Unit 6: Electrical and Electronic Principles

Capacitors and Capacitance

Learning Outcome P4, P5, P6, M2, D1

Lessons objectives

Look at the basic construction of capacitors Explain common terminology used with capacitors Understand the concepts of capacitance and determine capacitance value in DC circuits Look at Different types of capacitors Charging and discharging of capacitors DC capacitor network

Recap
DC circuit theory

Ohms Law
Kirchhoff's law Resistors in series Resistors in Parallel Complex networks

Capacitors
Definition:
Capacitors are components that are used to store an electrical charge

When power is supplied to a circuit that includes a capacitor - the capacitor charges up. When power is turned off the capacitor discharges its electrical charge slowly

Capacitors
Basic Theory
Any arrangement of two conductors separated by an electric insulator (i.e., dielectric) is a capacitor. An electric charge deposited on one of the conductors induces an equal charge of opposite polarity on the other conductor. As a result, an electric field exists between the two conductor surfaces and there is a potential difference between them.

Consider two plates each with an area A and separated by a distance d the material between them is the Dielectric. The Charge Q stored on the pair of the plates depends upon the voltage, physical dimensions and properties of the plate. Note: Charge is directly proportional to the voltage Therefore : = Where C, is a constant, referred to as the capacitance and is measured in Farads (F)

Capacitors
Basic theory Example
1.

A Capacitor stores 0.05 Coulombs with a terminal voltage of 100V. Calculate the capacitance

2.

A Capacitor has a value of 20 x 10 ^-3 C with a terminal voltage of 3 x10^3. calculate the capacitance?

3.

Determine the voltage across a 4 capacitor when charged with 5 .

4.

Find the charge on a 50 capacitor when the voltage applied to it is 2.

Insert worked answers

Types and construction of capacitors

Group activity
a.

List different types of capacitors and for each give their design and intended use
What will be the effects of increasing the number of plates in a capacitor.

b.

Types and Construction of capacitors

Electrolytic capacitors Fixed Capacitors Nonelectrolytic capacitors

Capacitor

Variable Capacitors

Types and Construction of capacitors

Electrolytic Capacitors

Used when very large capacitance values are required The majority of electrolytic types of capacitors are Polarised, that is the DC voltage applied to the capacitor terminals must be of the correct polarity. One main disadvantage of electrolytic capacitors is their relatively low voltage rating and due to the polarisation of electrolytic capacitors

Types and Construction of capacitors

Ceramic Capacitors

These may be disc shaped, tubular or flat. The dielectric is ceramic and metal films are deposited to the plates. They are encapsulated in resin of epoxy

Ceramic types of capacitors generally have a 3-digit code printed onto their body to identify their capacitance value in Pico-farads.
Ceramic capacitors are divided into two application classes:

Class 1: offer high stability and low losses for resonant circuit applications. Class 2: offer high volumetric efficiency for buffer, by-pass and coupling applications.

Types and Construction of capacitors

Tantalum Bead

Tantalum capacitors are a new type of an electrolytic capacitor. It uses tantalum and tantalum oxide to give a further capacitance and size advantage Tantalum is used as the dielectric and produces a large capacitance in small volume but with low working voltages. These small capacitors are encapsulated in resin

Types and Construction of capacitors Mica

(Mica is a common rock forming mineral. It is found in rocks such as granite and sand stones and mudstones)

Mica is a naturally occurring dielectric and has a very high resistance This gives excellent stability and allows the capacitors to be accurate within a value of 1% of the marked value. Due to increased accuracy, they are more expensive than plastic film capacitors They are used where high stability is required, for example in tuned circuits and filters required in radio transmission.

Types and Construction of capacitors

Variable Capacitor
An air variable capacitor consists of a rotor and a stator. A stator is a set of plates on a frame, a rotor is a set of plates on a shaft. Turning shaft from one to another side you may change a capacitance of an air variable capacitor tuning an antenna on a desired station. As you may see on the picture, the capacitor contains three stators, each one is mounted on ceramic isolators. It means we may use it to tune three tuned circuits simultaneously for better selectivity. The third section of the particular capacitor shown on the picture has lesser capacity, because some plates has been removed from it

Types and Construction of capacitors

Home work!!!!

Explain the key terms associated with capacitors listed below

Dielectric strength Dielectric Materials Flux density Flux permittivity

Recap

Looked at the basic construction of capacitors

Looked at the concepts of capacitance and determined the capacitance value in DC circuits
Looked at Different types of capacitors Given you homework to look common terminology used with capacitors. The homework will be due next lesson.

Next

Capacitor Circuits in series

Capacitor circuits in parallel

Complex circuits

Charging and discharging of capacitor