TYPES OF CAPACITORS

I. FIXED CAPACITORS
A. NON POLARIZED
- CERAMIC CAPACITORS
- FILM CAPACITORS
- PAPER CAPACITORS
B. POLARIZED
- ELECTROLYTIC CAPACITORS
- SUPER CAPACITORS

II. VARIABLE CAPACITORS

 A FIXED VALUE CAPACITORIN
CERAMIC WHICH CERAMIC ACTS AS THE
DIELECTRIC.
CAPACITOR
-High Stability
-Low Losses
-High Capacitance
-Small Size
CERAMIC
CAPACITOR

CARAMIC MULTILAYER HIGH VOLTAGE

DISC CERAMIC CHIP CERAMIC POWER
CAPACITOR (MLCC) CAPACITOR CAPACITOR
FILM WITH AN INSULATING PLASTIC
CAPACITOR FILM AS THE DIELECTRIC AND
ALUMINUM OR ZINC AS THE
ELECTRODES TO STORE ELECRTIC
CHARGES
Applications:
-A/D Converters
-Filters
-Peak Voltage Detectors
Electrolytic
CAPACITOR ARE POLARIZED CAPACITORS IN
WHICH ELECTROLYTE ACTS AS
ONE OF THE ELECTRODES.
(Electrolyte is a liquid electric conductor
in which electric current is carried by
the moving ions)
Super CAPACITOR
Chapter 16 - Capacitor Circuits
 Electrical Circuit Symbols
Electrical circuits often contain two or more
capacitors grouped together and attached
to an energy source, such as a battery.
The following symbols are often used:
Ground Battery Capacitor
+ -

+ -
+ - + -
- + - + - + -
 Objectives:

• Calculate the equivalent capacitance of a

number of capacitors connected in series
or in parallel.
• Determine the charge and voltage across
any chosen capacitor in a network when
given capacitances and the externally
applied potential difference.
 Series Circuits
Capacitors or other devices connected
along a single path are said to be
connected in series. See circuit below:

Series connection
+ - + -+ -
+ - + -+ - of capacitors.
C1 C3 “+ to – to + …”
C2
Battery Charge inside
dots is induced.
 Charge on Capacitors in Series
Since inside charge is only induced, the
charge on each capacitor is the same.

Q1 Q2 Q3
Charge is same:
+ - + -+ -
+ - + -+ - series connection
C1 C3 of capacitors.
C2
Battery
Q = Q1 = Q2 =Q3
Voltage on Capacitors in Series
Since the potential difference between
points A and B is independent of path, the
battery voltage V must equal the sum of
the voltages across each capacitor.

V1 V2 V3
Total voltage V
+ - + -+ -
+ - + -+ - Series connection
C1 C3 Sum of voltages
C2
•A B
•
Battery
V = V 1 + V 2 + V3
 Equivalent Capacitance: Series
V1 V2 V3 Q Q
+ - + -+ -
C ; V
+ - + -+ -
V C
C1 C2 C3 V = V 1 + V2 + V3
Q1= Q2 = Q3 Q Q1 Q2 Q3
  
C C1 C2 C3

1 1 1 1 Equivalent Ce 11 nn
11
   for capacitors  

Ce C1 C2 C3 CCee ii11 CCii
in series:
 Example 1. Find the equivalent capacitance of the three
capacitors connected in series with a 24-V battery.

Ce for 11 nn
11 C1 C2 C3

series: CCee i C
i 11 Ci i

+ - + -+ -
+ - + -+ -
2 F 4 F 6 F
1 1 1 1
  
Ce 2  F 4  F 6 F 24 V
1
 0.500  0.250  0.167
Ce
1 1
 0.917 or Ce  CCee == 1.09
1.09 F
F
Ce 0.917
Example 1 (Cont.): The equivalent circuit can be
shown as follows with single Ce.
C1 C2 C3 11 nn
11 Ce

+ -
+ -
+ -+ -
+ -+ - CCee i C
i 11 Ci i

2 F 4 F 6 F 1.09 F

24 V
CCee == 1.09
1.09 F
F 24 V

Note that the equivalent capacitance Ce

for capacitors in series is always less than
the least in the circuit. (1.09 F < 2 F)
 Example 1 (Cont.): What is the total charge and the
charge on each capacitor?

C1 C2 C3 Ce CCee == 1.09
1.09 F
F
+ - + -+ -
+ - + -+ -
2 F 4 F 6 F 1.09 F Q
C
24 V V
24 V Q  CV

QT = CeV = (1.09 F)(24 V); QQTT=

= 26.2C
26.2C

For series circuits:

QQ11 == QQ22 == QQ33 == 26.2
26.2 C
C
QT = Q1 = Q2 = Q3
 Example 1 (Cont.): What is the voltage across each
capacitor?
Q Q
C ; V  C1 C2 C3
V C + - + -+ -
Q1 26.2  C + - + -+ -
V1    13.1 V 2 F 4 F 6 F
C1 2 F
24 V
Q2 26.2  C
V2    6.55 V
C2 4 F
Q3 26.2  C
V3    4.37 V VVTT=
= 24
24 VV
C3 6 F

