UNIT 2: Capacitor

And Dielectrics

2.1 Capacitance And

Capacitor In Series
And Parallel

Series
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Paralle
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Learning Objectives
Q
Define and use capacitance,
C
V
Derive and determine the effective

capacitance of capacitors in series and

parallel.
Derive and use energy stored in
a capacitor.
2

1
1
1Q
2
U CV QV
2
2
2 C

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2.1 Capacitance
A capacitor is a device that is capable of

storing electric charges or electric

potential energy.

It is consist of two conducting plates separated

by a small air gap or a thin insulator - called a

dielectric. Dielectric prevent charges from
flowing across the capacitor. The dielectric in
figure below is air.
V

The electrical symbol

a capacitor is
+Q for -Q
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2.1.1 Capacitance
The capacitance of a capacitor is defined as the

ratio of the charge on either plate to the

potential difference between them.
Mathematically,

where
Q: Charge on one of the plate
V: potential difference across two
plates
The unit of capacitance is the farad (F)

Q
C
V

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2.1.1 Capacitance
1 farad is defined as the charge of 1 coulomb stored on

each of the conducting plates as a result of a potential

difference of 1 volt between the two plates.

1 F = 1 C V-1
Since the capacitance of a capacitor is constant, by

rearranging the equation,

Q
C
V

Q CV

Q V

The charge Q in a capacitor is directly proportional to

the potential difference V across the capacitor.

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2.1.2 Capacitors in Series

Equivalent
capacitor
C2
C3
C1
+Q -Q +Q -Q +Q -Q
V1

V2

-Q

V3
V

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+Q

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2.1.2 Capacitors in Series

When the circuit is complete, electrons are transferred onto

the plates such that the magnitude of the charge Q on each

plate is the same.
Thus the total charge (Q) on the equivalent capacitor is

Q Q1 Q2 Q3

The potential difference across each capacitor C1 , C2 and C3

are V1 , V2Qand V3 respectively.

Q Hence

V1

V2

C1

C2

Q Q Q

V V1 V2 V3
C1 C2 C3
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Q
V3
C3

V
1
1
1

Q C1 C2 C3
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2.1.2 Capacitor is QSeries

If C is the equivalent capacitor,Cand

, then

V 1
1
1
1

Q C C1 C2 C3
Therefore the equivalent (effective)

capacitance Ceq for n capacitors connected in

series is given by

1
1
1
1
1

...
Ceq C1 C2 C3
Cn
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capacitors connected
in series

2.1.2 Capacitors in
Parallel
+Q1

+Q2
+Q3

Equivalent
capacitor

C2
-Q1
C2

+Q
-Q2

C3
-Q3

-Q

Y
V

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2.1.2 Capacitors in
Parallel
The potential difference across each capacitor is the same

as the supply voltage (V). Thus the total potential difference

(V) on the equivalent capacitor is

V V1 V2 V3
The charges stored by each capacitor C1,C2 and C3 are Q1,Q2

and Q3 respectively. Hence

Q1 C1V

Q2 C2V

Q3 C3V

Since the total charge Q on the equivalent capacitor is given

by

Q Q1 Q2 Q3 C1V C2V C3V

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Q
C1 C2 C3
V
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2.1.2 Capacitors in
Parallel
Since the total charge Q on the equivalent

capacitor is given by

Q
C C1 C2 C3
V

Therefore the equivalent (effective) capacitance

Ceq for n capacitors connected in parallel is given

by

Ceq C1 C2 C3 ... Cn

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capacitors connected
in parallel

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Example 1
Determine the equivalent capacitance of the
configuration shown in figure below. All the
capacitors are identical and each has capacitance of
1 F.

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Example 1 - Solution
Label all the capacitors in the circuit.

To find the equivalent capacitance for circuit above, it is easier to solve it

Capacitors
C1, C
from the end of the circuit (left) to the terminal
(right)
shown
by3 connected
an arrow
2 and C
in figure above.
in series, then

1
1
1
1

C X C1 C2 C3
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1
C x F
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Capacitors CX and C4 connected in parallel:

CY C X C4

CY 1.33F
Capacitors CY, C5 and C6 connected in series, then

1
1
1
1

C z CY C5 C6

CZ 0.67 F

Capacitors Cz and C7 connected in parallel, then

Ceq CZ C7

Ceq 1.67 F
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Example 2

In the circuit shown in figure above, C1= 2.00 F, C2 = 4.00 F and

C3 = 9.00 F. The applied potential difference between points a and b is
Vab = 61.5 V. Calculate
a. the charge on each capacitor.
b. the potential difference across each capacitor.
c. the potential difference between points a and d.
similar to (Young & Freedman,pg.936.no.24.14)
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Example 2 - Solution

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Exercise 1
Four capacitors are connected as shown in figure below.

