Dielectrics,
Electric Energy Storage
This chapter concludes our study of electrostatics. We will see an important
device, the capacitor, used to store electric energy. We will also discuss the
effects of dielectric materials on electric fields and potential differences.

I.Capacitors
II.Determination of Capacitance
III.Capacitors in Series and Parallel
IV.Electric Energy Storage
VI.Molecular Description of Dielectrics
VII.Dielectrics
I. Capacitors
A capacitor is a device that can store electric charge,
and normally consists of two conducting objects placed
near each other but not touching.
When a capacitor is being charged, negative charge is
removed from one side of the capacitor and placed
onto the other, leaving one side with a negative charge
(– Q) and the other side with a positive charge (+Q).
Any two conductors insulated from one another form a
capacitor (see top figure). A simple capacitor consists
of a pair of parallel plates of area A separated by a
small distance d (see left figure). Often the two plates
are rolled into the form of a cylinder with an insulator
separating the plates (see right figure).
In a diagram, the symbol
or
represents a capacitor. A battery, which is a
source of voltage, is indicated by the symbol

with unequal arms.

I. Capacitors
If a voltage is applied across a capacitor by connecting
the capacitor to a battery with conducting wires (see
figure), the two plates quickly becomes charged: one
plate acquires a negative charge, the other an equal
amount of positive charge. Each battery terminal and
the plate of the capacitor connected to it are at the
same potential. Hence the full battery voltage appears
across the capacitor.

For a given capacitor, it is found that the amount of charge Q acquired by each plate
is proportional to the magnitude of the potential difference V between them:
Q = CV.
Here, the constant of proportionality, C, is called the capacitance of the capacitor.
The unit of capacitance is coulombs per volt, which is called a farad (F): 1 F = 1 C/V .
Common capacitors have capacitance in the range 1 pF to 1 mF.
From now on, we will use V (not Vba or ΔV ) for potential difference. Note that we
write physical quantities in italics and units in non-italics. So, for example, C denotes
capacitance, while C denotes the unit coulomb. Likewise, V denotes voltage, while V
denotes the unit volt.
II. Determination of Capacitance
For a parallel plate capacitor, we learned previously that the
electric field E in between the plates is almost uniform for the
separation d between the plates (of area A) is much smaller than
the plate size.
In this case, the electric field has magnitude E = σ/ϵ0 (see Lectures
1 and 2). Here, σ is the charge per unit area of the plate. If the
charge on a plate of area A is Q, then σ = Q/A . So, we write the
electric field in between the plates as E = Q/(ϵ0 A) .
In previous Lecture 3, we calculated the voltage between the
charged plates as V = E d . Using E calculated above, we obtain
V = Q d / (ϵ0 A) , which relates Q and V.

Thus the capacitance of the parallel plate capacitor is .

II. Determination of Capacitance
Example (capacitor calculations): (a) Calculate the capacitance of a parallel-plate
capacitor of plates of size 20 cm × 3.0 cm that are separated by a d = 1.0 mm air gap.
(b) What is the charge on each plate if a 12 V battery is connected across the plates?
(c) What is the magnitude of electric field between the plates? (d) Estimate the area
of the plates needed to achieve a capacitance of 1 F, given the same air gap.
(a) Area of a plate is A = (0.20 m) (0.030 m) = 0.0060 m2

Capacitance is C = ϵ0 A/d = (8.85 × 10–12 C2/N·m2) (0.0060 m2) / (0.0010 m)

= 53 × 10–12 F = 53 pF
(b) Charge on a plate is Q = C V = (53 × 10–12 F) (12 V) = 6.4 × 10–10 C = 0.64 nC
(c) Electric field between plates is E = V/d = (12 V) / (0.0010 m) = 1.2 × 104 V/m
(d) Solving A from the capacitance relation

A = Cd/ϵ0 = (1 F) (0.0010 m) / (8.85 × 10–12 C2/N·m2)

