CAPACITANCE

Capacitance of Parallel Plate Capacitors

The capacitance of a parallel plate capacitor can be

calculated based on its dimensions using the equation
below.

Where:
C – capacitance
ε – the permittivity of the dielectric
A – area of the plates
d – separation of the plates

The dielectric is an insulator placed between the

plates in a capacitor. It serves the purpose of
introducing an electric field inside the capacitor
and therefore increasing the capacitance of the
capacitor.
Relative Permittivity
The RELATIVE PERMITTIVITY or DIELECTRIC CONSTANT, εr, of a dielectric material is defined by:

C – the capacitance of the capacitor when the dielectric is between its plates

C0 – the capacitance of the capacitor when there is free space (vacuum)

OR
between its plates

ε – the permittivity of the dielectric

εo – the permittivity of free space

Note:

 Relative permittivity is dimensionless and has no units

 By definition, the relative permittivity of free space is equal to unity
 The absolute permittivity of a dielectric is given as:

Energy Stored on a Capacitor

In order to place a charge on a capacitor some work must be done. The work which is done is
transferred to stored energy in the electric field between the plates. If we have an isolated
conductor at potential, V, this value of V represents the energy required to place a unit charge
on the conductor. If a small charge, δQ is now placed on the conductor the small work, δW,
done in placing this charge is given by:

Integrating the above to give the total work, W, done in placing the total charge, Q, on the
capacitor and hence giving it a potential, V, we get:

This equation can also be derived as the work done/energy stored on a capacitor is calculated
as the area under a charge-voltage graph as shown in the two graphs below.
Equations of Discharging Capacitors
1. Charge, Q, at a time, t

Qo, Io, Vo, represent the maximum charge, current and

voltage respectively
2. Current, I, at a time, t

R – resistance

C – capacitance
3. Voltage, V, at a time, t
RC – time constant of the capacitor. This determine the
rate at which the capacitor charges and discharges.

Electrical Quantities and Equations

1. Q – charge
2. I – current
3. t – time
4. V- voltage
a. W – work
R – resistance
b.
P - power

Definitions of Electrical Units

COULOMB
The Coulomb is defined as the quantity of charge which passes any section of a conductor in
one second when a current of one Ampere is flowing.
Hence 1C (Coulomb) = 1 As (Ampere-second)

VOLT
If the work done in causing one Coulomb of electric charge to flow between two points is one
Joule, then the potential difference between the poins is one Volt.
Hence 1 V (Volt) = 1 J C-1 (Joule per Coulomb)

Recall: the potential difference between two points in an electric field is equal to the work done
in moving unit charge from the region of lower potential to that of higher potential.
OHM
The Ohm is defined as the resistance of a conductor if a potential difference of one Volt across
it causes a current of one Ampere to flow.
Hence 1 Ω (Ohm) = 1 V A-1 (Volt per Ampere).

Resistance, Resistivity and Ohm’s Law

The resistance, R, of a conductor is defined as the ratio of the potential difference, V, across its
ends to the current, I, flowing through it.

Ohm’s Law
This law states that the current through a conductor is directly proportional to the potential
difference across its ends provided the temperature and other physical conditions are constant.
Any conductor which obeys this law is called an Ohmic conductor.
In relationship form:
k – constant
R – resistance

Resistivity
The resistance of a conductor depends on the following basic parameters:
 the type of material the conductor is made of
 the size (dimensions) of the conductor
The following relationships exist for conductors

and

combining gives

R – resistance of conductor
l – length of the conductor
A – cross-sectional area of conductor
ρ – constant called the resistivity