Khan’s

CAPACITORS AND CAPACITANCE PHYSICS 1

Dielectric strength of a medium: The maximum electric field that a dielectric medium can withstand 9811194916
without breakdown is called its dielectric strength. Dielectric strength of air is about 3 × 106 𝑉𝑚−1 .
There is a limit to which charge can be given to a conductor; the restriction is imposed by the dielectric
strength of the medium. If you keep giving the charge to a conductor, its potential rises and at certain
instant it exceeds the corresponding dielectric strength of the medium. The charge then leaks.
No matter what is the shape and
Capacitor: A system of two conductors separated by an insulator (it may be free space) is called a ca- size of the conductors, they are
pacitor. If the two conductors are in the shape of flat plates kept parallel to each other, then such a always called the plates.
capacitor is called a parallel plate capacitor.
In practice, the two plates are given equal and opposite charges (+Q and –Q). Though the net charge on ++ --
a capacitor is zero, the charge on the positive plate (or the magnitude of the charge on either plate) is V+ + - V-
+ -
said to be the charge on the capacitor. +Q + - -Q
+ + -
Capacitance of a capacitor: It is found that the potential difference 𝑉 (= 𝑉+ − 𝑉− ) between the plates is -
Fig -1. A capacitor
directly proportional to the charge 𝑄 raised on the capacitor. That is
𝑄
𝑄 ∝ 𝑉, or 𝑄 = 𝐶𝑉 and 𝐶= … … … … … … (1)
𝑉
The constant of proportionality C is called the capacitance of the capacitor. The unit of capacitance is
1 farad (𝐹). 1𝐹 = 1𝐶𝑉 −1 . A farad is a very big unit of capacitance, hence 1 𝜇𝐹(= 10−6 𝐹), 1𝑛𝐹(=
10−9 𝐹) or 1𝑝𝐹(= 10−12 𝐹) is commonly used.
𝑄 Fig-2. A parallel plate capacitor
From 𝐶 = , if 𝑉 = 1 V then 𝐶 = 𝑄; hence capacitance of a capacitor is numerically equal to the charge and its symbol
𝑉
required to raise the potential across the capacitor by one volt.
𝑄
Further, from 𝐶 = ,if 𝑉 = 1𝑉, 𝑄 = 1𝐶 then 𝐶 = 1𝐹; hence, if the potential across a capacitor rises by
𝑉
one volt when a charge of one coulomb is placed on it, the capacitance of the capacitor is said to be one
farad.
Capacitance of a capacitor depends upon the geometry (i.e. area, shape of the plates and distance be-
tween them) of the capacitor and the dielectric strength of the medium between the plates. C = k𝜀0 A/d.
So what is the principle of a capacitor? If we keep giving the charge to a conductor, its potential rises
and when this potential becomes equal to corresponding dielectric strength of the surrounding medi-
um, charge leaks out. Placing a negatively charged plate near a positively charged one decreases the
potential of the positive plate. This increases the capacitance (𝐶 = 𝑄 ⁄𝑉 ) of the capacitor and hence
more charge can be raised to it within the maximum allowed potential. This is the principal of a capaci-
tor.
Use of a capacitor: A capacitor is used to store charge and energy. In electrical circuits, it is used as fil-
ter, in tuning mechanism of wireless receivers (radio, TV etc.), in oscillator etc.
Finding capacitance of a capacitor
Take the following steps-
(1) First find the electric field in the region between the plates, using methods such as applying Gauss’s
theorem or Coulomb’s law.
(2) Find the potential difference between the positive and negative plate by integrating the electric field
along any convenient path (usually along a field line) connecting the plates:
+ −
𝑉 = 𝑉+ − 𝑉− = − ∫− 𝐸⃗ . 𝑑𝑟 = ∫+ 𝐸⃗ . 𝑑𝑟 … … … … … … … … (2)
Because of the way it is defined, 𝑉 is always a positive number.
