ChaPtER 3 :

CAPACITANCE

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LESSON LEARNING OUTCOME

After completing this chapter, you should be able to

State the definition of capacitors and capacitance
Solve numerical problems involving the combination of capacitors
Solve numerical problems involving the electric energy storage
State the definition of dielectric
Solve numerical problems involving dielectric

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SCOPE OF STUDY

Capacitors & Combination of

Capacitance Capacitors

SUB
TOPICS

Electric Energy
Dielectric
Storage 3
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Capacitors & CAPACITANCE

Store electric 1F=1C/V

charge C=Q/V

C&C C = KεoA/d

Series &
Parallel

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Capacitors & CAPACITANCE

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Capacitors & CAPACITANCE

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 Capacitors & CAPACITANCE

Example :

(a)Calculate the capacitance of a parallel-plate capacitor whose plates

are 20 cm × 3.0 cm and are separated by a 1.0-mm air gap.

(b)What is the charge on each plate if a 12-V battery is connected

across the two plates?

(c)What is the electric field between the plates?

(d)Estimate the area of the plates needed to achieve a capacitance of 1

F, given the same air gap d.
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Capacitors & CAPACITANCE

Solution:

a) C = 53 pF.
b) Q = CV = 6.4 x 10-10 C.
c) E = V/d = 1.2 x 104 V/m.
d) A = Cd/ε0 = 108 m2.

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Combination capacitor

SERIES

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 Combination capacitor
VT = V 1 + V 2 + V 3

Q = Q1=Q 2= Q3 SERIES Q = CeqV

Q = C 1V 1

1/Ceq = 1/C1 + 1/C2 + 1/C3

Q = C 2 V2
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Combination capacitor
PARALLEL

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 Combination capacitor
VT = Vab = V1 = V2 = V3

Q = Q1+Q 2+ Q3 PARALLEL Q1 = C 1V

Ceq = C1 + C2 + C3 Q2 = C2 V

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 Combination capacitor
Example :

Determine the capacitance of a single capacitor that will have the

same effect as the combination shown.

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 Combination capacitor

Solution:

First, find the equivalent capacitance of the two capacitors in

parallel (2C); then the equivalent of that capacitor in series

with the third (2/3 C).

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 Combination capacitor
Example :

Determine the charge on each capacitor and the voltage across each,
assuming C = 3.0 μF and the battery voltage is V = 4.0 V.

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 Combination capacitor
Solution :

QT = CV = 2/3 (3 μF)(4 V) = 8 μF

Q1 = 8 μF ; Q2 = Q3 = ½ Q = 4 μF

V1 = Q 1 / C1 = (8 μC) / (3 μF) = 2.7 V

V2 = Q 2 / C2 = (4 μC) / (3 μF) = 1.3 V

V3 = Q 3 / C3 = (4 μC) / (3 μF) = 1.3 V

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ELECTRIC ENERGY STORAGE

Electric energy storage, U

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ELECTRIC ENERGY STORAGE

Example : Energy stored in a capacitor.

A camera flash unit stores energy in a 150-μF capacitor at 200 V.

(a) How much electric energy can be stored?

(b) What is the power output if nearly all this energy is released
in 1.0 ms?

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ELECTRIC ENERGY STORAGE

Solution:

a. U = ½ CV2 = 3.0 J.
b. P = U/t = 3000 W.

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ELECTRIC ENERGY STORAGE

Electric density, u

The energy per unit volume, is the same no

matter the origin of the electric field:

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 DIELECTRICS
Allow an increased capacitance

Insulator Dielectric constant, K

DIELECTRICS
ε = Kεo
C = KεoA / d
ED = Eo/K =Vo/Kd

Allow QE to flow (break down) 25

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DIELECTRICS
.

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 DIELECTRICS

Voltage is connected to Insert dielectric,

a capacitor (charging) capacitance increased by K

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 DIELECTRICS
Example :

A parallel-plate capacitor, filled with a

dielectric with K = 3.4, is connected to a
100-V battery. After the capacitor is fully
charged, the battery is disconnected. The
plates have area A = 4.0 m2 and are
separated by d = 4.0 mm.

(a) Find the capacitance, the charge on the

capacitor, the electric field strength, and
the energy stored in the capacitor. 31
 DIELECTRICS
(b) The dielectric is carefully removed, without changing the plate
separation nor does any charge leave the capacitor. Find the new
values of capacitance, electric field strength, voltage between the
plates, and the energy stored in the capacitor.

Solution:
a) C = Kε0A/d = 3.0 x 10-8 F. Q = CV = 3.0 x 10-6 C. E = V/kd = 7.353
kV/m. U = ½ CV2 = 1.5 x 10-4 J.
b) Now Co = C/K = 8.8 x 10-9 F, Q = 3.0 x 10-6 C (no change), V =
340 V, E = 85 kV/m, U = 5.1 x 10-4 J. The increase in energy comes
from the work it takes to remove the dielectric. 32
~ ~ THE END ~ ~

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