Electric Circuit Theory 2

1
Review of Capacitors and Inductors

Module 001 Review of Capacitors and Inductors

Course Learning Outcomes:

1. Recall and be able to use the equations for voltage, current, power, and
energy in a capacitor
2. Recall and be able to use the equations for voltage, current, power, and
energy in an inductor
3. Be able to simplify series-parallel combinations of capacitors/inductors
into a single capacitor/inductor.

Capacitor
A capacitor is a passive element designed to store energy within its electric field. Capacitors
are the one of the most common electrical components. It is used extensively in electronics,
communications, power systems and computers.
A capacitor consists of two conducting plates separated by an insulator (or dielectric). In
many applications, the plates may be aluminum foil and the dielectric may be air, mica,
paper, or ceramic. Capacitors can be used to block dc, pass ac, phase shift, store energy,
start motors, and suppress noise.

Figure 1. Insert schematic symbol for capacitor here

Capacitance
When a voltage source is connected to the capacitor, a positive charge q is deposited on one
plate and a negative charge on the other. The capacitor is said to store the electric charge.
The charge stored, q, is directly proportional to the voltage, v, so that
𝐸𝑞 1: 𝑞 = 𝐶𝑣
where C is the capacitance of the capacitor. The unit for capacitance is the farad (F), named
after English physicist Michael Faraday (1791-1867). Note that 1 farad = 1 coulomb/volt.
The capacitance does not depend on q or v. It depends on the physical dimensions of the
capacitor. The charge stored on a capacitor is given by
ЄA
𝐸𝑞 2: 𝐶 =
𝑑

Course Module
Where A is the surface area of each plate, 𝑑 is the distance between the plates, and Є is the
permittivity of the material between the plates. This equation only applies to parallel-plate
capacitors.
The energy stored in the electric field between the two plates of the capacitor is
1
𝐸𝑞 3: 𝑤 = 𝐶𝑣 2
2
Substituting Eq 2 into Eq3, we get
q2
𝐸𝑞 4: 𝑤 =
2𝐶
Note the following important properties of a capacitor:
1. A capacitor is an open circuit to dc.
2. The voltage on a capacitor cannot change instantaneously.
3. The ideal capacitor does not dissipate energy.
4. A real, nonideal capacitor has a parallel-model leakage resistance.
Example:
Compute the charge stored on a 5-pF capacitor with 10V across it. Then solve for the
capacitor’s stored energy.
Solution:
𝑞 = 𝐶𝑣 1 2
𝑤= 𝐶𝑣
𝑞 = (5 × 10−12 )(10) 2
𝑞 = 50 pC 1
𝑤 = (5 × 10−12 )(10)2
2
𝑤 = 500pJ

Series and Parallel Capacitor

From Electric Circuits Theory 1, we know that the series-parallel combination is a powerful
tool for simplifying circuits. Just as series-parallel combinations of resistors can be reduced
to an equivalent single resistor, series-parallel combinations of capacitors can be reduced
to a single capacitor.
The equivalent capacitance of N parallel-connected capacitors is the sum of each individual
capacitances.

Figure 2. Insert capacitors connected in series here

𝐸𝑞 5: 𝐶𝑒𝑞 = 𝐶1 + 𝐶2 + 𝐶3 + … + 𝐶𝑁
Example:
Find the equivalent capacitance of the parallel-connected capacitors in the figure below.
 Electric Circuit Theory 2
3
Review of Capacitors and Inductors

Solution:
-Insert solution for parallel-connected capacitors here-
The equivalent capacitance of series-connected capacitors is the reciprocal of the sum of
the reciprocals of the individual capacitances.

Figure 3. Insert figure of capacitors connected in parallel here

1 1 1 1 1
𝐸𝑞 6: = + + + …+
𝐶𝑒𝑞 𝐶1 𝐶2 𝐶3 𝐶𝑁
Example:
Find the equivalent capacitance of the capacitors connected in series below.

Figure 4. Insert figure of capacitors connected in parallel here

Solution:
-Insert solution for series-connected capacitors here-

Practice Problems for Capacitors

1. What is the voltage across a capacitor if the charge on one plate is 0.12 mC? How much
energy is stored?
Answer: 40 V, 2.4mJ
2. If a capacitor is connected to a voltage source with v(t) = 50 sin 2000t V, determine the
current through the capacitor.
Answer: cos 2000t A
3. The current through a capacitor is i(t) = 50 sin 120 𝜋 t mA. Calculate the voltage across
it at t = 1ms and t = 5ms. Take v(0)=0.
Course Module
 Answer: 93.14 mV, 1.736 V
4. An initially uncharged 1-mF capacitor has the current shown in the figure below.
Calculate the voltage across it at t = 2 ms and t = 5 ms.