≈ 108 m2
This is a city-sized area.
Thus, large-capacitance capacitors cannot be simple parallel plates.
II. Determination of Capacitance
Example (cylindrical capacitor): A cylindrical capacitor
consists of a cylinder (or wire) of radius Rb surrounded by a
coaxial cylindrical shell of inner radius Ra (see figure). Both
cylinders have length l which we assume is much greater
than the separation of the cylinders, Rb – Ra, so we can
neglect end effects. Determine a formula for the capacitance.
We know that the electric field outside a long wire is directed
radially and has magnitude E = λ / (2 π ϵ0 R), where R is the
distance from the axis of the wire and λ = Q/l is the charge
per unit length of wire (see Lectures 1 and 2).
Potential difference between the cylinders can be calculated
as (see Lecture 3)

Hence, Q and V are proportional and capacitance is

As an exercise, find the capacitance of two concentric spherical shells of radii Ra , Rb.
III. Capacitors in Series and Parallel
The figure shows a circuit containing three capacitors
connected in parallel. They are in “parallel” because the
voltage Vab across each capacitor is the same and equals the
voltage V of the battery.
Recall from Lecture 3 that the potential is the same
everywhere inside a conductor. Thus, left-hand plates of all
three capacitors and the positive side of the battery is at
potential Va, while right-hand plates of all capacitors and the
negative side of the battery is at potential Vb.
Charge accumulated on each capacitor is then Q1 = C1 V , Q2 = C2 V , Q3 = C3 V .
Total charge Q that accumulates on each side (left or right) of the circuit is then
Q = Q1 + Q2 + Q3 = C1 V + C1 V + C1 V = (C1 + C2 + C3) V .
If we are to find a single equivalent capacitor that will hold the same charge Q at the
same voltage V, it will have a capacitance given by Ceq = Q/V . From the above
equation, we find the equivalent capacitance as
Ceq = C1 + C2 + C3 .
The net effect of connecting capacitors in parallel is to increase the capacitance. This
makes sense, because we are essentially increasing the area of the plates (C ~ A).
III. Capacitors in Series and Parallel
The figure shows a circuit containing three
capacitors connected in series. The left-hand plate
of capacitor C1 holds a charge +Q, while right-hand
plate of capacitor C3 holds a charge –Q. There
must be no net charge in regions A and B.
The left-hand plate of C1 attracts a charge –Q on its right-hand plate and repels a
charge +Q to the left-hand plate of C2. Similarly, the right-hand plate of C2 acquires a
charge –Q and the left-hand plate of C3 acquires a charge +Q (see separation of
charges by induction in Lectures 1 and 2).
Charge Q on one side of each capacitor is Q = C1V1 = C2V2 = C3V3 ; thus Vi = Q/Ci .

The voltage through all capacitors is V = Vab = VaA + VAB + VBb = V1 + V2 + V3 .

Therefore we have V = Q/C1 + Q/C2 + Q/C3 = Q (1/C1 + 1/C2 + 1/C3).

If we are to find a single equivalent capacitor that will hold the same charge Q at the
same voltage V, it will have a capacitance given by Ceq = Q/V . Using the above
equation, we find the equivalent capacitance from
1/Ceq = 1/C1 + 1/C2 + 1/C3 .
Equivalent capacitance Ceq is smaller than the smallest contributing capacitance.
III. Capacitors in Series and Parallel
Ex. (equivalent capacitance): For the capacitances
C1 = C2 = C3 = C , determine the capacitance Ceq of
a single capacitor that will have the same effect as a
circuit combination shown in the figure.

C2 and C3 are in parallel. They are equivalent to a single capacitor of capacitance

C23 = C2 + C3 .

The circuit can be reduced to one with C23 and C1

connected in series, whose equivalent capacitance is
Ceq = (1/C23 + 1/C1)–1 = [1/(C2 + C3) + 1/C1]–1 .

