Capacitors

MODULE #4
Content

• Capacitance

• Combination of capacitors

• Energy stored in a capacitor

• Energy density

10/29/2025 PHY 108 2

Capacitor
• A capacitor consists of two conductors separated by an insulator. The conductors are called plates.

• A potential difference exists between the plates due to the presence of the charges.

The capacitance C of a capacitor is the ratio of the magnitude of the charge on either conductor to the
magnitude of the potential difference between them.

𝑄 𝑄
𝐶= = [Coulomb/Volt]
The SI unit of capacitance is farad. ∆𝑉 𝑉

Farad is a very large unit of capacitance. Typical values are in the range of microfarad (F) to picofarad (pF).

10/29/2025 PHY 107 3

Capacitor
• Capacitors vary in size and shape

• The net charge of a capacitor is always zero.

APPLICATIONS:

• Store electric potential energy

• Filter unwanted signals

• Delay circuit

Symbol of a capacitor

10/29/2025 PHY 108 4

Calculating Capacitance
Always assume that there is a charge 𝑸 on the plates.

STEPS:

1. Calculate the electric field 𝐸 between the plates in terms of this charge, using Gauss’ law.

2. Calculate the potential difference ∆𝑉 between the plates

3. Calculate capacitance.

10/29/2025 PHY 108 5

Calculating Capacitance (Cont’d)
STEP 1: CALCULATE THE ELECTRIC FIELD
𝜀0 ර 𝐸. 𝑑𝐴Ԧ = 𝑄

• Vectors E and dA must be parallel to each other.

• E must be uniform

𝑄 = 𝜀0 𝐸𝐴

STEP 2: CALCULATE THE POTENTIAL DIFFERENCE

𝑓
𝑉𝑓 − 𝑉𝑖 = − න 𝐸 ∙ 𝑑𝑙Ԧ
𝑖

+
∆𝑉 = න 𝐸 𝑑𝑙 The path of integration starts on the negative plate
− and ends on the positive plate

10/29/2025 PHY 108 6

Calculating Capacitance
#1 Parallel Plate Capacitor

Step # 2: 𝑄 = 𝜀0 𝐸𝐴
+ 𝑑
Step # 3: ∆𝑉 = න 𝐸 𝑑𝑙 = 𝐸 න 𝑑𝑙 = 𝐸𝑑
− 0

𝑞 𝜀0 𝐸𝐴 𝜀0 𝐴
Step # 4: 𝐶 = = =
∆𝑉 𝐸𝑑 𝑑

𝐹
𝜀0 = 8.85 × 10−12 = 8.85 𝑝𝐹/𝑚 (A simpler form of unit than obtained from Coulomb’s law)
𝑚

A parallel plate capacitor has an area 𝐴 = 2.0 × 10−4 𝑚2 and a separation 𝑑 = 1.0 𝑚𝑚. Find its capacitance.

10/29/2025 PHY 108 7

Calculating Capacitance: Example #2
#2 Spherical Capacitor

2 1 𝑄
Step # 2: 𝑄 = 𝜀0 𝐸𝐴 = 𝜀0 𝐸 × 4𝜋𝑟 𝐸= ×
4𝜋𝜀0 𝑟 2
+ 𝑎
𝑄 𝑑𝑟 𝑄 1 1 𝑄 𝑏−𝑎
Step # 3: ∆𝑉 = න 𝐸 𝑑𝑙 = − න 2= − =
− 4𝜋𝜀0 𝑏 𝑟 4𝜋𝜀0 𝑎 𝑏 4𝜋𝜀0 𝑎𝑏

𝑄 𝑏−𝑎
∆𝑉 =
4𝜋𝜀0 𝑎𝑏

𝑄 𝑎𝑏
Step # 4: 𝐶= = 4𝜋𝜀0 × 𝑏−𝑎
∆𝑉

The capacitance of a spherical capacitor depends only on two radii.

