Chapter (9):

Capacitance
• Capacitors are widely used in electrical circuits.
• Capacitors are used in radio, television and other electrical appliances.
• Capacitors are of different types and shapes.

Capacitor
A capacitor is an electrical device that stores electrical energy in the form of an electric field.
(OR)
A component of electronic systems which can be charged and discharged, and which may be
used to create time delays.
• A capacitor consists of two conductors separated by a small distance.
• An insulator is inserted between the conductors of the capacitor.
• The conductors of a capacitor have charges of equal magnitude and opposite signs.
• If one conductor of a capacitor has a charge of +Q then the other has – Q.

The Charge of the Capacitor

The magnitude of the charge on each conductor of a capacitor is called the charge of the
capacitor.

The Potential Difference of the Capacitor

The potential difference between two conductors of a capacitor is called the potential
difference of the capacitor.

Capacitance of a Capacitor
The capacitance of a capacitor is the ratio of the charge to the potential difference between
two conductors of that capacitor.

𝑄
𝐶=
𝑉

where C = the capacitance of the capacitor

Q = the charge of the capacitor
V = the potential difference of the capacitor
• The SI unit of the capacitance is coulomb per volt (C V-1) which is expressed as
farad (F).

1 farad (F)
If the potential difference of the capacitor is one volt (1 V) when it is given a charge one
coulomb (1 C), its capacitance is one coulomb per volt (1 C V-1). 1 C V-1 is expressed as
1 F (farad).
• The unit farad (F) is named in honour of Michael Faraday.
• The unit F (farad) is a large unit. Smaller unit of farad are used for practical purposes.
• 1 microfarad (F) = 10-6 F, 1 nanofarad (nF) = 10-9 F, 1 picofarad (pF) = 10-12 F.
• The charge of a capacitor Q is found to be directly proportional to its potential
difference V. When Q on the capacitor is increased, V also increases proportionally.
𝑄
By the equation 𝐶 = 𝑉 , the capacitance of a capacitor is constant.
• The capacitance of the capacitor does not depend on Q and V.

1|Page
 • The capacitance of a capacitor depends on its size and shape, and on the nature of the
insulator between the two conductors.

• The symbol for a capacitor is two parallel lines of the same length.
• The symbol for a battery is two parallel lines of different lengths, the longer for
positive terminal and the shorter for negative terminal.

(a) (b)
Symbols for a capacitor and a battery

• A parallel plate capacitor is the simplest capacitor. A parallel plate capacitor consists
of two parallel metal plates separated by air or other insulating material. The plates of
a capacitor are connected to a battery.
• If a conductor is given some charge, its potential will also change.

Charging a capacitor

Electric capacity
The amount of charge given to a conductor to change its potential by one unit is called the
electric capacity of that conductor.
𝑄
• The electric capacity of a conductor, C, can be calculated using the equation 𝐶 = 𝑉

Parallel-Plate Capacitor
• A parallel plate capacitor consists of two parallel metal plates separated by air or other
insulating material.
• One plate of it has a charge +Q and the other plate has a charge –Q. The plates of a
capacitor are connected to a battery. The potential difference between the plates is V.
• The area of each plate is A, and the distance between the plates is d.
• An insulating medium of permittivity  is placed between the plates.

2|Page
The electric field intensity between the two plates of a parallel-plate capacitor is
𝑉
E = 𝑑 …………….(1)
where V = the potential difference of the capacitor
d = the distance between the two plates.

The magnitude of the charge per unit area of the plate is called the surface charge density.
𝑄
 = 𝐴 …………….(2)
where  = surface charge density, Q = charge, A = area.

The electric field intensity E between the two plates of a capacitor is related to  as
𝜎
E = 𝜀 …………….(3)

𝑉 𝜎
From (1) and (3), =
𝑑 𝜀
𝑉 𝑄
From (2), = 𝜀𝐴
𝑑
Thus
𝜀𝐴 𝑄
=
𝑑 𝑉
𝑄 𝜀𝐴
Since 𝐶 = 𝑉 , C = 𝑑
The permittivity of a medium, , is related to that of vacuum 0, as
 = 0
where  = the dielectric constant or the relative permittivity of the medium.
(0= 8.85  10-12 C2 N-1 m-2)
The capacitance of a parallel plate capacitor is
𝜅𝜀0 𝐴
C= 𝑑

For a vacuum  is 1 and for others  > 1.

