General Physics II

Grade 12
DIELECTRICS & POTENTIAL
ENERGY IN CAPACITORS
Objectives:
The Learners are expected to:

1. Determine the energy inside the capacitor given the geometry and
the potential difference across the capacitor;

2. Describe the effects of inserting dielectric materials on the

capacitance, charge and electric field of a capacitor.
 In the previous lesson, it was mentioned that the characteristic
of a capacitor also greatly affects its capacitance. It is not voltage
alone that dictates how much charge a capacitor can store. You’ve
already discovered that the area of the charging plates, one of the
characteristics of a capacitor, also affects the amount of charge
stored. What else could affect the charging of a capacitor? And while
charging, what energy is needed to do so. These are but a few of the
things you’ll discover in this lesson.
DIELECTRICS
 There are cases wherein the difficulty of storing a large amount of
charge in capacitors becomes a problem. If d is made smaller to
produce a larger capacitance, then the maximum voltage must be
reduced proportionally to avoid breakdown (since E=V/d). An
important solution to this difficulty is to put an insulating material,
called a dielectric, between the plates of a capacitor and allow d to be
as small as possible. Not only does the smaller d make the capacitance
greater, but many insulators can withstand greater electric fields than
air before breaking down.
 There is another benefit to using a dielectric in a capacitor.
Depending on the material used, the capacitance is greater than that
given by the equation 𝐶 = 𝜀 𝑜 𝐴/𝑑 by a factor k, called the dielectric
constant. A parallel plate capacitor with a dielectric between its plates
has a capacitance given by

𝐶 = 𝑘𝜀 𝑜 𝐴 / 𝑑 (𝑝𝑎𝑟𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑒𝑙 𝑝𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑒 𝑐𝑎𝑝𝑎𝑐𝑖𝑡𝑜𝑟 𝑤/ 𝑑𝑖𝑒𝑙𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑟𝑖𝑐)

Where k = dielectric constant

Values of the dielectric constant k
for various materials are given in
the table on right. Note that for
vacuum is exactly 1, and so the
above equation is valid in that
case, too. If a dielectric is used,
perhaps by placing Teflon between
the plates of the capacitor, then
the capacitance is greater by the
factor k, which for Teflon is 2.1.
(Capacitance on a capacitor w/o dielectric)
1. What is the capacitance of a parallel plate capacitor with metal
plates, each of area 1.00m2, separated by 1x10-3m?

Given: Solution:
A = 1.00 m2 𝐶 = 𝜀𝑜 𝐴 / d
d = 1x10-3m = (8.85x10-12 F/m) x (1.00 m2) / (1x10-3m)
𝜀 𝑜 = 8.85x10-12 F/m C = = 8.85 𝑥 10 −9 F
(𝜀𝑜 = permittivity of free space)

Ask:
C=?
(Capacitance on a capacitor w/ dielectric)
1. What is the capacitance of a parallel plate capacitor with metal plates, each
of area 1.00m2, separated by 1x10-3m?
*The C in air is computed at 8.85x10-9F. Let’s see what will happen if Teflon is used as dielectric.

Given:
A = 1.00 m2 Solution:
d = 1x10-3m 𝐶 = k 𝜀𝑜 𝐴 / d
𝜀 𝑜 = 8.85x10-12 F/m = (2.1) x (8.85x10-12 F/m) x (1.00 m2) / (1x10-3m)
(𝜀𝑜 = permittivity of free space)
C = = 1.86 𝑥 10−8 F
K (Teflon) = 2.1
The difference in capacitance is 210%!
Ask:
C=?
ENERGY STORED IN
CAPACITORS
Defibrillator
 is used to pass an electric current through a patient’s heart to get it to
beat normally
 Often realistic in detail, the person applying the shock directs
another person to “make it 400 joules this time.”
 The energy delivered by the defibrillator is stored in a capacitor and
can be adjusted to fit the situation.
 A defibrillator is a very common emergency room electrical
apparatus that functions thru the use of a capacitor.
 Energy stored in a capacitor is electrical potential energy, and it is thus
related to the charge Q and voltage V on the capacitor. But we must be mindful
in applying the formula for electrical PE, Δ𝑃𝐸 = 𝑞Δ𝑉 to a capacitor. This is
because a capacitor starts with zero voltage and gradually comes up to full
capacity as it is charged, unlike Δ𝑃𝐸 which is the PE of a charge q going through a
voltage Δ𝑉.
The first charge placed on a capacitor experiences a Δ𝑉=0 because the
capacitor has zero voltage when not yet charged. When the capacitor gets fully
charged, the Δ𝑉 = 𝑉, since it now has its full voltage V in it. Therefore, the energy
stored in a charged capacitor Ecap is given by the expression

𝐸𝑐𝑎𝑝 = 𝑄𝑉 / 2
 Where Q is the charge on the capacitor and V is the voltage applied.
Charge and voltage can be related the capacitance formula, Q = CV thereby
giving us three equivalent expressions for Ecap:

𝐸𝑐𝑎𝑝 = 𝑄𝑉 / 2 = 𝐶𝑉2 / 2 = 𝑄2 / 2C

where Q is the charge and V the voltage on a capacitor and C is its capacitance.
The energy is in joules for a charge in coulombs, voltage in volts, and capacitance
in farads.
(Capacitance in a Heart Defibrillator)
1. A heart defibrillator delivers 4.00x102 J of energy after discharging a capacitor
initially at 1.00x104 V. Solve for the capacitance.

Analysis
Since we are given the Ecap and the V, we are asked to solve for capacitance C of the
capacitor inside the defibrillator. Hence, the best formula to use is
𝐸𝑐𝑎𝑝 = 𝐶𝑉2 / 2  C = 2 𝐸𝑐𝑎𝑝 / 𝑉2

Given: Ecap = 4.00x102 J, V = 1.00x104 V

Asked: C = ??

Solution:
𝐶 = 2 (4.00x102 J) / (1.00x104 V)2  8.00𝑥10 −6 F
Learning Task (Problem Solving):

Directions: Read and analyze the problems below. Solve for what is asked. Make
sure to follow G-A-S format shown in the previous examples.

1. Determine the capacitance of a bakelite dielectric capacitor whose plate area

is 1.25x10-4 m2. The plates are separated by 5.0x10-4 m.

2. What is the energy stored in the 1.00x10-5 F capacitor of a heart defibrillator

charged to 9.00x103 V?

3. A 1.65x10-4 F capacitor is used in conjunction with a motor. How much

energy is stored in it when 119 V is supplied?
Reference:

https://youtu.be/rkntp3_cZl4