Transcript Capacitance
Capacitance
PHY 2049 Chapter 25
Chapter 25
Capacitance
In this chapter we will cover the following topics:
-Capacitance C of a system of two isolated conductors.
-Calculation of the capacitance for some simple geometries.
-Methods of connecting capacitors (in series , in parallel).
-Equivalent capacitance.
-Energy stored in a capacitor.
-Behavior of an insulator (a.k.a. dielectric) when placed in the
electric field created in the space between the plates of a
capacitor.
-Gauss’ law in the presence of dielectrics.
(25 - 1)
Capacitors
Capacitor
Composed of two metal plates.
Each plate is charged
one positive
one negative
Stores energy
SYMBOL
A simple Capacitor
TWO PLATES
WIRES
Battery
INSIDE THE DEVICE
What is STORED in the capacitor?
An Electric Field
Energy
Charge
All three
None of these
Two Charged Plates
(Neglect Fringing Fields)
d
Air or Vacuum
E
-Q
Area A
V=Potential Difference
+Q
Symbol
ADDED CHARGE
Where is the charge?
- Q-
d
Air or Vacuum
E
Area A
V=Potential Difference
+
+
+
+
+
+ +Q
AREA=A
s=Q/A
One Way to Charge:
Start with two isolated uncharged plates.
Take electrons and move them from the +
to the – plate through the region between.
As the charge builds up, an electric field
forms between the plates.
You therefore have to do work against the
field as you continue to move charge from
one plate to another.
Capacitor
More on Capacitors
Gauss
d
q
E dA
Air or Vacuum
-Q
E
+Q
Area A
V=Potential Difference
Gaussian
Surface
0
EA 0 A EA
Q
0
Q 0 EA
Q
(Q / A) s
E
0 A
0
0
Same result from other plate!
DEFINITION - Capacity
The Potential Difference is
APPLIED by a battery or a
circuit.
The charge q on the
capacitor is found to be
proportional to the applied
voltage.
The proportionality
constant is C and is
referred to as the
CAPACITANCE of the
device.
q
C
V
or
q CV
UNITS
A capacitor which
acquires a charge
of 1 coulomb on
each plate with the
application of one
volt is defined to
have a capacitance
of 1 FARAD
One Farad is one
Coulomb/Volt
q
C
V
or
q CV
Continuing…
q
C
V
q sA 0 EA
so
C
0 A
d
0 AV
d
The capacitance of a
parallel plate
capacitor depends
only on the Area and
separation between
the plates.
C is dependent only
on the geometry of
the device!
After the switch is closed, how
much charge passed through the
capacitor?
V
C/V
V/C
CV
C+V
P
S
n̂
Capacitance of a parallel plate capacitor
The plates have area A and are separated
by a distance d . The upper plate has a
charge q and the lower plate a charge - q
N
We apply Gauss' law using the Gaussian surface S shown in the figure.
The electric flux EA cos 0 EA.
q
q
q
From Gauss' law we have: EA E
o
o
A o
The potential difference V between the positive and the negative plate is
given by: V Eds cos 0 E ds Ed
The capacitance C
qd
A o
A
q
q
o
V qd / A o
d
A o
C
d
(25 - 6)
Units of 0
Coulomb 2 Coulomb 2
0
2
m Joule
Nm
Coulomb 2
m Coulomb Volt
Coulomb Farad
m
m Volt
and
0 8.85 10 12 F / m 8.85 pF / m
pico
Simple Capacitor Circuits
Batteries
Apply potential differences
Capacitors
Wires
Wires are METALS.
Continuous strands of wire are all at the same
potential.
Separate strands of wire connected to circuit
elements may be at DIFFERENT potentials.
NOTE
Work to move a charge from one side
of a capacitor to the other is = qEd.
Work to move a charge from one side
of a capacitor to the other is qV
Thus qV = qEd
E=V/d As before
TWO Types of Connections
SERIES
PARALLEL
Parallel Connection
q1 C1V1 C1V
q2 C2V
q3 C3V
QE q1 q2 q3
V
CEquivalent=CE
QE V (C1 C2 C3 )
therefore
C E C1 C2 C3
Series Connection
q
V
-q
C1
q
-q
C2
The charge on each
capacitor is the same !
Series Connection Continued
V V1 V2
q
V
C1
-q
q
-q
C2
q
q
q
C C1 C 2
or
1
1
1
C C1 C 2
More General
Series
1
1
C
i Ci
Parallel
C Ci
i
Example
C1
C2
(12+5.3)pf
V
C3
C1=12.0 uf
C2= 5.3 uf
C3= 4.5 ud
More on the Big C
E=0A/d
+dq
+q
-q
We move a charge
dq from the (-)
plate to the (+)
one.
The (-) plate
becomes more (-)
The (+) plate
becomes more (+).
dW=Fd=dq x E x d
dW dq Ed
Gauss
s
q 1
E
0 A 0
So….
q 1
dW
d dq
A 0
Q
W U
0
d
q2 d
q2 1
qdq
A 0
2 A 0
2 ( A 0 )
d
or
Q 2 C 2V 2 1
U
CV 2
2C
2C
2
Not All Capacitors are Created
Equal
Parallel
Plate
Cylindrical
Spherical
Spherical Capacitor
Gauss
q
E dA
4r E
2
0
q
0
q
E (r )
2
4r 0
Calculate Potential Difference V
positive. plate
Eds
V
negative. plate
q 1
V
2 dr
40 r
b
a
(-) sign because E and ds are in OPPOSITE directions.
Continuing…
q
b
dr
q
1
V
( )
2
40 a r
40 r
q 1 1
q ba
V
40 a b 40 ab
q
ab
C 40
V
ba
Lost (-) sign due to switch of limits.