Calculate
a. the equivalent capacitance between points a and b.
b. the charge on each capacitor if
Given Vab=15.0 V. (Serway & Jewett,pg.823,no.21)
Answer : 5.96 F, 89.5 C on 20 F, 63.2 C on 6 F, 26.3 C on 15 F
and on 3 F
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Exercise 2
Find the equivalent capacitance between points a and b for the
group of capacitors connected as shown in figure below.
Take C1 = 5.00 F, C2 = 10.0 F and
C3 = 2.00 F. (Serway & Jewett,pg.824,no.27)
Answer : 6.04 F

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2.1.3 Energy Stored in A Capacitor

When the switch is closed in figure 2.6a, charges begin
accumulate on the plates.
A small amount of work (dW ) is done
in bringing a small amount of charge
(dQ) from the battery to the capacitor.
Q
This isdW
given
by
VdQ
V
and C
Note : No

Q
dW dQ
C

The total work W required to increase the

charge from zero to Q is givendW
by Q Q dQ

0 C

1 Q2
U W
2 C
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OR
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1
U CV 2
2

OR

charges will
accumulate
on each
accumulated
plate if the
capacitor is
not
charged.

1
U QV
2

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Example 3
Two capacitors, C1= 3.00 F and C2 = 6.00 F are connected in series and
charged with a 4.00 V battery as shown in figure below.

Calculate
a. the total capacitance for the circuit above.
b. the charge on each capacitor.
c. the potential difference across each capacitor.
d. the energy stored in each capacitor.
e. the area of the each plate in capacitor C 1 if the distance between two
plates is 0.01 mm and the region between plates is vacuum.
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(Given permittivity SF027
of free space, 0 = 8.85 x 10-12 F m-1)

Example 3 - Solution

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Example 4
Consider the circuit shown in figure below, where C 1= 6.00 F, C2 = 3.00 F
and V = 20.0 V.

Capacitor C1 is first charged by the closing of switch S1. Switch S1 is

then opened, and the charged capacitor is connected to the uncharged
capacitor by the closing of S2. Calculate the initial charge acquired by C1
and the final charge on each capacitor.
(Serway & Jewett,pg.824,no.23)

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Example 4 - Solution

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2.2 Charging And

Discharging of
Capacitors

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Learning Objectives
Define and use time constant, = RC
Sketch and explain the characteristic of Q-t

and I-t graph for charging and discharging of a

capacitor.
Use
Q Q0 e

t
RC

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Q Q0 (1 e

RC

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for discharging

)
for charging
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Charging a capacitors
through a
V
S
resistor
0

I
R
VR

C Q
A B

Vc

When the switch S is closed, current I0 immediately begins to flow through the
circuit and accumulates in the capacitor.
Electrons will flow out from the negative terminal of the battery, through the
resistor R and accumulate on the plate B of the capacitor.
Then electrons will flow into the positive terminal of the battery, leaving a positive
charge on the plate A.
As charge accumulates on the capacitor, the potential difference across it
increases and the current is reduced until eventually the maximum voltage across
the capacitor equals the voltage supplied by the battery, V0.
At this time, no further current flows (I = 0) through the resistor R and the charge
Q on the capacitor thus increases gradually and reaches a maximum value Q0.

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The number of charges in the

capacitor increases exponentially
until fully charged where Q0 is the
t
maximum number of charges.

Q Q0 1 e

RC

Q0
0.63Q0

As the number of charges increases,

the voltage across the capacitor
increases at the same rate.

V V0 1 e

I I0e
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t
RC

time , t

V0
0.63V0

RC

As the capacitor store more and

more charges, the rate of charge
flow (current) decreases and finally
when the capacitor is full, there will
be no more charges flow and the
current in the circuit falls to zero.

RC

V0
and I 0
R
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RC

time , t

I0

0.37 I 0

RC

time, t

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Discharging a capacitors
through
a
Q
S
A B
resistor
I

V0
R

When a capacitor is already charged to a voltage V 0 and it is allowed to

discharge through the resistor R as shown in figure above.

When the switch S is closed, electrons from plate B begin to flow through the
resistor R and neutralizes positive charges at plate A.
Initially, the potential difference (voltage) across the capacitor is maximum, V0
and then a maximum current I0 flows through the resistor R.
When part of the positive charges on plate A is neutralized by the electrons, the
voltage across the capacitor is reduced.
The process continues until the current through the resistor is zero.
At this moment, all the charges at plate A is fully neutralized and the voltage
across the capacitorSF027
becomes zero.
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The number of charges in the

capacitor decreases exponentially
until fully discharged when the
charges are reduced to
t zero.