The insulating materials used in capacitors are also called dielectrics.
For a given medium, the capacitance of a parallel-plate capacitor is directly proportional to
the area of the plate and inversely proportional to the distance between the plates.

Dielectric Constant
The ratio of the capacitance of a capacitor with an insulating material between its two
conductors to the capacitance of that capacitor with vacuum between its two conductors is
called the dielectric constant of that insulating material.
𝐶
𝜅=
𝐶0

where  = dielectric constant of the insulator between the plates

C = the capacitance with an insulating material
C0 = the capacitance without an insulating material

• The potential difference of the capacitor is found to decrease when an air medium
between its plates is replaced by an insulating material.
By V = Ed, V decreases as E decreases.
• Since the charge of the capacitor does not change at all, the capacitance of a capacitor
increases when an insulating material is inserted between the plates.
3|Page
 • The capacitance of a capacitor increases when an insulating material is inserted
between the plates or when the existing insulating material is replaced with another
insulating material having larger dielectric constant.

Energy of a capacitor
• Before a capacitor is charged each of its conductors has no charge, and the potential
difference between two conductors is zero.
• Suppose that after capacitor is charged each conductor receives a charge of magnitude
Q and the potential difference between the conductors is V.
• If 𝑉̅ = the average potential difference of the capacitor before and after it is charged
0+𝑉 𝑉
𝑉̅ = =
2 2

• If the work done for transferring charge of Q between the two conductors is W, then
1
𝑊 = 𝑉̅ 𝑄 = 𝑄𝑉
2
• This amount of work is the electrical energy stored by the capacitor in the form of an
electric field.
𝑄
• Since 𝐶 = 𝑉 , the energy of the capacitor can be expressed as,

1
𝑊 = 2 𝑄𝑉
1
𝑊 = 2 𝐶𝑉 2
1 𝑄2
𝑊=2 𝐶

9.4 Capacitance of Parallel-plate capacitors

Capacitors in parallel
Three capacitors having the capacitances C1, C2 and C3 respectively, are connected in
parallel.
All the capacitors have the same potential difference (V).
But they carry different amount of charges.
𝑄1 𝑄2 𝑄3
𝐶1 = , 𝐶2 = , 𝐶3 =
𝑉 𝑉 𝑉

Q1 = C1V, Q2 = C2V, Q3 = C3V

If Q is the total charge on the three capacitors,

then Q = Q1 + Q2 + Q3 Capacitors in parallel
Q = C1 V + C 2 V + C3 V
Q = V (C1+ C2 + C3)
𝑄
= C1 + C 2 + C3
𝑉

If the equivalent capacitance of three capacitors connected in parallel is C, then

𝑄
𝐶=
𝑉

Then, we get C = C1+ C2 + C3

4|Page
If n capacitors having capacitances C1, C2, C3, ..., Cn and charges Q1, Q2, Q3, ..., Qn
respectively, are connected in parallel, the equivalent capacitance C is given as
C = C1+ C2 + C3 + .... + Cn

The equivalent capacitance of the capacitors connected in parallel is the sum of the
capacitances of the individual capacitors.

Capacitor in series
Three capacitors having the capacitances C1, C2 and C3 respectively, are connected
in series.
All the capacitors have the same amount of charge (Q).
But they have different potential difference.
𝑄 𝑄 𝑄
𝐶1 = 𝑉 , 𝐶2 = 𝑉 , 𝐶3 = 𝑉
1 2 3

If the equivalent capacitance of three capacitors

connected in series is C, then Capacitors in series
𝑄
𝐶=
𝑉

But the potential difference between A and D is

V = V1 + V2 + V3
𝑄 𝑄 𝑄 𝑄
= 𝐶 +𝐶 +𝐶
𝐶 1 2 3

1 1 1 1
= + +
𝐶 𝐶1 𝐶2 𝐶3

If n capacitors having capacitances C1, C2, C3, ..., Cn, respectively, are connected in
series, the equivalent capacitance C is

1 1 1 1 1
= + + +⋯+
𝐶 𝐶1 𝐶2 𝐶3 𝐶𝑛

When the capacitors are connected in series, the reciprocal of the equivalent capacitance is
the sum of the reciprocals of their individual capacitances.