10/29/2025 PHY 108 8

Calculating Capacitance : Example #3
#3 Cylindrical Capacitor
𝑄 1
Step # 2: 𝑄 = 𝜀0 𝐸𝐴 = 𝜀0 𝐸 × 2𝜋𝑟𝐿 𝐸= ×
2𝜋𝜀0 𝐿𝑟
+ 𝑎
𝑄 𝑑𝑟 𝑄 𝑏
Step # 3: ∆𝑉 = න 𝐸 𝑑𝑙 = − න = ln
− 2𝜋𝜀0 𝐿 𝑏 𝑟 2𝜋𝜀0 𝐿 𝑎

𝑄 𝐿
Step # 4: 𝐶= ∆𝑉
= 2𝜋𝜀0 × ln 𝑏Τ
𝑎

The capacitance of a cylindrical capacitor depends only on geometrical factors – length and two radii

10/29/2025 PHY 108 9

Capacitor Arrangements
Capacitors in Series

When a potential difference 𝑉 is applied across several capacitors connected in series, the capacitors have
identical charge 𝑞. The sum of the potential differences across all capacitors is equal to the applied
potential difference.

𝑞 𝑞 𝑞
𝑉1 = 𝑉2 = 𝑉3 =
𝐶1 𝐶2 𝐶3

Capacitors are in series 𝑉 = 𝑉1 + 𝑉2 + 𝑉3

1 1 1 1
= + +
𝐶𝑒𝑞 𝐶1 𝐶2 𝐶3

10/29/2025 PHY 108 10

Capacitor Arrangements
Capacitors in Parallel

When a potential difference 𝑉 is applied across several capacitors connected in parallel, that potential
difference 𝑉 is applied across each capacitor. The total charge stored on the capacitors is the sum of the
charges stored on all the capacitors.

𝑞1 = 𝐶1 𝑉 𝑞2 = 𝐶2 𝑉 𝑞3 = 𝐶3 𝑉

For capacitors in parallel: 𝑞 = 𝑞1 + 𝑞2 + 𝑞3

𝐶𝑒𝑞 = 𝐶1 + 𝐶2 + 𝐶3

10/29/2025 PHY 108 11

Equivalent Capacitance
Exercise # 1 Exercise # 2

To calculate charge on each plate of a capacitor, remember

(a) Series capacitors have the same charge as their equivalent capacitor.
(b) Parallel capacitors have the same potential difference as their equivalent capacitor.

10/29/2025 PHY 108 12

Equivalent Capacitance Calculation
Example # 3

For the circuit below, the battery emf ℰ = 10 𝑉.

(a) Calculate its equivalent capacitance.
(b) Determine the charge stored in each capacitor.
(c) Find the voltage drop across each capacitor.

10/29/2025 PHY 108 13

Energy of a Capacitor
• Work must be done to charge a capacitor.

• The amount of work required to charge a capacitor is equivalent to the electric potential energy
stored in a capacitor in the form of an electric field.

At a certain instant, let’s assume that the potential difference is 𝑉and a charge of 𝑞 is stored in the
capacitor. To add an extra increment of charge, work done will be equal to

𝑞
𝑑𝑊 = 𝑉𝑑𝑞 = 𝑑𝑞
𝐶
1 𝑄𝑞 𝑞2
To charge the capacitor to a value of 𝑄 : 𝑊 = න 𝑑𝑊 = න 𝑑𝑞 =
𝐶 0 𝐶 2𝐶
1
Electrical Potential energy: 𝑈 = 𝐶𝑉 2
2

10/29/2025 PHY 108 14

 Energy Density
Energy density is defined as the potential energy per unit volume.

1 2
Energy stored in a capacitor : 𝑈 = 𝐶𝑉
2
For a parallel plate capacitor: 𝜀0 𝐴
𝐶=
𝑑

1 𝜖0 𝐴 1
𝑈= (𝐸𝑑)2 = 𝜖0 𝐸 2 (𝐴𝑑)
2 𝑑 2

𝑼 𝟏
𝑬𝒏𝒆𝒓𝒈𝒚 𝒅𝒆𝒏𝒔𝒊𝒕𝒚 𝒖 = 𝑨𝒅
= 𝟐 𝜺𝟎 𝑬𝟐

Although the above equation is derived for a parallel plate capacitor, it holds generally for any point in an electric field
( irrespective of the source of electric field). If an electric field exists at any point in space, that point can be assumed as a
site of electric potential energy with a density.