Figure 5. Insert figure here

Answer: 100 mV, 400 mV

5. Under dc conditions, find the energy stored in the capacitors in the figure below.

Figure 6. Insert figure here

Answer: 810 µJ, 135 µJ

Inductors
An inductor is one of the passive elements that stores energy within its magnetic field. In its
most basic form, an inductor is nothing more than a coil of wire wrapped around a central
core. The current flowing through the coil generates a magnetic flux around it which for
most coils is proportional to the flow of electric current. Inductors are used in power
supplies, transformers, radars, and electric motors.

Figure 7. Insert schematic symbol for inductor here

If current is passed through an inductor, the voltage across it is directly proportional to the
time rate of change of the current. So that
𝑑𝑖
𝐸𝑞 7: 𝑣 = 𝐿
𝑑𝑡
where L is the constant of proportionality or the inductance of the inductor.
Inductance
The property whereby an inductor opposes the change of current flowing through it is
called inductance. The inductance of a material is symbolized by L and is measured in
henrys (H) in honor of American inventor Joseph Henry (1797-1878). 1 henry equals 1
volt-second per ampere.
 Electric Circuit Theory 2
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Review of Capacitors and Inductors

The inductance of an inductor depends on its physical dimension and construction. For the
solenoidal inductor,
𝑁 2 µA
𝐸𝑞 8: 𝐿 =
𝑙
where the number of turns is N, the length is l, A is the cross-sectional area, and µ is the
permeability of the core.
The energy that is stored in the coil’s electric field is
1
𝐸𝑞 9: 𝑤 = 𝐿𝑖 2
2

Similar to capacitors, inductors also have their own important properties.

1. An inductor acts like a short circuit to dc.
2. The current through an inductor cannot change abruptly.
3. The ideal inductor, like the ideal capacitor does not dissipate energy.
4. A real, nonideal inductor has a significant resistive component, called the winding
resistance, Rw.

Series and Parallel Inductance

From Electric Circuits Theory 1, we know that the series-parallel combination is a powerful
tool for simplifying circuits. Just as series-parallel combinations of resistors can be reduced
to an equivalent single resistor, series-parallel combinations of inductors can be reduced to
a single inductor.
The equivalent capacitance of series-connected inductors is the sum of each individual
inductances.
𝐸𝑞 2: 𝐿𝑒𝑞 = 𝐿1 + 𝐿2 + 𝐿3 + … + 𝐿𝑁
Example:
Find the equivalent capacitance of the series-connected inductors in the figure below.

Figure 8. Insert series-connected inductors here

Solution:
-Insert solution for parallel-connected inductors here-
The equivalent capacitance of parallel-connected inductors is the reciprocal of the sum of
the reciprocals of the individual inductances.

Course Module
 1 1 1 1 1
𝐸𝑞 3: = + + + …+
𝐿𝑒𝑞 𝐿1 𝐿2 𝐿3 𝐿𝑁
Example:
Find the equivalent capacitance of the parallel-connected inductors in the figure below.

Figure 9. Insert parallel-connected inductors here

Solution:
-Insert solution for parallel-connected inductors here-

Practice Problems for Inductors

1. If the current through a 1-mH inductor is i(t) = 20 cos 100t mA, find the terminal
voltage and the energy stored.
Answer: -2 sin 100t mV, 0.2 cos2 100t µJ
2. The terminal voltage of a 2-H inductor is v = 10(1 – t) V. Find the current flowing
through it at t = 4 s and the energy stored in it at t = 4 s. Assume i(0) = 2A.
Answer: 18 A, 320 J.
3. Determine and the energy stored in the capacitor and inductor in the given circuit
under dc conditions.

Figure 10. Insert figure here

Answer: 6 V, 3 A, 72 J, 27 J.
 Electric Circuit Theory 2
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Review of Capacitors and Inductors

References and Supplementary Materials

Books and Journals
1. Charles K. Alexander, Matthew N. O. Sadiku; 2017; Fundamentals of Electric Circuits,
6th Edition; McGraw-Hill
2. James W. Nilsson, Susan A. Riedel; 2019; Electric Circuits, 11 th Edition; Pearson;

Online Supplementary Reading Materials

1. Lessons in Electric Circuits Volume 1 – DC, Chapter 13: Capacitors;
http://www.ibiblio.org/kuphaldt/electricCircuits/DC/DC_13.html;
2. Lessons in Electric Circuits Volume 1 – DC, Chapter 15: Inductors;
http://www.ibiblio.org/kuphaldt/electricCircuits/DC/DC_15.html;
Online Instructional Videos
1. Inductors and Capacitors in Electric Circuits;
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EsOlbS0O0n8;

Course Module