Capacitance

CHAPTER

24

function
A charged capacitor behaves

much like a battery;

Main Idea
A store of electrical energy
through creation of an electric
field .

Example of its basic function

A camera flash has a capacitor.

It is first charged; storing energy.
It is then suddenly discharged; the
stored energy is suddenly released
causing the lamp to flash brightly .

Symbol

Two parallel lines of equal length

and thickness.

Practical capacitors (such as the

electrolytic type) the parallel plates
are marked + and -.

Capacitor (basic structure)

Parallel plates a small distance apart

separated by a gap or a insulator
The layer of dielectric and parallel plates
are then rolled up to form a capacitor

Capacitors
Operating
voltage
Capacitanc
e

+
_

Capacitors are labelled with:

i) Capacitance;
Generally how capable it is to store
charge
ii) Maximum safe voltage;
exceeding this may cause charge to
leak into opposite plates i.e.
dielectric breaks down.

Capacitance
Definition :

The capacitance of a capacitor is

defined as the ratio of charge to
potential difference for a conductor.
Q
C
V

Q CV

Measures the amount of charge stored per

volt
Unit : C/V
unit of capacitance: CV-1 or F, Farad (too
large)

Capacitance

Example 2
A capacitor stores 1.0 x 10-3C of charge
when charged to 500 V. Calculate its
capacitance.
C =Q/V
C = (1.0 x 10-3 ) / 500
= 2.0 x 10-6 F
= 2.0 F

Charging a capacitor

To charge a capacitor simply connect it

across a battery as shown in the circuit
diagram.
How exactly do the charges flow to the
plates?
Remember there is a dielectric between
the plates!

Charging a capacitor
Remember:
Positive charges do
NOT flow.

When a battery is connected to the

capacitor electrons flow from the negative
terminal of the battery to the plate A of
the capacitor connected to it.
Battery (EMF) pushes electrons through
the wire away from its negative terminal.

Charging a capacitor
B

Plate A becomes more negative

and so becomes less attractiveto
the electrons
Flow of electrons gradually
reduces which means the current

Charging a capacitor
B

Electrons are repelled from plate B

making it (charged) positive because
of build up of electron on plate A.
Electrons will leave plate B complete
the circuit.

Charging a capacitor
B

As the charges build up, the p.d.

across the capacitor builds up as well.
Charged stored is directly proportional
to the potential difference across the
plates.
VQ
Also, ifVQ Then, Q/V= (constant)

Charge Vs Potential Difference

VQ - therefore straight line through origin

Where Q/V= C = slope of graph
C, the capacitancebecause it isthe charge
stored per unit pd across the plates

Charging a capacitor
B

When the p.d. across the capacitor

equals to the e.m.f. of the battery the
process stops.
The capacitor is then said to be fully
charged.
Equal positive and negative charges
therefore appear on the plates.

Charging & Discharging

Circuit above shows charging and

discharging of a capacitor
Position 1 ~ Charging (creating electric
field)
Position 2~ Discharging through the
resistor,R
(Electric field collapsing)
*Resistor is used to control the time for

Position 2 (discharging)
At position 2

charged capacitor
acts rather like a
battery.

Charge gets discharged through resistor, R

Resistor,R acts as the load to the circuit which enables

charge to drop in a measurable amount of time

With out R , there would be a short circuit, discharge of

Capacitor too fast

Position 2 (discharging)

When the switch is closed, electrons on

plate B are driven round the circuit to

neutralise the positive charge on plate A.
The charge on both plates falls.

Position 2 (discharging)

As the discharging process takes place, all

of the following quantities fall exponentially
NOT linearly.
- Charge, Q
- current, I
- p.d. across capacitor ,V

Charge, Q vs time (DIScharging)

Equation Of
Graph
Q=Q0e-(t/RC)

Charge Q will decay exponentially with

time
Q0= initial charge on the capacitor
Q= charge on the capacitor at any time
t= time
RC= time constant

Voltage vs time (DIScharging)

Equation Of
Graph
V=V0e-(t/RC)

Charge Q will decay exponentially with

time
But Since
VQ where Q= CV
Voltage will also decay the same way

Current vs time (DIScharging)

o The current in the circuit will decrease
as charge is flowing out from capacitor
to R, resistor (load)
o Flow of I current will be dissipated as
heat across R

Current vs time (DIScharging)

Therefore charging current I

,decreases exponentially.

Just like p.d. and charge Q of the

capacitor decrease exponentially.

Io
R

Discharging a capacitor
The charging current
decreases exponentially.
The area bounded by the
graph gives the quantity
of charge stored.
Q = area under the
graph
Q= It

Position 1 (Charging)
At position 1

discharged
capacitor acts like
a load

Capacitor , draws charges from the EMF.

