EICHER SCHOOL

PROJECT FILE
SESSION:2024-25
PHYSICS

Capacitance and Dielectrics

Submitted by:
Shaurya Singh
 CERTIFICATE

The project titled “Capacitance and Dielectrics” is

the investigatory project work in PHYSICS,
successfully compiled by MR. SHAURYA SINGH,
student of class XII,Eicher School ,Faridabad with
AISSCE Roll No. _________ under the supervision
and guidance of MR. NISHANT AHUJA for the
partial fulfilment of requirements for the course
completion in pursuance of AISSCE 2024-25

_____________ _____________
INTERNAL EXAMINER EXTERNAL EXAMINER

\
 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude and sincere

appreciation to everyone who supported me, directly or
indirectly, in completing this Investigatory Project. Firstly, I
extend my deepest thanks to my parents for their
encouragement and support, allowing me to dedicate my
time to this endeavor. Secondly, I am immensely grateful to
my subject teacher, [Link] Ahuja, for guiding me
throughout this process, providing invaluable mentorship,
and imparting the knowledge necessary for the project’s
completion. Lastly, I extend my heartfelt thanks to the
Principal of Eicher School, Faridabad, Ms. Arpita
Chakraborty, for her oversight and management, which
greatly contributed to the successful completion of this
project. My sincere thanks to you all.
 LIST OF CONTENT

1.​ INTRODUCTION

2.​ TYPES OF CONDUCTORS

3.​ DIELECTRICS AND THEIR EFFECT ON

CAPACITANCE

4.​ ENERGY STORED IN A CAPACITOR

5.​ CAPACITORS IN SERIES AND PARALLEL

6.​ APPLICATIONS OF CAPACITORS

7.​ CONCLUSION

8.​ BIBLIOGRAPHY
 INTRODUCTION

Capacitance is the ability of a system to store an electric charge. It is a

property that is primarily associated with capacitors, which are electronic
components used to store electrical energy in an electric field. Capacitance
is defined as the ratio of the magnitude of the charge on one plate of the
capacitor to the potential difference (voltage) between the two plates. The
unit of capacitance is the farad (F), but typically, capacitance is measured in
microfarads (µF) or picofarads (pF).

The capacitance of a capacitor is given by the formula

Where C: capacitance
Q: is charge stored on each plate
V:potential difference between the plates

A capacitor typically consists of two parallel plates separated by an

insulating material (dielectric), and when a voltage is applied across the
plates, an electric field is created, which causes charges of opposite polarity
to accumulate on each plate. The positive charge accumulates on the plate
connected to the positive terminal of the voltage source, while the negative
charge accumulates on the other plate.

The capacitance depends on the surface area of the plates (A), the distance
between the plates (d), and the material between the plates (dielectric).

The electric field between the plates of the capacitor is responsible for the
storage of energy. The higher the dielectric constant of the material between
the plates, the greater the capacitance because the material allows the plates
to hold more charge at the same voltage.
 Types Of Conductors
1.​Parallel plate capacitor: A parallel plate capacitor consists of two
conductive plates separated by a dielectric material. The capacitance of
this capacitor is determined by the formula:

Where ε: permittivity of dielectric

A: area of plates
d: separation between them
●​ used in laboratory experiments, simple circuits, and energy storage
applications due to their straightforward design.

2.​Cylindrical Capacitor: A cylindrical capacitor is formed by two

coaxial cylinders, with the inner one acting as the positive plate and the
outer one as the negative plate. The capacitance is given by the formula

Where L: length of cylinder

a and b: inner and outer radii
●​ Used in coaxial cables and underground cables

3.​Spherical Capacitor: A spherical capacitor consists of two concentric

spherical conductors, with one sphere inside the other. The inner sphere
is positively charged, and the outer sphere is negatively charged. The
capacitance is calculated using
 Where R1: radii of inner sphere
R2: radii of outer sphere

●​ used in applications that require spherical symmetry, such as

high-voltage applications or theoretical experiments
 Dielectrics and Their Effect on Capacitance

A dielectric is an insulating material that, when placed between the plates of

a capacitor, increases its capacitance by reducing the electric field between
the plates. This allows the capacitor to store more charge at the same
voltage. The capacitance of a capacitor with a dielectric is given by:

Where κ: dielectric constant

A: area of plates
d: separation between them

The dielectric constant measures how much a material increases the

capacitance. For example, if κ=2, the capacitance doubles. In a vacuum or
air, κ=1.

