Capacitors

Capacitors
• A capacitor is a device that stores electric
charge.

• A capacitor consists of two conductors

separated by an insulator.

• Capacitors have many applications:

– Computer RAM memory and keyboards.
– Electronic flashes for cameras.
– Electric power surge protectors.
– Radios and electronic circuits.
 Types of Capacitors

Parallel-Plate Capacitor Cylindrical Capacitor

A cylindrical capacitor is a parallel-plate capacitor that has
been rolled up with an insulating layer between the plates.
 Capacitors and Capacitance
A capacitor in a simple
electric circuit.

Charge Q stored:

Q = CV
The stored charge Q is proportional to the potential
difference V between the plates. The capacitance C is
the constant of proportionality, measured in Farads.
Farad = Coulomb / Volt
 Parallel-Plate Capacitor
• A simple parallel-plate
capacitor consists of
two conducting plates
+Q -Q
of area A separated by
a distance d.
• Charge +Q is placed
on one plate and –Q on +Q -Q
the other plate.
• An electric field E is
created between the
plates.
 What is a capacitor?
• Electronic component
• Two conducting surfaces separated by an insulating
material
• Stores charge
• Uses
– Time delays
– Filters
– Tuned circuits
Capacitor construction
• Two metal plates
• Separated by insulating
material
• ‘Sandwich’ construction
• ‘Swiss roll’ structure
• Capacitance set by...

A
C=ε
d
 Defining capacitance
• ‘Good’ capacitors store a lot of charge…
• …when only a small voltage is applied
• Capacitance is charge stored per volt
• Capacitance is measured in farads F
– Big unit so nF, mF and µF are used

Q
C=
V
 Graphical representation

Equating to the equation of a straight line

Q Q Gradient term is
C= the capacitance
V of the capacitor
Charge stored is
Q = CV directly
proportional to

y = mx the applied
voltage
V
 Energy stored by a capacitor
• By general definition E=QV
– product of charge and voltage
• By graphical consideration...
Q
1
E = QV
2
Area term is
the energy
stored in the
V capacitor
 Other expressions for energy
• By substitution of Q=CV 1
E = QV
2
1
E = CV 2

2
2
1Q
E=
2 C
 Charging a capacitor
• Current flow
I
• Initially
– High
• Finally
– Zero
• Exponential model
• Charging factors
– Capacitance
– Resistance
t
 Discharging a capacitor
• Current flow
• Initially t
– High
– Opposite to
charging
• Finally
– Zero
• Exponential model
• Discharging factors
– Capacitance
– Resistance
I
 Discharging a Capacitor
• Initially, the rate of discharge is high because the
potential difference across the plates is large.
• As the potential difference falls, so too does the
current flowing
• Think pressure

As water level
falls, rate of
flow decreases
• At some time t, with charge Q on the
capacitor, the current that flows in an
interval ∆t is:

I = ∆Q/∆t

• And I = V/R
• But since V=Q/C, we can say that
I = Q/RC
• So the discharge current is proportional to
the charge still on the plates.
• For a changing current, the drop in
charge, ∆Q is given by:

∆Q = -I∆t (minus because charge Iarge

at t = 0 and falls as t increases)

• So ∆Q = -Q∆t/RC (because I = Q/RC)

• Or -∆Q/Q = ∆t/RC
 Voltage and charge characteristics
V V
or or
Q Q

t t
• Charging Discharging

−t −t
V = V0 (1 − e RC
) Q = Q0 e RC
 Dielectrics
• A dielectric is an insulating material (e.g.
paper, plastic, glass).

• A dielectric placed between the conductors of

a capacitor increases its capacitance by a
factor κ, called the dielectric constant.
C= κCo (Co=capacitance without
dielectric) ε0 A A
C =κ =ε
d d
• For a parallel-plate capacitor:
ε = κεo = permittivity of the material.
 Properties of Dielectric Materials
• Dielectric strength is the maximum electric field that a
dielectric can withstand without becoming a conductor.
• Dielectric materials
– increase capacitance.
– increase electric breakdown potential of capacitors.
– provide mechanical support.

Dielectric Dielectric
Material
Constant κ Strength (V/m)
air 1.0006 3 x 106
paper 3.7 15 x 106
mica 7 150 x 106
strontium titanate 300 8 x 106
 Practice Quiz
• A charge Q is initially placed on a parallel-plate
capacitor with an air gap between the electrodes,
then the capacitor is electrically isolated.
• A sheet of paper is then inserted between the
capacitor plates.
• What happens to:
a) the capacitance?
b) the charge on the capacitor?
c) the potential difference between the plates?
d) the energy stored in the capacitor?
 Capacitors in Parallel
Q = Q1 + Q2 + Q3
= C1V + C2V + C3V
= (C1 + C2 + C3 )V
= CeqV
Capacitors in Parallel:
Ceq = C1 + C2 + C3 + ...
 Capacitors in Series
V = V1 + V2 + V3
Q Q Q
= + +
C1 C2 C3
 1 1 1 
= Q + + 
 C1 C2 C3 
Q
=
Ceq
1 1 1 1
For n capacitors = + + + ...
in series: Ceq C1 C2 C3
Circuit with Capacitors in Series and
Parallel
C1 C2
15 μF 3 μF C4
20 μF
a b

6 μF
C3
?

Cab
What is the effective capacitance Cab between points a and b?
 Time constant
• Product of
– Capacitance of the capacitor being charged
– Resistance of the charging circuit
– CR
• Symbol τ ‘Tau’
• Unit seconds

Q V
CR = ×
V Q ÷t
CR = t
 When t equals tau during discharge
−t
Q = Q0 e RC • At t = tau the capacitor
has fallen to 37% of its
original value.
− RC • By a similar analysis tau
Q = Q0 e RC can be considered to be
the time taken for the
capacitor to reach 63% of
−1
Q = Q0 e full charge.

Q = Q0 × 0.37
 Graphical determination of tau
• V at 37% V
• Q at 37% or
• Compared to initial Q
maximum discharge

t =τ
t = RC
C= t t
R
 Logarithmic discharge analysis
−t
• Mathematical
consideration of discharge
V = V0 e RC

• Exponential relationship
V −t
• Taking natural logs = e RC
equates expression to
‘y=mx+c’
V0
ln V − ln V0 = − t
• Gradient is -1/Tau

RC
−1
ln V = t + ln V0
RC
Logarithmic discharge graph

lnV

Gradient term
is the -1/Tau

t
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• Capacitors