Note:
Note: VVTT =
= 13.1
13.1 VV +
+ 6.55
6.55 VV +
+ 4.37
4.37 VV =
= 24.0
24.0 VV
 Short Cut: Two Series Capacitors
The equivalent capacitance Ce for two series
capacitors is the product divided by the sum.
1 1 1 CC11CC22
  ; CCee 
Ce C1 C2 CC11 CC22

Example: (3  F)(6  F)
Ce 
C1 C2 3  F  6 F
+ - + -
+ - + -
3 F 6 F CCee == 22 F
F
 Parallel Circuits
Capacitors which are all connected to the
same source of potential are said to be
connected in parallel. See below:

Parallel capacitors: Voltages:

“+ to +; - to -” VT = V1 = V2 = V3
C1 C2 C3
+
+

+
+

+
+

Charges:
- - - - - -
Q T = Q1 + Q 2 + Q 3
 Equivalent Capacitance: Parallel
Parallel capacitors Q
C  ; Q  CV
in Parallel: V
C1 C2 C3 Q = Q 1 + Q2 + Q 3
+
+

+
+

+
+
- - - - - - Equal Voltages:
CV = C1V1 + C2V2 + C3V3

Equivalent Ce nn
Ce = C1 + C2 + C3 for capacitors CCee  
 Cii
C
in parallel: ii11
 Example 2. Find the equivalent capacitance of the three
capacitors connected in parallel with a 24-V battery.

nn VT = V1 = V2 = V3
Ce for C
parallel:


Cee  CCi i
i i11
Q = Q 1 + Q 2 + Q3

24 V C1 C2 C3
Ce = (2 + 4 + 6) F
2 F 4 F 6 F
CCee == 12
12 F
F

Note that the equivalent capacitance Ce for

capacitors in parallel is always greater than
the largest in the circuit. (12 F > 6 F)
 Example 2 (Cont.) Find the total charge QT and
charge across each capacitor.
Q = Q 1 + Q2 + Q3 CCee == 12
12 F
F
24 V C1 C2 C3
V1 = V2 = V3 = 24 V
2 F 4 F 6 F Q
C  ; Q  CV
V
QT = CeV Q1 = (2 F)(24 V) = 48 C
QT = (12 F)(24 V) Q1 = (4 F)(24 V) = 96 C
QQTT == 288
288 C
C Q1 = (6 F)(24 V) = 144 C
Example 3. Find the equivalent capacitance of the
circuit drawn below.
(3 F)(6 F)
C3,6   2 F
24 V C1 3 F  6 F
C2 3 F
Ce = 4 F + 2 F
4 F C3 6 F
CCee== 66 F
F

24 V C1 24 V
C3,6 2 F Ce 6 F
4 F
 Example 3 (Cont.) Find the total charge QT.
CCee== 66 F
F
24 V C1 C2 3 F
Q = CV = (6 F)(24 V)
4 F C3 6 F
QQTT== 144
144 C
C

24 V C1 24 V
C3,6 2 F Ce 6 F
4 F
 Example 3 (Cont.) Find the charge Q4 and voltage
V4 across the the 4F capacitor
VV44 == VVTT == 24
24 VV
24 V C1 C2 3 F
Q4 = (4 F)(24 V)
4 F C3 6 F
QQ44== 96
96 C
C

The remainder of the charge: (144 C – 96 C)

is on EACH of the other capacitors. (Series)
This
This can
can also
also be
be found
found from
from
QQ33 == QQ66 == 48
48 C
C QQ == CC3,6 V
V 3,6
3,6 3,6
=
= (2
(2 F)(24
F)(24 V)
V)
Example 3 (Cont.) Find the voltages across the 3
and 6-F capacitors
QQ33 == QQ66== 48
48 C
C
48 C
24 V C1 C2 3 F V3   16.0V
3 F
4 F C3 6 F 48 C
V6   8.00V
6 F

Note:
Note: VV33 ++ VV66 == 16.0
16.0 VV ++ 8.00
8.00 VV == 24
24 VV

Use
Use these
these techniques
techniques to
to find
find voltage
voltage andand
capacitance
capacitance across
across each
each capacitor
capacitor inin aa circuit.
circuit.
Summary: Series Circuits
nn QQ =
= QQ11 =
= QQ22 =
= QQ33
11 11
 
CCee i C
i11 Cii VV =
= VV11 +
+ VV22 +
+ VV33

For two capacitors at a time:

CC11CC22
CCee 
CC11 CC22
 Summary: Parallel Circuits
nn QQ =
= QQ11 +
+ QQ22 +
+ QQ33
CCee  
CCii
ii11 VV =
= VV11 =
= VV22 =V
=V33

For
For complex
complex circuits,
circuits, reduce
reduce the
the circuit
circuit in
in steps
steps
using
using the
the rules
rules for
for both
both series
series and
and parallel
parallel
connections
connections until
until you
you are
are able
able to
to solve
solve problem.
problem.