For simple cases, like in parallel plate capacitor where field is uniform and integration is carried out
along a field line, the equation reduces to 𝑉 = 𝐸𝑟 (= 𝐸𝑑) … … … … … … … (3)
Here d is the distance between two points on a field line while moving from positive to negative plate.
(3) The outcome of equation (2) or (3) will involve Q on the right hand side. You can then find capaci-
tance by the formula, 𝐶 = 𝑄/𝑉
Capacitance of a parallel plate capacitor (air filled/no dielectric)
+𝜎 −𝜎
Using the expression of electric field for a large sheet we see that the electric fields outside the capaci-
+ -
tor in region I and II due to two sheets are equal and opposite, so there is no field outside the capacitor. -
𝜎 𝜎 𝜎 +
Inside, the two fields are in the same direction. Hence the field E between the plates is + = . + -
2𝜀0 2𝜀0 𝜀0
+ -
𝜎𝑑 𝑄𝑑 𝜎 = 𝑄 ⁄𝐴 , 𝐴 𝑏𝑒𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑡ℎ𝑒 I II
+ -
The potential difference between the plates is then 𝑉 = 𝐸𝑑 = = { ⃗𝑬
𝜀0 𝜀0 𝐴 𝑎𝑟𝑒𝑎 𝑜𝑓 𝑒𝑎𝑐ℎ 𝑝𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑒 + -
𝑊𝑒 𝑛𝑒𝑔𝑙𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑒𝑑 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑓𝑟𝑖𝑛𝑔𝑖𝑛𝑔 + -
𝑄 𝑄 𝜺𝟎 𝑨
The capacitance C is therefore 𝑪= = = … … … … … (4) { + -
𝑉 𝑄𝑑/𝜀0 𝐴 𝒅 𝑒𝑓𝑓𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑠 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑠𝑚𝑎𝑙𝑙 𝑑 (𝑑2 ≪ 𝐴) 𝑑
 Khan’s 2
Capacitance of a parallel plate capacitor with dielectric completely filled PHYSICS +- +- +- + -
9811194916 +- +- +- + -
When a dielectric is filled between the plates, it gets polarised. The atomic/molecular dipoles in the +- +- +- + -
dielectric are aligned in the direction of applied electric field 𝐸⃗ 0. This induces a charge density ±𝜎𝑃 on +- +- +- + -
the opposite faces of the dielectric, opposite in sign to that on the plates. The effective charge density +- +- +- + -
+- +- +- + -
thus reduces to ±(𝜎 − 𝜎𝑃 ). +- -
+- +- +
𝜎 +- +- +- + -
For a linear dielectric, (𝜎 − 𝜎𝑃 ) ∝ 𝜎 Or (𝜎 − 𝜎𝑃 ) = … … … … … … (5)
𝑘
The constant of proportionality, k is called the dielectric constant of the dielectric. K > 1, always.