5|Page
 Different kinds of capacitors
Examples
1. When a parallel-plate capacitor is connected to a 50 V battery each plate receives a
charge of magnitude 0.002 C. Find its capacitance.
2. The area of each plate of a parallel plate capacitor is a 2 m2 and the distance between
the two plates is 4 mm. If the potential difference between the two plates is 12 000 V
and the dielectric constant of the material inserted between them is 3, find
(i) the capacitance of the capacitor
(ii) the magnitude of the charge on each plate
(iii) the electric field between the plates and
(iv) the energy stored by the capacitor.
3. If two capacitors having the capacitances of 4 F and 12 F are connected in series,
find the equivalent capacitance of the capacitors. If the potential difference of the
combination is 200 V, find the potential difference of the 12 F capacitor.
4. A capacitor having a capacitance of 2 F and a charge of 2000 C is connected in
series with another capacitor having a capacitance of 8 F and a charge of 1600 C.
(i) Find the potential difference of the individual capacitors prior to the
connection.
(ii) Find the potential difference of the individual capacitors after the connection.
5. In the arrangement of the capacitors shown in figure, C1 = 2 F, C2 = 3 F, C3 = 7 F,
C4 = 4 F and V = 240 V. Find the potential difference and the charge on each
capacitor.

6|Page
Exercises
1. (a) What electrical device is a capacitor?
(b) When an insulating material is inserted between the conductors of a capacitor
in a vacuum, does its capacitance increase or decrease? Explain.

(a) Capacitor
A capacitor is an electrical device that stores electrical energy in the form of an
electric field.
𝐶
(b) 𝜅 = 𝐶
0
where  = dielectric constant of the insulating material between the plates
C = the capacitance of the capacitor with an insulating material
C0 = the capacitance of the capacitor without an insulating material.
Since  > 1, we have C > C0.
Thus, the capacitance of a capacitor increases when an insulating material is
inserted between the plates.

2. State whether the following are TRUE (T) or FALSE(F).

(i) If one conductor of a capacitor has a charge +Q, the other has a charge -2Q.
(ii) The charge of the capacitor is the magnitude of the charge on each conductor.
(iii) The potential difference of the capacitor is the potential difference between two
conductors of the capacitor.

3. Define (a) capacitance (b) 1 farad (c) dielectric constant

4. (a) When the charge on a capacitor is increased, does its capacitance increase? Explain.
(b) What must be done to increase the capacitance of a capacitor?

(a) Its capacitance does not increase.

The charge of a capacitor Q is found to be directly proportional to its potential
difference V. When Q on the capacitor is increased, V also increases
proportionally.
𝑄
By the equation 𝐶 = 𝑉 , the capacitance of a capacitor is constant.
𝜅𝜀 𝐴
(b) C = 𝑑0
where C = the capacitance of the capacitor
 = the dielectric constant of the insulating material between the plates
0 = the permittivity of vacuum
A = area of each plate of the capacitor
d = distance between the plates of the capacitor
To increase the capacitance of the capacitor,
1. The area of the plates must be increased.
2. The distance between the plates must be reduced.
3. An insulating material having large value of  must be inserted between the
plates of the capacitors.

7|Page
5. (i) When the distance between the two parallel plates of a capacitor is doubled, by
what per cent does its capacitance change?
(ii) When the distance between two parallel plates having the charges of equal
magnitude and opposite sign is reduced, what will happen to the potential
difference between the plates?

