PHY 1214 PHY 1214 General Physics II General Physics II

Lecture 8 Capacitance June 14-15, 2005

Weldon J. Wilson Professor of Physics & Engineering Howell Hall 221H wwilson@ucok.edu

Lecture Schedule (Weeks 1-3)

We are here.

June 14-15, 2005

PHY 1214 - Lecture 8

Capacitance
A capacitor is a device used in a variety of electric circuits The capacitance, C, of a capacitor is defined as the ratio of the magnitude of the charge on either conductor (plate) to the magnitude of the potential difference between the conductors (plates)

June 14-15, 2005

PHY 1214 - Lecture 8

Capacitance, cont

Q Q C = V V
1F=1C/V A Farad is very large
Often will see F or pF

V=V and means voltage drop

Units: Farad (F)

June 14-15, 2005

PHY 1214 - Lecture 8

Parallel-Plate Capacitor
The capacitance of a device depends on the geometric arrangement of the conductors For a parallel-plate capacitor whose plates are separated by air:

A C = 0 d
June 14-15, 2005

Permittivity of the free space PHY 1214

- Lecture 8

Applications of Capacitors Camera Flash

The flash attachment on a camera uses a capacitor
A battery is used to charge the capacitor The energy stored in the capacitor is released when the button is pushed to take a picture The charge is delivered very quickly, illuminating the subject when more light is needed

June 14-15, 2005

PHY 1214 - Lecture 8

Applications of Capacitors -Computers

Computers use capacitors in many ways
Some keyboards use capacitors at the bases of the keys When the key is pressed, the capacitor spacing decreases and the capacitance increases The key is recognized by the change in capacitance
June 14-15, 2005 PHY 1214 - Lecture 8 7

Sources of Electric Potential

A potential difference can be created by moving charge from one conductor to another.

The potential difference on a capacitor can produce a current (flow of charge), but this current cannot be sustained because the charge separation and potential difference rapidly disappears.
June 14-15, 2005 PHY 1214 - Lecture 8 8

Capacitors and Capacitance

Q E= 0 A
Units: 1 farad = 1 F 1 C/V
0 A Q = 0 AE = VC d

0 A Q = C VC d

Q = C VC

June 14-15, 2005

PHY 1214 - Lecture 8

Forming a Capacitor
Any two conducting electrodes can form a capacitor, regardless of their shape.

Q C VC
The capacitance depends only on the geometry of the electrodes, not on their present charge or potential difference. (In fact, one of the electrodes can be moved to infinity, so the capacitance of a single electrode is a meaningful concept.)
June 14-15, 2005 PHY 1214 - Lecture 8 11

Energy Stored in a Capacitor

U cap = C (V )
1 2 2

q = 2C

June 14-15, 2005

PHY 1214 - Lecture 8

12

Energy in the Electric Field

U C = C V =
1 2 2 1 2

0 A
d

( Ed )

0
2

( Ad ) E 2

energy stored U C 0 2 uE = = E storage volume Ad 2

Example: d=1.0 mm, VC=500 V

E=

VC 500 V = = 5.0 105 V/m -3 d 1.0 10 m

uE =

0
2

E =
2

1 2

( 5.0 10

V/m ) / ( 4 9.0 109 Vm/C ) = 1.1 J/m3

2

June 14-15, 2005

PHY 1214 - Lecture 8

14

Capacitors in Circuits
Capacitors in Parallel
Q1=C1Vab, Q2=C2Vab The total charge supplied by the source: Qtotal=Q1+Q2=Vab(C1+C2) Equivalent capacitance Ceq

Q1 and Q2 are not necessarily equal but Vab is the same.

Ceq=C1+C2

June 14-15, 2005

PHY 1214 - Lecture 8

16

Capacitors in Parallel
The total charge is equal to the sum of the charges on the capacitors
Qtotal = Q1 + Q2

The potential difference across the capacitors is the same

And each is equal to the voltage of the battery

June 14-15, 2005

PHY 1214 - Lecture 8

17

Capacitors in Parallel, final

Ceq = C1 + C2 The equivalent capacitance of a parallel combination of capacitors is greater than any of the individual capacitors

June 14-15, 2005

PHY 1214 - Lecture 8

18

Capacitors in Series
V1=Q/C1, V2=Q/C2
1 1 V=V1+V2= Q + C C 1 2

1 1 1 = + Ceq C1 C2
June 14-15, 2005

In a series connection the magnitude of charge on all plates is the same!