Induced
The magnitude E of resultant electric field in the dielectric is therefore, charge
𝜎−𝜎𝑃 𝜎 𝐸0 density
𝐸= = = … … … … … … (6) ±𝝈𝑷
𝜀0 𝑘𝜀0 𝑘
Notice that the field in the dielectric decreases (free charge on the plates remaining constant) by a +- + -
+- + -
factor k (> 1). ⃗𝑬0 Free
+ -
𝜎𝑑 𝑄𝑑 charge
The potential difference across the capacitor is then, 𝑉 = 𝐸𝑑 = = +- + -
𝑘𝜀0 𝑘𝜀0 𝐴 density
+- ⃗𝑬P + -
𝑄 𝑄 𝜺𝟎 𝑨
±𝝈
The capacitance C is therefore 𝑪= = =𝑘 … … … … … … (7) + -
𝑉 𝑄𝑑/𝑘𝜀0 𝐴 𝒅 +- + -
+- + -
Equation (7) can be written as 𝐶 = 𝑘𝐶0 where 𝐶0 is the capacitance if there were no dielectric be-
tween the plates. 𝑑

Capacitance of a parallel plate capacitor when a dielectric slab of insufficient thickness is inserted
between the plates 𝑡
Let a dielectric slab of thickness 𝑡(< 𝑑) is inserted between the plates of the capacitor. Electric field in
+ - + -
the dielectric decreases to 𝐸0 ⁄𝑘 where 𝐸0 be the electric field if there were no dielectric. Hence up to a + -
- +
distance 𝑡 along the field line the field is 𝐸0 ⁄𝑘 and in rest of the distance (𝑑 − 𝑡) its value is 𝐸0 . Thus + 𝐸⃗0 -
potential difference between the plates +𝐸⃗0 - + ⃗ -
𝑘 𝐸 0
+ - + -
𝐸0 𝑡 𝑡 𝜎 1 𝑄 1
𝑉 = 𝐸0 (𝑑 − 𝑡) + = 𝐸0 (𝑑 − 𝑡 + ) = {𝑑 − 𝑡 (1 − )} = {𝑑 − 𝑡 (1 − )} where 𝜎 is the free + -
𝑘 𝑘 𝜀0 𝑘 𝐴𝜀0 𝑘
+ - + -
charge density and 𝑄 the total free charge on the plates and A is the area of each plate. + - + -
𝑄 𝜺𝟎 𝑨 𝑑
The capacitance C is therefore 𝑪= = 𝟏 … … … … … … … (8)
𝑉 𝒅−𝒕(𝟏− )
𝒌

If instead of a dielectric, it is a conducting slab: For a conductor, 𝑘 = ∞ and equation (8) becomes
𝜺𝟎 𝑨
𝐶= … … … … … … … … … … … (9)
𝒅−𝒕
Capacitance of an isolated conducting sphere
1 𝑄
Assuming the other plate at the infinity and at zero potential, the potential difference 𝑉 = and
4𝜋𝜀0 𝑅
𝑸
𝑪= = 𝟒𝝅𝜺𝟎 𝑹 … … … … … … … (10) The second plate of such a capacitor is said to be at infinity.
𝑽
Induced charge/ charge density on the surface of the dielectric
You can find this from equation (5) reproduced below.
(1) Induced charge/charge density on the surface
𝜎 𝟏 of the dielectric does not depend upon the thick-
(𝜎 − 𝜎𝑃 ) = ⇒ 𝝈𝑷 = 𝝈 (𝟏 − ) … … … … … … … (11)
𝑘 𝒌 ness of the dielectric.
And from, 𝑄 = 𝜎𝐴,
𝟏
𝑸𝒑 = 𝑸 (𝟏 − ) … … … … … … … (12) (2) For a conducting slab, 𝝈𝑷 = 𝝈 and 𝑸𝒑 = 𝑸.
𝒌

Energy stored in a parallel plate capacitor + -

The work done by an external agent in transporting the charge from one plate to the other is stored as
+ -
the electric potential energy, in the electric field between the plates. Normally, the work of charging is 𝑑𝑞
done by a battery, at the expense of its chemical energy. + -
Consider a capacitor being charged. Let at certain instant a charge 𝑞 has already been transferred from
+ -
one plate to the other. The potential difference 𝑉′ between the plates at that moment is𝑉 ′ = 𝑞⁄𝐶 . If 𝑉′
an additional charge 𝑑𝑞 is now transferred, the resulting small change 𝑑𝑈 in the electric potential en-
Battery actually supplies energy
ergy is equal to CV2 or QV (Q charge pass-
𝑞
𝑑𝑈 = 𝑉 ′ 𝑑𝑞 = 𝑑𝑞 es across the potential difference V
𝐶 of the battery). Half of this is stored
If this process is continued until a total charge 𝑄 has been transferred, the total potential energy is in the capacitor and half is dissipat-
ed across the resistance (including
𝑄𝑞 𝑄2 internal resistance) of the circuit.