Q Q0 e

Q0

RC

0.37 Q0

As the number of charges

decreases, the voltage across the
capacitor decreases at the same
rate.

V V0 e

I I0e

RC

and

Q0
I0
RC

Note : For calculation of current in

discharging process, ignore the
negative sign in the formula.
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time , t

V0

t
RC

As it discharges more charges, the

rate of charge flow (current)
increases until all the charges are
used up by the resistor.

RC

0.37V0

RC

time , t

RC

time , t

0.37 I 0

I0
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Time constant,
The quantity RC that appears in the exponent for

all equation is called time constant or

relaxation time of the circuit or mathematically

RC
Its dimension is the dimension of time, then

the unit is second (s).

It is a measure of how quickly the capacitor
charges or discharges.

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For charging process:

The time constant is defined as the time required for the
capacitor to reach (1-e-1)=0.63 or 63% of its maximum
charge/voltage.
OR
The time constant is defined as the time required for the
current to drop to 1/e = 0.37 or 37% of its initial value(I0).
For discharging process:
The time constant is defined as the time required for the
charge on the capacitor/voltage across it/current in the
resistor decrease to 1/e = 0.37 or 37% of its initial value.
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Example 5
In the RC circuit shown in figure below, the battery has fully charged the capacitor.

a
V0

R
C

Then at t = 0 s the switch S is thrown from position a to b. The battery voltage is

20.0 V and the capacitance C = 1.02 F. The current I is observed to decrease to
0.50 of its initial value in 40 s.
Determine
a. the value of R.
b. the time constant,
b. the value of the charge, Q on the capacitor at t = 0.
c. the value of Q at t = 60 s
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Example 5 - Solution

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2.3 Capacitors with

dielectrics

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2.3.1 Parallel Plate Capacitor

Consider two parallel metallic plate capacitor of equal area A

are separated by a distance d and the space between plates

is vacuum or air as shown in figure below.

One plate carries a charge +Q and the other carries a

charge Q then the potential difference between this two

parallel plates is V.
Because d is small compared to the dimensions of each
plate so that the electric field strength E is uniform
between them.
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 The magnitude of the electric field strength is given by

E
0

Q
and
A

Q
E
A0

(1)

Since Q=CV, equation (1) can be written as

CV
E
A0

(2)

Because the field between the plates is uniform, the

potential difference between the plates is

V Ed

Substituting this relation into eq. (2), thus the capacitance of

a parallel-plate capacitor is

CEd
E
A0

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The capacitance of a
parallel-plate capacitor is
proportional to the area
of its plates and
inversely proportional to
the plate separation

0 A
C
d

Parallel-plate capacitor
separated by a vacuum

A
C
d

Parallel-plate capacitor
separated by a dielectric
material

where
0 : permittivity of free space

( 0 8.85 x10 12 C 2 N 1 m 2 )

: permittivity of dielectric material

A : area of the plate
d : distance between the two plates
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Example 6
The plates of a parallel-plate capacitor are 8.0 mm apart and each has an area
of 4.0 cm2. The plates are in vacuum. If the potential difference across the
plates is 2.0 kV, determine
a. the capacitance of the capacitor.
b. the amount of charge on each plate.
c. the electric field strength was produced.
d. the surface charge density on each plate.
(Given permittivity of free space, 0 = 8.85 x 10-12 C2 N-1 m-2)

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Example 6 - Solution

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Example 7
A circular parallel-plate capacitor with radius of 10 cm is connected to a 15 V
battery. After the capacitor is fully charged, the battery is disconnected without
loss of any of the charge on the plates. If the separation distance between
plates is 35 mm and the medium between plates is air.
a. Find the amount of charge on each plate.
If their separation is increases to 50 mm after the battery is disconnected,
determine
b. the amount of charge on each plate.
c. the potential difference between plates.
d. the capacitance of the capacitor.
(Given permittivity of free space, 0 = 8.85 x 10-12 C2 N-1 m-2)

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Example 7 - Solution

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Exercise 3
a)

A parallel-plate, air-filled capacitor has circular plates separated by 1.80

mm. The charge per unit area on each plate has magnitude 5.60 pC m-2.
Find the potential difference between the plates of the capacitor.
(Young & Freedman,pg.934.no.24.4)

Answer:1.14 mV
b)

An electric field of 2.80x105 V m-1 is desired between two parallel plates

each of area 21.0 cm2 and separated by 0.250 cm of air. Find the charge
on each plate. (Giancoli,pg.628.no. 14)
Answer:5.20x10-9 C

(Given permittivity of free space, 0 = 8.85 x 10-12 C2 N-1 m-2)

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Exercise 4
A 10.0 F parallel-plate capacitor with circular plates is connected to a
12.0 V battery. Calculate
a. the charge on each plate.
b. the charge on each plate if their separation were twice while the
capacitor remained connected to the battery.
c. the charge on each plate if the capacitor were connected to the
12.0 V battery after the radius of each plate was twice without
changing their separation (Young & Freedman,pg.934.no.24.5)
Answer: 120 C, 60 C, 480 C

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2.3.2 Dielectric
Definition is defined as the non-conducting (insulating)

material placed between the plates of a capacitor.