Using C1 = C2 = C3 = C , we find the equivalent capacitance as

2
Ceq = [1/(C + C) + 1/C] –1
= [(1/C) (1/2 + 1)] –1
= [3/(2C)] –1
= –– C .
3
III. Capacitors in Series and Parallel
Example (charge and voltage on capacitors): In the
circuit of the previous example, for C = 4.0 μF and V
= 3.0 V, find the charge on and the voltage across
each capacitor.

Charge on the equivalent capacitor can be found as

Q = CeqV = (2/3)CV = (2/3) (4.0 μF) (3.0 V) = 8.0 μC .

Charge on C1 equals the charge on equivalent capacitor: Q1 = Q = 8.0 μC .

Total charge on C2 and C3 equals the charge on equivalent capacitor. Hence, by
symmetry (C2 = C3) charge on each of C2 or C3 is Q2 = Q3 = Q/2 = 4.0 μC .

Voltage across each capacitor can be found from Vi = Qi /Ci as

V1 = Q1/C1 = Q/C = (2/3)(CV/C) = (2/3)V = (2/3)(3.0 V) = 2.0 V

V2 = V3 = Q2/C2 = Q3/C3 = (Q/2)/C = (1/3)(CV/C) = (1/3)V = (1/3)(3.0 V) = 1.0 V
Note that V2 = V3 and V = V1 + V23 as expected.
IV. Electric Energy Storage
A charged capacitor stores electrical energy. The stored energy in a capacitor equals
the work done to charge it (like compressing a spring). The net effect of charging a
capacitor is to remove charge from one plate and add it to the other plate.
Between the plates, it requires work to move charge from one plate to the other. No
work needs to be done to move the first bit of charge from one plate to the other. But
after that, since there is a non-zero potential difference .

When there is a charge q on one plate, the voltage across the plates is V = q/C ,
where C is the capacitance. Moving an infinitesimal charge dq under this voltage
requires a work dW = V dq = q dq / C.

The work W required to store a total charge Q is

Thus, the energy U stored in a capacitor can be written using U = W and Q = CV as

IV. Electric Energy Storage
Ex. (energy stored in a capacitor): A camera flash unit
stores energy in a 150 μF capacitor at 200 V. (a) How
much energy U can be stored? (b) What is the power
output P if all this energy is released in Δt = 1.0 ms?
(a) U = ½ C V 2 = ½ (150 × 10–6 F) (200 V)2 = 3.0 J
(b) P = U/Δt = (3.0 J)/(1.0 × 10–3 s) = 3.0 kW

Example (capacitor plate separation increased): A parallel-plate capacitor carries a

charge Q when disconnected from a battery. The two plates are initially separated by
a distance d. Suppose the plates are pulled apart until the separation is 2d. How has
the energy stored in this capacitor changed?
Charge Q on the plates does not change as the plates are separated.
Capacitance changes: initially it is C = ϵ0A/d and it becomes ϵ0 A/(2d ) = C/ 2 afterwards.

Initially energy stored in the capacitor is U = ½Q2/C .

After the separation, it becomes ½Q2/(C/ 2) = 2U .

So the energy stored in the capacitor is doubled as the result of separation.
Where did this energy come from (exercise)?
IV. Electric Energy Storage
It is useful to think the energy stored in a capacitor as being stored in the electric
field, in the space between the plates. In Lecture 3, we saw that the magnitude of the
almost uniform electric field between parallel-plates, E = V/d, is related to the voltage
V and distance d between plates. In Section II above, we saw that the capacitance
C = ϵ0 A/d is related to the area A of plates and the distance d between them.
Using these relations in the energy U = ½ C V 2 stored in the capacitor, we find

U = ½ C V 2 = ½ (ϵ0 A/d ) (Ed )2 = ½ ϵ0 E 2Ad .