Resistor,R acts to stabilize the circuit which enables

charge to rise in a measurable amount of time

With out R , there would be a short circuit, charge of

Capacitor too fast

Charge, Q vs time
(Charging)

Q= CV
At max charge
Qo= C (EMF)

When capacitors charge there is an

accumulation of charge, Q
Initially Charge, Q increases at a high
rate
As time t, increases then rate of

Charge, Q vs time
(Charging)

Q= CV
At max charge
Qo= C (EMF)

Capacitor will charge exponentially to

the EMF of the cell
Equation of the graph

Voltage vs time (charging)

Equation Of
Graph

Charge Q will increase exponentially with

time
But Since
VQ where Q= CV
Voltage will also increase the same way

Current vs time (charging)

o The current in the circuit will ALSO
decrease (just like discharging graph)
o As charge flows into capacitor the
electrons accumulated at the plates will
repel electrons from EMF, reducing flow
of I.

Current vs time (charging)

Therefore charging current I

,decreases exponentially.

Io
R

Energy Stored in a Capacitor

V=W/
Q

-Charging a capacitor requires work

done on Charge ,Q by the battery (EMF)
to move the charge to the capacitor
- Work done by EMF to cause separation
of charge on the capacitor plates. Hence
energy is stored.
- Energy is transferred by the power

Capacitance

Capacitance

Energy questions

Energy Stored in a Capacitor

V=W/Q

-Previously we know that

Voltage = Work/Charge, Work done per
unit charge
So Work Done ,W = Charge,Q x
Voltage,V

Charge Vs Potential Difference

-As the capacitor
charges, the voltage
across it increases
- Therefore VQ,
graph of V vs Q is
plotted
-Since Work = QV
-Therefore
-Area Under the Curve = energy stored by
Capacitor
- E = QV

Charge Vs Potential Difference

Small
Area

Larger
Area

From Graph:
Initially it is relatively easy; not much work
need to be done because the force of
repulsion is small.
As more and more charge builds up on the
negative plate, more work is needed; the

Charge Vs Potential Difference

Note:-Work done by Battery , W = QV

But Energy stored by Capacitor , W = QV
Work Done by EMF = Energy Stored by
Capacitor
Some energy is lost as heat energy in the
circuit as

Energy equations
W = QV
substituting for Q = C V
gives:
W = CV

substituting for V = Q / C
gives:
W = Q 2/ C

Investigating energy stored

Variable
Voltage
supply

The capacitor is charged up when the

switch is connected to the power supply.
It is then flip over to the joulemeter. The
capacitor discharges releasing all its
energy; as indicated by the joulemeter
reading.
The
above is repeated using different
voltage each time. A graph of J against V
will yield a straight line.

Energy equations

Energy questions

Charge vs Energy
Do capacitors store energy or
Charge ??

Q = C Vor W = QV

Charge vs Energy
Water Pump Analogy
Heavy hollow iron sphere
which is completely full of
water

Hoses are
connected to the
two halves of the
sphere, where they
act as connecting
wires

two regions of water

symbolize the capacitor
plates.
Divided in half with a
flexible rubber plate
through its middle
(analogy for the dielectric)

Water Pump Analogy

Pump is connected to one end to
pump water in to tank

Water Flow
Out (To
pump)

Water Flow In
(From Pump)

Water Flow Water Flow In

Out (To
(From Pump)
pump)

Pump will push water from one half of

the iron sphere and simultaneously
force it out through the other.

Water Pump Analogy

more the rubber plate
bends
Higher the back-pressure
the plate exerts forcing
water out

Water
Flow Out

Water
Flow In

Finally the pressure-diff on both sides

will be large enough that the, rubber
plate will not expand anymore
A "charged" hydraulic capacitor is
achieved

Water Pump Analogy

When the pump pushed
water into one side, this
extra water also forced
some water out of the
other side.
Water
Flow Out

Water
Flow In

No water passed through the rubber

The water currentfrom pump pushed on
the rubber plate and bent it sideways.

Water Pump Analogy

Work is being done on
rubber plate by the flow
rate of water current

Water
Flow Out

Where is the energy stored?

Water
Flow In

Not in the water, but in the elastic

potential energy of the stretched rubber
plate.
The rubber plate is an analogy to the
electrostatic field in the dielectric of a

Water Pump Analogy

It would be misleading to
say "this iron sphere is a
device for accumulating
water",
No extra water was
Water
Flow In injected into the sphere
while it was being
How much water have I put into my iron
"charged.
sphere?