When a dielectric (such as rubber, glass or waxed paper) is
inserted between the plates of a capacitor, the capacitance
increases.
This capacitance increases by a factor or r which is called the
dielectric constant (relative permittivity) of the material.
The advantages of inserting the dielectric between the plates of
the capacitor are
Increase in capacitance
Increase in maximum operating voltage.
Possible mechanical support between the plates, which
allows the plates to be close together without touching,
thereby decreasing d and increasing C.
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Dielectric Constant, ( r)
Definition is defined as the ratio between the

capacitance of given capacitor with space

between plates filled with dielectric, C with the
capacitance of same capacitor with plates in a
vacuum, C0.
C

Mathematically,

C0

It is dimensionless constant (no unit).

A
0 A
For parallel-platesCcapacitor:

then
d

0 A

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d and

or 0
0
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: permittivity of dielectric material 53

From the definition of the capacitance,

Q
Q
C and C0
V0
V
V0

Q is constant

V : potential difference across capacitor with dielectric

V0 : potential difference across capacitor in vacuum

From the relationship between E and V for uniform

electric field,

V Ed and V0 E0 d

E0

E
E0 : electric field strength of the capacitor in vacuum

E0 d

Ed

E : electric field strength of the capacitor with dielectric

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 The dielectric strength is defined as the electric field

strength at which dielectric breakdown occurs and

the material becomes a conductor.

Since V=Ed for a uniform electric field, the dielectric

strength determines the maximum potential difference

that can be applied across a capacitor per meter of plate
spacing.

C
V0 E0

C0 0 V
E

Summary :

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Example 8
A parallel-plate capacitor has plates of area A = 2x10 -10 m2 and separation d =
1 cm. The capacitor is charged to a potential difference V0 = 3000 V. Then the
battery is disconnected and a dielectric sheet of the same area A is placed
between the plates as shown in figure below.
In the presence of the dielectric, the potential difference across
the plates is reduced to 1000 V. Determine

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a. the initial capacitance of the air-filled capacitor.

dielectric b. the charge on each plate before the dielectric is
inserted.
c. the capacitance after the dielectric is in place.
d. the relative permittivity.
e. the permittivity of dielectric sheet.
f. the initial electric field.
g. the electric field after the dielectric is inserted.
(Given permittivity of free space, 0 = 8.85 x 10-12 F m-1)
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Example 8 - Solution

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2.3.3 Dielectric Effect On

The Parallel Plate Capacitors
(a) Polar dielectrics

The molecules of some dielectrics like water have

permanent electric dipole moments where the

concentration of positive and negative charges are
separated.
When no electric fields is present the polar molecules are
oriented randomly as shown in figure (a). The electric
dipoles tend to line up when the external electric field is
applied to them as in figure (b).
The alignment of
the electric dipoles
produces an electric
field that is directed
opposite the applied
field and smaller in
(a)
magnitude.
(b)
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(b) Non-polar dielectrics

Non-polar molecules such as glass or paraffin oil have their

positive and negative charge centres at the same point in

the absence of an external electric field as shown in figure
(c).

When the non-polar molecules are placed in an external

electric field, these centres become separated slightly and

the molecules acquire induced dipole moments. These
induced dipole moments tend to align with the electric
field and the dielectric is polarized as shown in figure (d).

(c)
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(d)
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(c) Dielectric in a parallel-plate capacitor

Consider a capacitor whose plates are separated by a

dielectric material (either polar or non-polar). This capacitor

has a charge +Q on one plate and Q on the other, so that
the electric field E0 is produced between the plates. Because
of the electric field, all the dielectric molecules tend to
become oriented as shown in figure (e).

(e)
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 The net effect in either case polar or non-polar is as if there

were a net negative charge on the outer edge of the

dielectric facing the positive plates and a net positive
charge on the opposite side as shown in figure (f).

(f)
The electric field lines do not pass through the dielectric but
instead end of charges induced on the surface of the
dielectric as shown in figure 2.8f. Therefore the electric field
within the dielectric is less than in air.

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 According to figure (g), the electric field within the dielectric

E is given byE E E
0
ind
E E0 Eind
E0
SinceE
, then

E0
E0 Eind

OR

Eind

1
E0 1

E0 : electric field due to the charges on the plates

Eind : electric field due to the induced charge on the

surfaces of the dielectric
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