19

Equivalent capacitance Ceq PHY 1214 - Lecture 8

More About Capacitors in Series

An equivalent capacitor can be found that performs the same function as the series combination The potential differences add up to the battery voltage

June 14-15, 2005

PHY 1214 - Lecture 8

20

Capacitors in Series, cont

V = V1 + V2 1 1 1 = + Ceq C1 C2
The equivalent capacitance of a series combination is always less than any individual capacitor in the combination

June 14-15, 2005

PHY 1214 - Lecture 8

21

Problem-Solving Strategy
Be careful with the choice of units When two or more unequal capacitors are connected in series, they carry the same charge, but the potential differences across them are not the same The capacitances add as reciprocals and the equivalent capacitance is always less than the smallest individual capacitor

June 14-15, 2005

PHY 1214 - Lecture 8

22

Problem-Solving Strategy, cont

When two or more capacitors are connected in parallel, the potential differences across them are the same
The charge on each capacitor is proportional to its capacitance

The capacitors add directly to give the equivalent capacitance

June 14-15, 2005

PHY 1214 - Lecture 8

23

Problem-Solving Strategy, final

A complicated circuit can often be reduced to one equivalent capacitor
Replace capacitors in series or parallel with their equivalent Redraw the circuit and continue

To find the charge on, or the potential difference across, one of the capacitors, start with your final equivalent capacitor and work back through the circuit reductions
June 14-15, 2005 PHY 1214 - Lecture 8 24

Example:
Step 1 Step 2

Step 1: Cp=C1+C2 Cp=0.10 F+0.20 F Cp =0.30 F

June 14-15, 2005

PHY 1214 - Lecture 8

25

Step 2:

1/Cs=1/C3+1/Cp

0.60F 0.30F Cs = = = 0.20F C3 + C p 0.60F + 0.30F C3 C p

Energy Stored in a Capacitor

Average voltage during charging:
0

Vfinal Vinitial Vfinal Va = = 2 2

Since Vfinal is the applied voltage, we write Va=V/2. Energy stored (=work done by the battery):

1 1 1 2 2 U = QVa = QV = CV = Q 2 2 2C
June 14-15, 2005 PHY 1214 - Lecture 8 27

Applications
Defibrillators
When fibrillation occurs, the heart produces a rapid, irregular pattern of beats A fast discharge of electrical energy through the heart can return the organ to its normal beat pattern

In general, capacitors act as energy reservoirs that can slowly charged and then discharged quickly to provide large amounts of energy in a short pulse

June 14-15, 2005

PHY 1214 - Lecture 8

28

Capacitors with Dielectrics

A dielectric is an insulating material that, when placed between the plates of a capacitor, increases the capacitance
Dielectrics include rubber, plastic, or waxed paper

C = Co =

o(A/d)

The capacitance is multiplied by the factor when the dielectric completely fills the region between the plates
June 14-15, 2005 PHY 1214 - Lecture 8 29

Reasoning:
E0
-Q0 +Q0 (a) Electric field lines inside an empty capacitor (b) The electric field produces polarization (c) The resulting positive and negative surface charges on the dielectric reduce the electric field within the dielectric

Dielectric constant

E=E0/ or V=V0/

Capacitance in presence of a dielectric:

Q0 Q0 Q0 C= = = = C0 V V0 / V
A C = 0 d
Since >1, the dielectric enhances the capacitance of the - capacitor! PHY 1214 Lecture 8 31

June 14-15, 2005

Capacitors with Dielectrics

June 14-15, 2005

PHY 1214 - Lecture 8

32

The value of depends on the nature of the dielectric material, as the table below indicates:
(at 300 K)

Dielectric Strength
For any given plate separation, there is a maximum electric field that can be produced in the dielectric before it breaks down and begins to conduct This maximum electric field is called the dielectric strength

June 14-15, 2005

PHY 1214 - Lecture 8

34

Capacitors Designs

(a) Paper capacitor (b) High-voltage oil capacitor (c) Electrolytic capacitor
June 14-15, 2005 PHY 1214 - Lecture 8 35

End of Lecture 8
Before the next lecture read Sections 19.5.

June 14-15, 2005

PHY 1214 - Lecture 8

36