𝑈 = ∫ 𝑑𝑈 = ∫0 𝑑𝑞 = … … … … … … (13)
𝐶 2𝐶
1 1
From the relation 𝑄 = 𝐶𝑉 you can also write this as 𝑈 = 𝐶𝑉 2 and 𝑈 = 𝑄𝑉 … … … … … (14)
2 2
1
𝐶𝑉 2
If asked to prove that the energy
𝑈 1 𝜀0𝐴 𝑉 2 1 𝑉 2 1
Energy density (energy per unit volume) 𝑢 = = 2
= = 𝜀0 ( ) = 𝜀0 𝐸 2 … … (15) resides in the electric field, show
𝐴𝑑 𝐴𝑑 2 𝑑 𝐴𝑑 2 𝑑 2
this relation as ‘evidence’.
Though the result (equation 15) has been derived for the special case of a capacitor it is true in general; wher-
1
ever there is an electric field 𝐸 at a point in space there is 𝜀0 𝐸 2 energy per unit volume in the neighbourhood
2
of the point.
 Khan’s
Force between the plates of a parallel plate capacitor PHYSICS 3
9811194916
Let the two plates of a capacitor placed at a certain distance attracts each other with a force𝐹. We in-
crease the separation by a small displacement ∆𝑥. Work done 𝑊 in this process is 𝑊 = 𝐹∆𝑥. This also
1
increases the volume of the capacitor by 𝐴∆𝑥 and energy 𝑈 of the capacitor by 𝑈 = 𝐴∆𝑥. 𝜀0 𝐸 2 (in- + -
2
𝟏 𝟐
creased volume × energy density). Setting 𝑊 = 𝑈, we get 𝑭 = 𝑨𝜺𝟎 𝑬 … … … … … (16) +
𝟐 -
𝟏
F F
A little play with this equation (like putting 𝐸 = 𝜎/𝜀0 and 𝜎𝐴 = 𝑄) yields 𝑭 = 𝑸𝑬 … … … … … … (17) + -
𝟐
𝐸 𝜎
Why this factor ½? Because the charge 𝑄 on one plate experiences the force in the field (= ) pro- + -
2 2𝜀0 ∆𝑥
𝜎
duced by the charge density on the other plate and not in 𝐸(= ) which is the resultant of the field pro-
𝜀0
duced by both the plates.
Effect of inserting a dielectric between the plates of a capacitor on the various parameters of a
capacitor
If not mentioned in the ques-
The effect depends upon whether the dielectric is inserted with capacitor remains connected with tion, assume the capacitor to be
the battery or disconnected. Let 𝑄0 , 𝐶0 , 𝑉0 , 𝐸0 , 𝑈0 , 𝐹0 be the charge, capacitance, potential, electric disconnected from the battery.
field, energy and force before inserting the dielectric and the corresponding quantities after inserting
the dielectric be 𝑄, 𝐶, 𝑉, 𝐸, 𝑈 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝐹.
Capacitor charged and disconnected from the battery Capacitor charged, remains connected to the battery
𝑄 = 𝑄0 Because there is no external agent (like a battery) to 𝑉 = 𝑉0 Potential across the capacitor is equal to that of the bat-
𝜎 = 𝜎0 move the charge from or to the plates. tery.
Capacitance depends upon the geometry of the capaci- Capacitance depends upon the geometry of the capacitor
𝐶 = 𝐾𝐶0 tor and the nature of the medium between the plates 𝐶 = 𝐾𝐶0 and the nature of the medium between the plates and not
and not on 𝑄 or 𝑉 on 𝑄 or 𝑉
𝑉 = 𝑉0 /𝐾 𝑉 = 𝑄 = 𝑄0 = 𝑉0 𝑄 = 𝐾𝑄0 , 𝑄 = 𝐶𝑉 = 𝐾𝐶0 𝑉0 = 𝐾𝑄0
𝐶 𝐾𝐶0 𝐾 𝜎 = 𝐾𝜎0
𝑉 𝑉0
𝐸= = = 𝐸0 ; Note that the dielectric actually decreases
𝑉 𝑉0 𝐸0 𝑑 𝑑
𝐸 = 𝐸0 /𝐾 𝐸= = = 𝐸 = 𝐸0 the field by a factor K but charge on the plates also increases by
𝑑 𝐾𝑑 𝐾
the same factor, keeping the field unchanged.
