Electric Potential

Lecture Power Points
Chapter 17
Physics: Principles with
Applications, 6th edition
Giancoli
© 2005 Pearson Prentice Hall

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Electric Potential (Ch 17)
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not a substitute for attending lectures.
17.7 Capacitance
We have seen that when charges are separated, there is a
force-field between them. This field can both store energy,
and do work.
A capacitor consists of two conductors that are close but

not touching. A capacitor has the ability to store electric
charge.
Parallel-plate capacitor connected to battery.
(b) is a circuit diagram.
When a capacitor is connected to a battery, the
charge on its plates is proportional to the
voltage:
(17-7)
The quantity C is called the capacitance.

Unit of capacitance: the farad (F)
1 F = 1 C/V (or Coulombs per volt)
The capacitance does not depend on the voltage; it is a function of the
geometry and materials of the capacitor.
For a parallel-plate capacitor:
(17-8)
In other words the Capacitance is fixed, and determines how much charge is
stored for a given applied Voltage.
Capacitance depends on THREE factors

•Area
•Separation (think coulomb force)
•Material
ConcepTest 17.8 Capacitors
Capacitor C1 is connected across 1) C1
a battery of 5 V. An identical 2) C2
capacitor C2 is connected across
3) both have the same charge
a battery of 10 V. Which one has
4) it depends on other factors
the most charge?
+Q –Q
ConcepTest 17.8 Capacitors
Capacitor C1 is connected across 1) C1
a battery of 5 V. An identical 2) C2
capacitor C2 is connected across
3) both have the same charge
a battery of 10 V. Which one has
4) it depends on other factors
the most charge?
+Q –Q
Since Q = C V and the two capacitors are

identical, the one that is connected to the
greater voltage has the most charge,
charge
which is C2 in this case.
17.8 Dielectrics - Improving the basic
capacitor
A dielectric is an insulator, placed between
the capacitor’s plates, and is characterized by
a dielectric constant K.
Capacitance of a parallel-plate capacitor filled
with dielectric:
(17-9)
Inserting a dialectric INCREASES the capacitance

Why?
Dielectrics - what’s going on inside a Capacitor?
Dialectrics increase the amount of charge a capacitor can hold, at a given
voltage. The molecules in a dielectric tend to become oriented in a way that
reduces the external field.
This means that the electric field within the dielectric is less than it would be in
air, allowing more charge to be stored for the same potential.
Alternative conceptual viewpoint: The induced charges of the
molecules in the dialectric (an insulator) attract additional charges onto
the plates (from the battery).
17.8 Dielectrics
Dielectric strength is the

maximum external field a
dielectric can experience
without breaking down.
Think about factors
affecting suitability in
different applications
e.g.
Look at water, but its not
usually a good choice!
17.9 Storage of Electric Energy
A Capacitor’s main use is to store energy. It

can be charged slowly and then discharged
rapidly. For example in a camera flash unit.
A charged capacitor stores electric energy;

the energy stored is equal to the work done
to charge the capacitor.
(17-10)
17.10 Cathode Ray Tube: TV and
Computer Monitors, Oscilloscope
+V
Imagine an electron accelerated by the electric
field inside a TV tube, how fast does it go ?
+V
Say V = 20,000 volts

Change in EPE = qV = 1.6x10-19 * 20x103
= 3x10-15 Joules In physics we often use eV
because it is a “natural“ unit.
Change in EPE = change in KE = 1/2 mv2
By definition, the electrons
so: v = sqrt (2KE/m) here have a kinetic energy of
= sqrt(2 * 3x10-15 / 9.1x10-31) 20 keV
= 8.4x107 m/s
Cathode Ray Tube: TV and Computer
Monitors, Oscilloscope
Old style Televisions and computer monitors
oscilloscopes etc… have a large
cathode ray tube
as their display.
Variations in the
field steer the
electrons on their
way to the screen.
17.11 The Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG)
The electrocardiogram
detects heart defects by
measuring changes in
potential on the surface
of the heart.
Summary
• Electric potential energy:
• Electric potential difference: work done to

move charge from one point to another
• Relationship between potential difference
and field:
•Work done by (or against) an Electric Field

W = qV
•Equipotential: line or surface along which
potential is the same
Capacitors
• Nontouching conductors carrying equal and

opposite charge. Shape irrelevant.
•Capacitance:
unit is the Farad (joule per coulomb)
• Capacitance of a parallel-plate capacitor:
•Energy stored in a capacitor

Electric Potential

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Electric Potential

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Lecture Power Points

© 2005 Pearson Prentice Hall

A capacitor consists of two conductors that are close but

The quantity C is called the capacitance.

Capacitance depends on THREE factors

Since Q = C V and the two capacitors are

Inserting a dialectric INCREASES the capacitance

Dielectric strength is the

A Capacitor’s main use is to store energy. It

A charged capacitor stores electric energy;

Say V = 20,000 volts

• Electric potential difference: work done to

•Work done by (or against) an Electric Field

• Nontouching conductors carrying equal and

• Capacitance of a parallel-plate capacitor:

•Energy stored in a capacitor

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