Electricity & Magnetism – Lecture 8

Electric Capacitance continue..

Molecular theory of Dielectrics
• A dielectric is any material that is not a conductor, but polarizes well.
Permanent dipoles

Induced dipoles
In the absence of
an electric field
polar molecules E0 = the applied field
orient randomly

E’ = the field due to

induced dipoles

E = E0 - E’

When electric filed The net electric field is

is applied, the
molecules tend to E0
E=
align with it K
Induced Charges
Dielectrics and Gauss’ Law

 
= =



 ∮  . =   =

 = 1


With dielectric

 ∮ . =   = − ′  =   ℎ

  
E= = − 2
     

   
Again =

=

= − −  =
From 2       
Dielectrics and Gauss’ Law

− =



1
= (1 − )


< always

= 0 If no dielectric i.e. K =1

Gauss’ law With dielectric

 ∮  . =

This equation depends on K not in induced charge

RC Circuit: Charging of a capacitor
Let us assume above, that the capacitor, C is fully
“discharged” and the switch (S) is fully open.
These are the initial conditions of the circuit,
then t = 0, i = 0 and q = 0. When the switch is
closed the time begins at t = 0 and current begins
to flow into the capacitor via the resistor.

 Using Kirchhoff’s voltage law (KVL),

 = * +
,

We know,

When a voltage source is applied to an RC
=
, =
circuit, the capacitor, C charges up through . -
the resistance, R
/ 
* + =
/0 -

/   -
= - =
/0 1 1- 1-
RC Circuit: Charging of a capacitor
5
 67
/ /0 =  (1 −  )
=
- 1- 5
 67 8 = 3
=  (1 −  ) 
Integrating,

 0
.
2 − = 2 −
 3 −  *3


3 − . 0.632
ln =− 

3 *3

5
-  67
=
-

5

 − =   67
RC Circuit: Charging of a capacitor
The Current
5
/ /  67
= =  (1 −  )
/0 /0

1  0
=   1-
*3
3  0
=  1-
*3
  0
=  1-
*
0
 1-
=  

This suggests that the current grows instantaneously from zero to ε/R as soon as the switch is closed,
and then it decays exponentially.
RC Circuit: Charging of a capacitor
5 -=>? -=>?
 67 RC= Ohms farad = ohms @=?0 = ABC = D
=  (1 −  )

When t = RC =  (1 −   E ) 

0.632
= 0.632



Time Constant = RC= τ

The product RC (having units of time) has a special significance; it is called

the time constant of the circuit. The time constant is the amount of time
required for the charge on a charging capacitor to rise to 63% (approx… 2/3)
of its final value.
RC Circuit: Discharging of a capacitor
/ 
* + =0
/0 -

/ /0
=-
 1-

If charge from  to q in time interval t, then the q


after time t is obtained by integrating above equation

 0
. 0.632 
2 = 2 −
  *3
0.368 

.
ln =−
 *3

0

=   1-
Time constant of a RC circuit is thus also the time during which the charge on the
capacitor falls from its maximum value to 0.368 (approx… 1/3) of its maximum
value.
RC Circuit: Discharging of a capacitor
In a RC Discharging Circuit the time constant ( τ ) is still equal to the
value of 63%. Then for a RC discharging circuit that is initially fully
charged, the voltage across the capacitor after one time constant, 1T, has
dropped by 63% of its initial value which is 1 – 0.63 = 0.37 or 37% of its
final value.

Thus the time constant of the circuit is given as the time taken for the
capacitor to discharge down to within 63% of its fully charged value. So
one time constant for an RC discharge circuit is given as the voltage
across the plates representing 37% of its final value, with its final value
being zero volts (fully discharged), and this is given as 0.37Vc.
RC Circuit: Discharging of a capacitor
The Current
5
/ / 67
= = 
/0 /0

0
  1-
=− 
*3
0
= −    1-