Common dielectric materials include solid dielectrics like mica, plastic, and
paper, which significantly increase capacitance, as well as liquid dielectrics
like transformer oil and gas dielectrics such as SF₆, which are used in
high-voltage applications.

The use of dielectrics is crucial in enhancing the performance of capacitors

in various applications, including energy storage, power systems, and
electronic circuits.
 Energy Stored in a Capacitor
The energy stored in a capacitor is the energy that the capacitor accumulates
when charged by a voltage. This energy is stored in the electric field
between the plates of the capacitor. The amount of energy stored is given by
the formula:

Where U: energy stored

C: capacitance
V: voltage across capacitor

Capacitors store energy when charged by a voltage source, creating an

electric field between the plates. The dielectric material between the plates
plays a crucial role in determining how much energy can be stored, as it
reduces the electric field, allowing more charge to accumulate on the plates
without increasing the voltage.

In practical applications, this energy can be released when the capacitor

discharges, making capacitors essential for energy storage in devices like
cameras, flashlights, and power supply systems.
 Capacitors in Series and Parallel
Capacitors can be connected in two main ways: series and parallel, each
affecting the total capacitance in different ways.

●​ When capacitors are connected in series, the total capacitance decreases.

The formula for the equivalent capacitance Ceq​of capacitors in series is:

In this arrangement, the total capacitance is always smaller than the

capacitance of the smallest capacitor in the series. The voltage across each
capacitor adds up to the total voltage, but the charge on each capacitor
remains the same.

●​ On the other hand, when capacitors are connected in parallel, the total
capacitance increases. The formula for the equivalent capacitance Ceq of
capacitors in parallel is:

In this case, the voltage across each capacitor is the same, but the total
charge is the sum of the charges on each capacitor. This configuration is
often used in power storage applications, where higher capacitance is
needed.
 Applications of Capacitors
1.​Energy Storage: Capacitors store electrical energy when charged, which
can be released when needed. In devices like flash cameras, capacitors store
energy and release it in a quick burst to produce a bright flash of light.
Similarly, power supply systems use capacitors to smooth out voltage
fluctuations, storing energy during low-demand periods and releasing it
during high-demand periods.

2.​Power Supply Filtering: Capacitors are widely used in power supply

circuits to filter out fluctuations in the supply voltage. This process is
essential for providing stable DC power from an AC source. In rectifier
circuits, capacitors smooth the output waveform, ensuring a steady
supply to sensitive electronic components.

3.​Tuning Circuits: Capacitors are used in radio tuning circuits to select a

specific frequency by adjusting the capacitance. This application is
crucial in devices like radios and televisions where different frequencies
need to be isolated for tuning.

4.​Timing Circuits: Capacitors are key components in timing circuits,

used in oscillators and clocks to generate regular pulses or time delays,
crucial for devices like microprocessors.

5.​Power Factor Correction: In industrial systems, capacitors help

improve the power factor, increasing energy efficiency by compensating
for inductive loads like motors.
 Conclusion

Capacitance is a fundamental concept in electrostatics, playing a vital role in

storing and managing electrical energy in numerous applications.
Capacitors, which are designed to store charge, are essential components in
modern electronics, energy systems, and power supply circuits. The
presence of dielectric materials significantly enhances capacitance, enabling
capacitors to store more charge at the same voltage. Understanding the
behavior of capacitors in different configurations, such as series and
parallel, allows for their efficient use in various electrical circuits.

From power supply filtering and energy storage in flash devices to their role
in radio tuning and timing circuits, capacitors are crucial in a wide range of
devices. Their applications in industrial systems for power factor correction
further demonstrate their importance in optimizing energy use and
improving efficiency. Overall, capacitors and dielectrics are indispensable in
the development of both simple and advanced electronic systems, making
them a cornerstone of modern electrical engineering.
 Bibliography

1.​Class 12 Physics Textbook

2.​H. C. Verma, Concepts of Physics, Vol. 1

3.​[Link]

4.​[Link]