𝑉02 1 1
𝑈 = 𝑈0 /𝐾 1
𝑈 = 𝐶𝑉 2 = 𝐾𝐶0
1
=
𝑈0
; Also, energy density 𝑢 =
𝑢0 𝑈 = 𝐾 𝑈0 𝑈 = 𝐶𝑉 2 = 𝐾𝐶0 𝑉02 = 𝐾𝑈0 ; Also energy density 𝑢 = 𝐾𝑢0
2 2
2 2 𝐾2 𝐾 𝐾
Force between the plates depend upon the field (𝐸0 ) at Field at the surface of the plates (not in the dielectric)
𝐹 = 𝐹0 the surface of the plates and not that in the dielectric 𝐹 = 𝐾 2 𝐹0 increases by a factor K due to increased charge (𝑄 = 𝐾𝑄0 ).
(𝐸0 /𝐾) In the increased field charge 𝐾𝑄0 experiences the force.
Effect of changing distance between the plates of a capacitor
Let the distance is changed by a factor n; n may be less or greater than one. For example n= 2 or n = ½.
Capacitor charged and disconnected from the battery Capacitor charged, remains connected to the battery
𝐶 = 𝐶0 /𝑛 𝐶 = 𝜀0 𝐴 = 𝜀𝑜 𝐴 = 𝐶0 𝐶 = 𝐶0 /𝑛 𝜀 𝐴 𝜀 𝐴
𝐶= 0 = 𝑜 = 0
𝐶
𝑑 𝑛𝑑𝑜 𝑛 𝑑 𝑛𝑑𝑜 𝑛
𝑄 = 𝑄0 , Because there is no external agent (like a battery) to 𝑉 = 𝑉0 Potential across the capacitor is equal to that of the bat-
𝜎 = 𝜎0 move the charge from or to the plates. tery.
𝑉 = 𝑛𝑉0 𝑄 𝑄0 𝑄 = 𝑄0 /𝑛 𝐶0 𝑄0
𝑉= = = 𝑛𝑉0 𝑄 = 𝐶𝑉 = 𝑉0 =
𝐶 𝐶0 ⁄𝑛 𝜎 = 𝜎0 /𝑛 𝑛 𝑛

𝐸 = 𝐸0 𝜎 𝜎0 𝑉 𝑛𝑉0 𝑉0 𝐸0 𝑉 𝑉0 𝑉0 𝐸0
𝐸= =
= 𝐸0 or 𝐸 = = = = 𝐸0 𝐸= 𝐸= = = =
𝜀0
𝜀0 𝑑 𝑛𝑑0 𝑑0 𝑛 𝑑 𝑛𝑑0 𝑛𝑑0 𝑛
𝑈 = 𝑛𝑈0 1 1 𝐶0 2 2 1 2 𝑈 = 𝑈0 /𝑛 1 1 𝐶0 2 11 𝑈0
𝑈 = 𝐶𝑉 =2
𝑛 𝑉0 = 𝑛 𝐶0 𝑉0 = 𝑛𝑈0 𝑈= 2
𝐶𝑉 = 𝑉 = 𝐶 𝑉2 =
2 2 𝑛 2 2 2 𝑛 0 𝑛2 0 0 𝑛
1 1
𝑢 = 𝑢0 𝑢 = 𝜀0 𝐸 = 𝜀0 𝐸02 = 𝑢0
2 𝑢 = 𝑢0 /𝑛2 1 1 𝐸0 2 𝑢0
2 2 𝑢 = 𝜀0 𝐸2 = 𝜀0 ( ) =
2 2 𝑛 𝑛2
1 1
𝐹 = 𝐹0 𝐹 = 𝑄𝐸 = 𝑄0 𝐸0 = 𝐹0 𝐹 = 𝐹0 /𝑛2 1
𝐹 = 𝑄𝐸 =
1 𝑄0 𝐸0 𝐹0
=
2 2 2 2 𝑛 𝑛 𝑛2