6. Capacitors can be connected either in parallel or in series.

(i) In which connection of the capacitors has each capacitor the same charge?
(ii) In which connection of the capacitors is the potential difference of each
capacitor the same?

7. A capacitor has a capacitance of 5.0 F. How much of the charges should be removed
to decrease potential difference between its plates by 40 V?

8. The plates of a parallel- plate capacitor of capacitance C are brought together to a third
of their original separation. Find the new capacitance.

9. (i) Is there any kind of material that, when inserted between the plates of a
capacitor, reduces its capacitance?
(ii) The plates of a parallel-plate capacitor of capacitance C are moved apart to
double their original separation. What is the new capacitance?

(i) No.
𝐶
𝜅=
𝐶0
where  = dielectric constant of the insulating material between the plates
C = the capacitance of the capacitor with an insulating material
C0 = the capacitance of the capacitor without an insulating material.
Since  > 1, we have C > C0.

10. (i) How much work must be done to charge a 12 F capacitor until the potential
difference between its plates is 250 V.
(ii) A parallel-plate capacitor of capacitance C is given the charge Q and then
disconnected from the circuit. How much work is required to pull apart the
plates of this capacitor to twice their original separation?

11. The plates of a parallel-plate capacitor are 50 cm2 in area and 1 mm apart.
(i) What is its capacitance?
(ii) When the capacitor is connected to a 45 V battery, find the charge on either
plate?
(iii) What is the energy of the capacitor?

12. The capacitance of a parallel - plate capacitor is increased from 8 F to 50 F when a

sheet of glass is inserted between its plates. What is the dielectric constant of the glass?

8|Page
13. (a) What potential difference must be applied across a 10 F capacitors if it is to
have an energy content of I J?
(b) A parallel-plate capacitor has a capacitance of 5 F when air is between its
plates and 30 F when this space is filled with a sheet of glass. Find the
dielectric constant glass.

14. (i) Draw a labelled diagram of a parallel plate capacitor.

(ii) Give the relationship between capacitance, voltage and charge. A 2 F capacitor
is charged to a potential of 200 V and then disconnected from the supply.
(iii) Express 2 F in farads.
(iv) What is the size of the charge on each plate of the capacitor?
(v) One plate of the capacitor carries a positive charge; the other plate is earthed.
Explain why the earthed plate carries a negative charge.

15. In an experiment with a capacitor, the charge which was stored was measured for
different values of charging potential difference. The results are tabulated below.
(i) Plot a graph of charge stored on the Y-axis against potential difference on
X-axis.
(ii) Use the graph to calculate the capacitance of the capacitor used in the
experiment.
Charge stored (C) 7.5 30 60 75 90
Potential difference (V) 1.0 4.0 8.0 10.0 12.0

16. Three capacitors have capacitances of 5 F, 10 F and 15 F.

Find the equivalent capacitance when they are connected (i) in parallel (ii) in series.

17. Find the capacitance that can be obtained by combining three 10 F capacitors in all
possible ways.

18. The equivalent capacitance is 10 F when n identical capacitors are connected in

parallel and 0.4 F when they are connected in series. Determine n.

19. A 35 F capacitor is needed, but only 10 F capacitors are available. How should a
minimum number of 10 F capacitors be connected so that the combination has a
capacitance of 35 F?

20. Three capacitors have capacitance 3 F, 10 F and 15 F. How should they be
connected to get the equivalent capacitances of (i) 2 F (ii) 9 F (iii) 12.5 F?

21. Three capacitors of capacitances 3 F, 10 F and 15 F are connected in series with a
100 V battery. What are the charge and the potential difference on each capacitor?

9|Page
22. The parallel combination of 4 F and 12 F capacitors is connected in series with 8 F
capacitor, and the whole arrangement is supplied with 200 V battery.
(i) Find the capacitance of the electric circuit.
(ii) Find the charge on each capacitor.
(iii) Find the potential difference of the 8 F capacitor.
(iv) Find the potential difference across the parallel combination.

23. Find the equivalent capacitance between A and B of the arrangement of capacitors
shown in figure.

10 | P a g e