Water
Flow Out

None! The sphere started out full, and for

every bit of water that came out of one
side an equal amount of was put in the

Water Pump Analogy

(Discharging)

Water
Flow Out

Water
Flow In

Water Flow Out

Water Flow In

Connect a pre- filled (with water) to the

tank.
Pre filled Hose is analogy for current
carrying hose

Water Pump Analogy

(Discharging)

Water
Flow Out

Water
Flow In

Water Flow Out

Water Flow In

.
As soon as the connection is complete, the
forces created by the bent rubber plate will
drive a sudden flow of water through this
already-full hose.

Water from one side will be pushed into the

other side, creating a current flow until the

Water Pump Analogy

Water
Flow Out

Water
Flow In

Water
Flow Out

Water
Flow In

I've discharged my hydraulic capacitor.

How much water has been removed from
the sphere?

Water Pump Analogy

Water
Flow Out

Water
Flow In

Water
Flow Out

Water
Flow In

None!
A momentary current has flowed
through the sphere device, and the
rubber plate is back to the middle
again,

Water Pump Analogy

Water
Flow Out

Water
Flow In

Water
Flow Out

Water
Flow In

The stored energy has been

"discharged," but no water has
escaped.

The hydraulic capacitor has lost its

energy, but still contains the same
amount of water.

Water Pump Analogy

Water
Flow Out

Water
Flow In

Water
Flow Out

Water
Flow In

The Elastic Potential of the rubber will

be converted Electric Energy causing a
current to flow
Not 100% Efficient therefore.
The water has become a bit warm
through friction against the surfaces of

Past Year Question 9702/42 O/N

2012 Q5
Explain Why Capacitor is said to
store energy and not Charge ??
[4 marks]

Past Year Question 9702/42 O/N

2012 Q5

Capacitors
In
Series
&
Parallel

Capacitors In Series
What is the combine (total) capacitance
when two or more capacitors are
connected in series?

Capacitors In Series

When the voltage is first applied, the charge

q arrives on the right-hand plate of C 3.
This repels charge q off the left-hand plate
of C3 leaving it positive.
Charge q now arrives on the right-hand
plate of C2.
This repels
charge q off the left-hand plate
of C2 leaving it positive.

Capacitors In Series

Finally all the three capacitors will

have the same charge; regardless of
their capacitance.
The total p.d. across all three
capacitors will be equal to the total of
the p.d. across all the capacitors.

Capacitors In Series
VT

CT

CT

CT

Example

Example 1
Calculate the total capacitance of a
200 F capacitor and a 400 F
capacitor connected in series.

Capacitors In Parallel
What is the combine (total) capacitance when two or more
capacitors are connected in series?

Capacitors In Parallel

The voltage across C1 and C2 is the

same.
C1 stores charge Q1 and C2 stores
charge
Q
.
2
The total charge QT stored is the sum
of Q1 and Q2.

Capacitors In Parallel

CT
CT

CT

CT

Example 2
Calculate the total capacitance two
200 F capacitors connected in
parallel.

CT

Calculate the total capacitance of the

capacitors connected as shown.

CT

CT

CT

CT

Questions

Questions

Sharing charge, sharing energy

A capacitor C1 is charged. It is then
connected to another capacitor C2.
What will happen to the charge
and the energy stored in C1?
C1

+q

C2

-q

Example 3
Consider two 100 mF capacitors. One is charged
to 10 V, disconnected from the power supply, and
connected across the other. Calculate the energy
stored by the combination.

Initial charge

Initial stored energy

E= 5J

Example 3
Consider two 100 mF capacitors. One is charged
to 10 V, disconnected from the power supply, and
connected across the other. Calculate the energy
stored by the combination.
The combined capacitance

Ctotal = C1 + C2 = 200 mF

The p.d. across the combined capacitance

Example 3
Consider two 100 mF capacitors. One is charged
to 10 V, disconnected from the power supply, and
connected across the other. Calculate the energy
stored by the combination.
The combined
Ctotal = C1 + C2 = 200
capacitance
mF
The p.d. across the combined capacitance
= 5v
Final charge , Q=CV
Q = 200mF x 5V = 1C charged conserved

The energy stored by the new combination

The charge stored remains the same but

half the energy stored is lost!

Sharing charge, sharing energy

A capacitor C1 is charged. It is then
connected to another capacitor C2.
What will happen to the charge
and the energy stored in C1?
C1

+q

-q

C2

1. Charge will be conserved

2. Some energy will be lost

1) Charge is conserved because..

+q

-q

C1

C2

When connected up it is equivalent to C1

and C2 in parallel!
The charge will be redistributed between C 1
and C2 till the p.d. across both capacitors
are
The equal.
total charge q and q must be equal to
1

q.
(Conserved)

2) Charge is conserved because..

+q1

-q1

C1
+q2

-q2

C2

The energy stored in each capacitors

can be calculated using the equation;
E = CV2
This energy is lost in the connecting
wires as heat as electrons transfered
between the capacitors.

Capacitance

Further Reading :
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