Here, Ad is the volume of space between the plates, where electric field E exists. If
we divide both sides of the above equation by this volume, we obtain the energy per
unit volume, or energy density, u:
u = ½ ϵ0 E 2
Although we derived this formula for the special region of space in between parallel-
plates, it is in fact valid for any region of space where there is an electric field.
Electric energy stored per unit volume in any region of space is proportional to the
square of the electric field in that region.
This is an important result because it tells us that empty space contains energy if
there is an electric field in the "empty" space. If we can get an electric field to
propagate, we can transmit energy and information through empty space!
VI. Molecular Description of Dielectrics
A dielectric is a nonconducting material that increases the capacitance when placed
between the plates of a capacitor. Dielectrics include rubber, plastic, paper, etc.
These are materials formed by molecules with permanent dipole moments, which
can align with an external electric field.

If there is no material in between the parallel plates, there is an electric field E0 = σ/ϵ0
(see fig.a). If a dielectric is placed in between plates, polar molecules orient their
dipole moments parallel to the electric field (see fig.b). Effectively, left and right sides
of the dielectric material becomes negatively and positively charged (see fig.c).
Some electric field lines leaving the positive charges on the left plate end up on the
negative charges on the left side of the dielectric (see fig.c). Separation of charges
inside the dielectric induces an electric field Eind inside the dielectric in the opposite
direction to E0 (see fig.d). As a result, E-field inside the dielectric is smaller than E0.
VI. Molecular Description of Dielectrics
Electric field ED inside a dielectric is less than the external electric field E0 by a factor
(K ) called the dielectric constant of the material:

ED = E0 – Eind = E0 / K

Thus, the induced electric field Eind inside a dielectric material is proportional to the
applied external field E0 , and the constant of proportionality is 1 – 1/K :
Eind = E0 (1 – 1/K )
For E0 = σ/ϵ0 and Eind = σind /ϵ0 , from the above formula, we obtain the induced
charge density (charge per unit area) on the surface of the dielectric material:
σind = σ (1 – 1/K )
or the induced charge on the surface:
Qind = Q (1 – 1/K )
V. Dielectrics
Dielectric constants of some dielectric materials
are shown in the table. Also shown are their
dielectric strength, maximum electric field
without breakdown (charge-flow).
Usage of dielectrics between the plates of a
capacitor serves several purposes:
Dielectrics break down (allowing electric
charge to flow) less readily than air, so higher
voltages can be applied across the capacitor.
A dielectric allows the plates to be placed
closer together without touching. As the
distance d between the plates decreases,
capacitance C increases (see Section II).
Capacitance C of a capacitor is proportional to
the dielectric constant K of the material that fills
the space between the plates. Let us see how
this happens in the next slide.
V. Dielectrics
Consider a capacitor charged by and disconnected from a battery. Then, the space
between plates is completely filled with a dielectric material of dielectric constant K.
Electric field inside the dielectric (in the whole space between the parallel plates) is
E = E0 /K ,
where E0 = σ/ϵ0 is the electric field that would exist if there were no dielectric between
the plates, σ = Q/A is the surface charge density, and Q is the charge on a plate of
surface area A (see Section VI above). So, we can write Q = ϵ0 E0 A. Note that this
charge Q does not change when a dielectric is placed in between the plates.
Voltage across the plates is given by V = Ed , where d is the distance between the
plates (see Lecture 3). Thus, we have
V = Ed = E0 d/K .
The capacitance with the dielectric in between the plates can be calculated as
C = Q/V = (ϵ0 E0 A) / (E0 d/K) .
Therefore, capacitance of such a parallel-plate capacitor, with the space between
parallel plates completely filled with a dielectric material (of dielectric constant K ) is

C = Kϵ0 A / d
V. Dielectrics C = Kϵ0 A / d
Thus the voltage across the capacitor decreases by a factor of K, when a dielectric
fills the space in between the parallel plates. Consequently, capacitance increases by
a factor of K. Placing a dielectric in between the plates allows more charge (and thus,
more electric energy) to be stored before breakdown voltage.
The quantity Kϵ0 appears so often in formulas that we define a new quantity

