SYNOPSIS - ELECTROSTATICS AND CAPACITORS
ELECTROSTATICS
Charge acquired by a body q = ne
where e = 1.6 10-19 C and n is the number of electrons transferred from or to a
body.
6.25 1018 electrons make a charge of magnitude 1C
Specific charge of a particle = (C/kg)
Electrostatic force between two static charges is F =
where = 9 109 Nm2C-2 and o = 8.854 10-12 (C 2N-1m-2 or F/m)
Electrostatic force between two charges is not altered due to the presence of a
third charge in their vicinity.
Dielectric constant r = =
Dielectric constant for metal is
Surface density of charge = , (Cm-2)
In case of a charged sphere = where r is the radius of the sphere
In a charged conductor where r is the radius of curvature or curvature
For two charged spheres of radii r1 and r2 connected by a wire
Linear charge density = (Cm-1) where l is the length of the conductor.
Charge density = (Cm-3) where V is the volume of the conductor.
Electric intensity E = = = =- (N/C or V/m)
Electric intensity at a point due to a point charge or due to a charged sphere is E
= where d –distance of the point from the centre of the sphere
Electric intensity at a point close to the surface of a charged sphere of radius ‘r’ is E
Electric intensity at any point inside a charged conductor is zero.
A system of two equal and opposite charges seperated by a certain distance
constitute an electric dipole.
Electric intensity at a point on the axial line due to a short dipole is E =
d – distance between the charges; r – distance of the point from the centre of the
dipole.
At a point on the perpendicular bisector of the axis of the dipole E =
Dipole moment, p = q d (Cm) d- distance between the two charges
Work done in rotating the electric dipole through an angle to the direction of field
E is W = p E (1- cos) p – dipole moment
Torque on a electric dipole placed in a uniform electric field E, = pEsin, is the
angle between p and E
Potential energy stored in the dipole when rotated through an angle with the
electric field is U = -pEcos
Electric potential at a point on the axis of a dipole distant r from the centre V
=
Electric potential at a point on the perpendicular bisector is zero. (Equipotential
line.)
Electric potential at a point due to a point charge or due to a charged sphere V
= where d – distance of the point from the centre of sphere
Electric potential at a point close to the surface of a charged sphere of radius r is
V=
Electric potential at any point inside a charged conductor is same and is equal to
that on its surface.
Potential energy stored in a charge of q or work done in moving a charge between
two points W = qV where V is the p.d between the points.
P.E of system of two charges U = r- distance between two charges
P.E of system of three charges U =
Energy gained by a charge when moves in an uniform electric field, qV = ½ mv 2
Where m is the mass and v is the velocity of the charged particle.
1eV = 1.6 10-19 J
K.E of electron or proton in eV = p.d applied in volts in accelerating it
For two charged spheres of radii r1 and r2, ratio of their potential is when
their surface densities are same.
Electric flux = (Vm or Nm2/C)
Inward flux is taken as –ve and outward flux is taken as +ve.
Force acting on a charged sphere suspended by a string in a uniform horizontal
electric field is F = mg tan where is angle made by string with vertical
Work done in moving a test charge between two points on an equipotential surface
is zero.
CAPACITORS
Capacitance of a conductor C = (farad)
Capacitance of spherical conductor C = 4orR R – radius of the sphere
Energy stored in a charged capacitor U = ½ CV 2 = ½ QV = ½
If U is the energy stored in a capacitor then energy supplied by the charging
battery is 2U
i.e. 50% of the total energy supplied by the battery is stored in the capacitor.
When ‘n’ identical charged drops each of radius ‘r’, capacitance C, potential V,
surface density of charge and energy U are combined to form a large drop then
Radius of larger drop R = r n1/3
Capacitance of larger drop C' = C n1/3
Electric potential of the larger drop V ' = V n2/3
Surface density of larger drop ' = n1/3
Energy stored in the larger drop U' = U n5/3
Capacitance of a parallel plate capacitor C =
A – area of the plates,
d - distance between the plates
When two dielectric slabs of same area (A) but different thickness (d 1 & d2) are
inserted between the plates of a capacitor then capacitance of such capacitor
C= where and are the dielectric constant of the medium.
When two dielectrics slabs of same thickness (d) but different areas (A 1 & A2) are
introduced between the plates of a capacitor then capacity of such a capacitor is
C= (A1 + A2 )
When a metal of thickness t is introduced between the plates C’ = =
C- Capacitance of the capacitor before introducing the metal.
Capacitance of a spherical capacitor C = 4or when the outer sphere is
earthed.
Capacitance of a spherical capacitor C = 4or when the inner sphere is
earthed.
Capacitance of a cylindrical capacitor C = =
Effective capacitance of series combination of capacitors +…..+
Energy stored in the system of capacitors in series, U s = ½ CSV2
For two capacitors in series effective capacitance C S =
Effective capacitance of parallel combination of capacitors C P = C1+C2+C3+.....+ Cn
Energy stored in the system of capacitors in parallel, U P = ½ CPV2
For n identical capacitors in parallel C P = nC
For n identical capacitors in series C S = C/n
Ratio of the effective capacity of n identical capacitors first connected in parallel
and then in series is CP = n2 CS
Common p.d when two charged capacitors are connected in parallel,
V= =
+ve sign when like charged plates are connected together
-ve sign when unlike charged plates are connected together
Loss of energy due to sharing of charges between two charged capacitors of
capacity C1 and C2 in parallel is U = ½ Cs (V1 ~ V2)2 where Cs is the effective
capacity of two capacitors in series and V 1 and V2 are the potential to which they
are charged.
When a dielectric slab is introduced in a charged capacitor disconnected from a
battery then charge remains constant, capacitance (C) increases but p.d (V),
electric field (E) and energy (U) decreases.
In such a capacitor, dielectric constant r = = =
When a dielectric slab is introduced in a charged capacitor connected to a battery
then p.d and electric field remains constant but charge (Q), capacitance (C) and
energy (U) increases. In such a capacitor dielectric constant, r = = =
Energy density of a charged capacitor:
Energy density = energy stored per unit volume
i.e., U =
Dielectric strength: It is the maximum electric field (or potential gradient) that the
dielectric medium can tolerate without electric breakdown.
For reasons of safety, the maximum electric field actually applied is only 10 % of
the breakdown intensity or potential gradient.
**
** A graph of Q Vs V in a capacitor is a straight line with slope = C and area below
graph = energy stored in the capacitor.
EXPERT / II PUC / CET – PHYSICS / SYNOPSIS