Two charged capacitors connected in parallel – common potential and loss of energy
𝐶1
𝑉1 + -
Let the capacitor C1 is charged to a potential V1 and C2 to a potential V2. The total charge on the two + -
+ -
capacitors is 𝐶1 𝑉1 + 𝐶2 𝑉2 . When connected in parallel (such that positive plate of one is connected to + -
the positive plate of the other), some charge flows from one capacitor to other and the two capacitors + -
+ -
𝑉2 + -
acquire the same potential difference VC. The total charge now calculated comes to be 𝐶1 𝑉𝐶 + 𝐶2 𝑉𝐶 . +𝐶 -
2
Applying conservation of charge we have
𝐶 𝑉 +𝐶 𝑉 𝐶1
𝐶1 𝑉𝐶 + 𝐶2 𝑉𝐶 = 𝐶1 𝑉1 + 𝐶2 𝑉2 ⇒ 𝑉𝐶 = 1 1 2 2 … … … … … … (18) + -
𝐶1 +𝐶2 + -
+ -
Loss of energy ∆𝑈(= 𝑈𝑖 − 𝑈𝑓 ) is then + -
𝑉𝐶
1 1 1 1 1 1 1 (𝐶1 𝑉1 +𝐶2 𝑉2 )2 + -
∆𝑈 = 𝐶 𝑉2 + 𝐶 𝑉2 − ( 𝐶1 𝑉𝐶2 + 𝐶 𝑉 2) = 𝐶 𝑉2 + 𝐶 𝑉2 − ( (𝐶1 + 𝐶2 ) ) + -
2 1 1 2 2 2 2 2 2 𝐶 2 1 1 2 2 2 2 (𝐶1 +𝐶2 )2 + -
+𝐶 -
2
1 1 (𝐶1 𝑉1 +𝐶2 𝑉2 )2 𝐶1 𝑉12 (𝐶1 +𝐶2 )+𝐶2 𝑉22 (𝐶1 +𝐶2 )−(𝐶1 𝑉1 +𝐶2 𝑉2 )2
= 𝐶1 𝑉12 + 𝐶2 𝑉22 − ( ) =
2 2 2(𝐶1 +𝐶2 ) 2(𝐶1 +𝐶2 )
If positive plate of one capacitor
𝐶12 𝑉12 +𝐶1 𝐶2 𝑉12 +𝐶1 𝐶2 𝑉22 +𝐶22 𝑉22 −𝐶12 𝑉12 −𝐶22 𝑉22 −2𝐶1 𝐶2 𝑉1 𝑉2 𝐶1 𝐶2 (𝑉12 +𝑉22 −2𝑉1 𝑉2 ) is connected to the negative one
= =
2(𝐶1 +𝐶2 ) 2(𝐶1 +𝐶2 ) of the other, Equation (18) will be
𝐶1 𝐶2 (𝑉1 −𝑉2 )2 𝐶1 𝑉1 −𝐶2 𝑉2
Or, ∆𝑈 = which is greater than zero except when𝑉1 = 𝑉2 . Hence if 𝑉1 ≠ 𝑉2 , there is always modified as 𝑉𝐶 = 𝐶1 +𝐶2
2(𝐶1 +𝐶2 )
loss of energy. Loss of energy occurs mainly in the form of heat and to some extent as radiation.