ϵ = Kϵ0

called the permittivity of a material. It is a measure of the degree to which the

material permits induced dipoles to align with an external field. Recall from Lecture 1
that ϵ0 is the permittivity of free space (vacuum).
Therefore, capacitance of a parallel-plate capacitor is written as

C = ϵA/d

We can also calculate the energy density stored inside the dielectric as (see Sect. IV)

u = ½ K ϵ0 E 2 = ½ ϵ E 2
V. Dielectrics
Example (one of Faraday’s experiments): A battery of voltage
V0 is kept connected to a capacitor as a dielectric (of dielectric
constant K ) is inserted between the plates. If the charge on the
plates without dielectric is Q0 , what is the charge Q on the
plates, after the dielectric is inserted?
Capacitance without dielectric is C0 = Q0 / V0 ; with dielectric it becomes C = Q / V0 .

Hence, C/C0 = (Q / V0) / (Q0 / V0) = Q/Q0 . We also know that C = KC0 , thus, C/C0 = K .

Combining these two relations, we write Q/Q0 = K, and find the answer: Q = KQ0 .
Ex. (capacitor design): A parallel-plate capacitor is constructed using a dielectric
material with dielectric constant K = 3.0 and dielectric strength Emax = 2.0 × 108 V/m.
The desired capacitance is C = 0.25 μF, and the capacitor must withstand a maximum
potential difference of V = 4.0 kV. Find the minimum area of the capacitor plates.
Emax = V / dmin → dmin = V / Emax
C = K ϵ0 Amin / dmin = K ϵ0 Amin Emax / V → Amin = C V / (K ϵ0 Emax)
Amin = (2.5 × 10–7 F) (4.0 × 103 V) / [(3.0) (8.85 × 10–12 C/V·m) (2.0 × 108 V/m)]
= (1.0 × 10–3 C) / (53 × 10–4 C/m2) = 0.19 m2
V. Dielectrics
Ex. (partially filled capacitor): A parallel-plate capacitor
has plates of area A = 250 cm2 and separation d = 3.00 +Q
mm. It is charged to a potential difference V0 = 150 V. d d
3
Then the battery is disconnected, and a dielectric sheet
–Q A
(K = 3.50) of the same area A but thickness d/ 3 is placed
between the plates as shown in the figure. Determine
(a) the initial capacitance of the air-filled capacitor, (b) the charge on each plate
before the dielectric is inserted, (c) the charge induced on each face of the dielectric
after it is inserted, (d ) the electric field in the space between the dielectric and the
negatively charged plate, (e) electric field in the dielectric (f ) the potential difference
between the plates after the dielectric is added, and (g) the capacitance after the
dielectric is in place.
(a) C0 = ϵ0 A / d = (8.85 × 10–12 C/V·m) (250 × 10–4 m2) / (3.00 × 10–3 m) = 73.8 pF
(b) Q = C0 V0 = (73.8 × 10–12 C/V) (150 V) = 11.1 nC
(c) Qind = Q (1 – 1/K) = (11.1 nC) (1 – 1/3.50) = 7.93 nC
(d ) E0 = V0 /d = (150 V) / (3.00 × 10–3 m) = 5.00 × 104 V/m
(e) ED = E0 /K = (5.00 × 104 V/m)/(3.50) = 1.43 × 104 V/m
(f ) V = – ∫ E·dl = E0(2d/3) + ED(d/3) = (E0 d/3) (2 + 1/K) = (V0 /3) (2 + 1/K) = … = 114 V
(g) C = Q/V = (11.1 nC) / (114 V) = 97.4 pF (increased by 32.0% compared to C0)
Reference

Physics
for
Scientists & Engineers
with Modern Physics
4th edition
Giancoli