10/29/2025 PHY 108 15

Energy Density
Exercise # 4
An isolated conducting sphere whose radius 𝑅 is 6.85𝑐𝑚 has a charge of 𝑞 = 1.25𝑛𝐶.

(a) How much potential energy is stored in the electric field of this charged conductor?

(b) What is the energy density at the surface of the sphere?

10/29/2025 PHY 108 16

Capacitor with a Dielectric
• A dielectric material is used inside a capacitor to increase its capacitance.

• A dielectric is a non-conducting material such as rubber, glass, or waxed paper.

• It helps to maintain a physical separation between the plates.

• Dielectric materials normally break down less readily than air, charge leakage can be minimized especially
when high voltage is applied. As a result, dielectrics help to increase the maximum operating voltage of a
capacitor.

10/29/2025 PHY 108 17

Capacitor with a Dielectric
• For a parallel plated capacitor, capacitance increases by a factor 𝜅, known as dielectric constant.

𝜅𝜀0 𝐴
𝐶=
𝑑

In a region completely filled by a dielectric material of dielectric constant 𝜅, all electrostatic equations
containing the permittivity constant 𝜀0 are to be modified by replacing 𝜀0 with 𝜅𝜀0 .

1 𝑞
𝐸= ×
4𝜋𝜅𝜀0 𝑟 2

For a fixed distribution of charges, the effect of dielectric is to weaken the electric field.

10/29/2025 PHY 108 18

Dielectric Materials
Material 𝜅 Dielectric Strength* (𝟏𝟎𝟔 𝑽Τ𝒎)
Air (dry) 1.00059 3

Mylar 3.2 7

Paper 3.7 16

Porcelain 6 12

Tantalum Pentoxide 21 - 52 400

Strontium Titanate 300 37.5

Water 80 -

*The dielectric strength equals the maximum electric field that can exist in a dielectric without electric
breakdown. However, these values depend strongly on the presence of impurities and flaws in the
materials.

10/29/2025 PHY 108 19

Capacitors with a Dielectric
Exercise # 5

A parallel plate capacitor whose capacitance is 13.5 𝑝𝐹 is charged by a battery to a potential difference 𝑉 =
12.5 𝑉 between its plates. The charging battery is now disconnected and a porcelain slab is slipped between
plates.

(a) What is the potential energy before the slab was inserted?

(b) What is the potential energy of the capacitor-slab device after the slab is inserted?

10/29/2025 PHY 108 20

Capacitors with Dielectrics
• The capacitor is filled with two dielectrics

• The capacitor may be considered to consist of two capacitors

(𝐶1 and 𝐶2) connected in parallel

𝐶 = 𝐶1 + 𝐶2

𝜀0 𝐴 𝜅1 𝜀0 (𝐴Τ2) 𝜅2 𝜀0 (𝐴Τ2)
𝐶= (𝜅1 +𝜅2 ) 𝐶1 = 𝐶2 =
2𝑑 𝑑 𝑑

𝜅𝜀0 𝐴
If 𝜅1 = 𝜅2 = 𝜅 𝐶=
𝑑

10/29/2025 PHY 108 21

Dielectric and Gauss’ Law
No dielectric With dielectric

𝑞 − 𝑞′
𝜀0 ර 𝐸 ∙ 𝑑𝐴Ԧ = 𝜀0 𝐸𝐴 = 𝑞 − 𝑞 ′ 𝐸=
𝜀0 ර 𝐸 ∙ 𝑑 𝐴Ԧ = 𝜀0 𝐸0 𝐴 = 𝑞 𝜀0 𝐴
𝑞
𝑞 − 𝑞′ =
𝜅
𝑞
𝐸0 =
𝜀0 𝐴
𝜀0 ර 𝜅𝐸 ∙ 𝑑𝐴Ԧ = 𝑞 Gauss’ Law for dielectric

10/29/2025 PHY 108 22