Physics is Awesome by Cikgu Az

1. A pure capacitor has no resistive or inductive effect.

2. When a capacitor is connected to an a.c supply, electric charge flows into
and out of the capacitor plates.
3. Suppose that the alternating voltage applied across a
capacitor of capacitance C is given by

V = V0 sin ωt

then charge in a capacitor, Q = CV

= CV0 sin ωt

𝑑𝑄
using I=
𝑑𝑇
𝑑
Current in capacitive circuit, I = (CV0sin ωt )
𝑑𝑇
= CV0ω cos ωt
𝜋
I = I0 sin (ωt + )
2
where I0 = CV0ω
 π
Current I leads voltage V by radians.
2

I0 I0
V0
V0
From I0 =𝐶V0𝜔, The capacitive reactance,

𝑉0 𝑉𝑟.𝑚.𝑠
Xc = =
𝐼0 𝐼𝑟.𝑚.𝑠
1
= ,ω = 2πf
𝜔𝐶

1
Xc =
2𝜋𝑓𝐶

As the frequency approaches zero, the capacitive reactance approaches

infinity, and hence the current approaches zero. This makes sense because
the circuit approaches direct current conditions as 𝜔 approaches zero, and
the capacitor represents an open circuit.
 Power In a Pure Capacitor Circuit
1. For an a.c circuit containing a capacitor,
𝜋
the current I leads the voltage by radians.
2
V= V0 sin ωt
𝜋
I = I0 sin (ωt + )
2
= I0 cos ωt

2. The variation of power P in the capacitor varies with the time, t according
to the equation
P = IV
= I0 cos ωt (V0 sin ωt )
= I0 V0 sin ωt cos ωt
1
= I0 V0 sin 2ωt
2
= 𝐼𝑟.𝑚.𝑠 𝑉𝑟.𝑚.𝑠 sin 2ωt
 𝑇
3. From t = 0 to , the power is positive.
4
This means that energy is supplied to the
capacitor by the voltage supply. The energy
stored in the capacitor is maximum at time
𝑇
t = when the voltage V is maximum.
4
This happens when the charge in the capacitor
is maximum. Energy is stored in the electric
field between the plates of the capacitor. Variation of power P with time t
for a pure capacitor.
𝑇 𝑇
4. From t = to t = , the power is negative. Energy stored in the capacitor is now
4 2
returned to the voltage supplied. The net energy dissipated from the capacitor
during the half cycle is zero.

𝑇 3
5. Similarly the energy supplied to the capacitor from time t = to t = T
2 4
3
is returned to the voltage supply from time t = T to t = T.
4
No energy is dissipated from the pure capacitor for a complete cycle.
The mean power = 0