CAPACITANCE

CAPACITORS
Definition
• A capacitor is a device for storing electric charge.
• It basically consists of two parallel metal plates with an insulator
known as a dielectric present between the plates.
• Examples of dielectrics are air, paper, wax, ceramic and mica.
• NB The types of capacitors are named according to the dielectric
present.
• Capacitors are represented in symbols
Fixed capacitors Variable capacitors
Fig 12.3 ( 6 lines)
• A battery can charge a capacitor as shown in the diagram.
• The electrons from the negative terminal of the battery accumulate on
one plate of the capacitor and an equal amount of positive charges is
induced on the other plate.
• This process of charging the capacitor continues until the potential
difference across the capacitor equals the e.m.f of the battery.
• If the resistance in the charging circuit is negligible, the charging is almost
instantaneous.
• The result is that charge is stored in the capacitor .
• The charge remains even after the battery is disconnected.
 CAPACITANCE
• It is the ability to store charge.
• If more charge is stored for a given applied voltage, the capacitance
will be larger.

-Q +Q
•  Capacitance, C=
• The capacitance C of a capacitor is defined by the equation

capacitance, C =

C=
•  Since a conductor such as an insulated metal sphere is able to store
charge on its surface, the term capacitor is also applicable to a
conductor.

• The capacitance C of a conductor is C=

C=
•  The unit for capacitance is the farad (F).
• The farad (1F) is the capacitance of a capacitor which stores one
coulomb of charge when the potential difference across the capacitor
is one volt.
• One farad is a large capacitance, and practical capacitors usually have
smaller capacitances.
• The common unit for capacitance is the microfarad (µF) ;
µF= 1 x F.
 CAPACITORS IN PARALLEL
•Fig
  12.11 (leave 8 lines)
• The above diagram shows three capacitors of capacitances , and
joined in parallel.
• When the capacitors are connected to a voltage supply, charge flows
from the supply to charge up capacitors 𝐶1, 𝐶2 and 𝐶3 with a charge
of respectively.
• The potential difference V across the three capacitors is the same as
they are in parallel.
•  Hence = V, = V, =V and the total charge,
Q=
=V
= (V …………………..(1)
• If C is the equivalent capacitance, then Q=CV ……………………(2)
•  Therefore from the equations (1) and (2)
CV= (V

Equivalent capacitance, C=

• Thus the equivalent capacitance of multiple capacitors connected in

parallel is equal to the sum of the capacitances of the individual
capacitors.
 CAPACITORS IN SERIES
•  Fig 12.12 (leave 6 lines)
• The diagram above shows three capacitors of capacitances
respectively connected in series.
• When the capacitors are connected to a voltage supply, electrons
from the negative terminal of the supply flows to the plate Y of .
• If the charge on plate Y is –Q , it induces an equal and opposite charge
+Q on plate X.
• A charge of +Q is obtained on plate X because a total charge of –Q has
moved from plate X to plate N of .
•  Subsequent electrostatic induction produces a charge of +Q on plate
M of ; a charge of –Q on plate B and +Q on plate A of .
• Hence when capacitors are connected in series, the charge on each
capacitor is the same.
• With charge Q in each capacitor, the potential differences across
respectively are given by

= , = ,=
•  The total potential difference V across the three capacitors
V=

= ++
=Q(+ + )
= + + …………………………...(3)
If C is the equivalent capacitances of in series then
C=
……………………………..(4)
•  From equations (3) and (4),

• This shows that when the capacitors are in series, the reciprocal of
the equivalent capacitance is equal to the sum of the reciprocals of
the individual capacitances.
AREA UNDER A POTENTIAL-CHARGE
GRAPH
• The charge on a capacitor is directly proportional to the p.d across it
(Q= VC).
• A graph of p.d against charge is therefore a straight linethrough the
original.
• Fig 12.16 Duncan( leave 8 lines)
• Suppose a capacitor has capacitance C and that when the p.d is V the
charge is Q.
• If the capacitor starts to discharge and initially a very small charge δQ
passes from the negative to the positive plate, then by the definition of
p.d. the resulting energy loss (or work done) is V.
•  δQ- assuming δQ is so small that the decrease in V is negligible.
• Hence from the graph; energy loss= area of shaded strip.
• If the capacitance discharges completely so that Q and V fall to zero,
we have; total energy loss=area of all strips
= area of a triangle below graph
= QV
• This is the energy stored in the capacitor. We can also write, since
Q=VC, that total energy= =/C
CHARGING A RESISTOR-CAPACITOR
(RC) CIRCUIT
•  Here we are basically looking at the behavior of a capacitor when it is
charged via a high resistor.
• Fig 12.20 (leave 6 lines)
• Suppose that the current in the circuit at time t after the switch S is
closed is I.
• Using Kirchhoff’s second law,
E.m.f of battery, E = p.d. across R + p.d. across C

= +V …………………………………(1)
•  Also = IR and V= where Q is the charge on the capacitor at time t.
Hence E= IR + ………………………………..(2)
• At the instant the switch S is closed, i.e. t=0, there is no charge yet on
the capacitor and Q= 0.
• Thus the current at t=0 is obtained from equation (1).
E=IR + (Q=0)
=R+0
=
•  At any time t after the switch S is closed,
E= IR +
• Differentiating with respect to t,
=R+ (

0= R + ( = 0 since E = constant)