CAPACITORS.pdf ow a Capacitance Introduction Capi opposite sign and separated byan insulating medi tudes and itor is an arrangement of wo conductors generally carrying charges of equal ma h stores electric nm. A capacitor is a device wh sacitors vary in shape and size, but the basic configuration s to conductors carrying equal re) Capacitors havemany important applications in electroni Some examples include storing electric potential energy, delaying voltage changes when coupled with resistors, filtering out unwanted frequency signals, forming resonant circuits and making frequency-dependent and independent voltage dividers when combined with resistors. Some of these applications will be discussed in latter chapters When charges are pulled apart, energy isassociated with the pullin involved instretching a spring, Thus, some energy is stored in capacitors. part of charges, just like energy is In the wicharged state. the charge on either one of the conductors inthe capacitor is zero. During the Qismoved from one conductor to the other one, giving one conductor a charge +Q, and the other one a charge -Q. A potential difference AV iscreuted, with the positively charged conductor. higher potential than the negatively charged conductor. Note that whether charged or uncharged, the net charge on the capacitor as a wholeis zero. charging process. Note : 1, The net charge on the capacitoras a whole is zero, When we say that a capacitor hasa charge Q, we ‘mean that the positively charged conductor has charge +Q and negatively charged conductor has a charge-Q 2. Imacircuit,a capacitor is represented bythe symbol — Limitations on charging a conductor How much electric charge can be placed ona conductor? Asmore air is pumped into the tank, the pressure opposing the flow ofadditional air becomes greater so it becomes further difficult to pump moreair. Similarly, as more charge Q is transfered to the conductor, the potential V of the conductor becomes higher, making it increasingly difficult to transfer more charge. Suppose we try to placean indefinite quantity of charge Q ona spher surrounding the conductorisan insulat al conductor of radius r. The air sometimes called a dielectris which contains few charges free to move. The electric field intensity # and the potential V at the surface of the sphere are given by kQ and V=—*Since the radius ris constant, both the field intensity and the potential at the surface of the sphere increase in direct proportion to the chargeQ. here isa limit, however, to the field intensity that can exist on a conductor without ionizing the surrounding air, When this occurs, the air essentially becomes a conducior, and any alditionel charge placed on the sphere will “leak off” tothe air, This limiting value of electric field intensity for which amaterial loses its insulation properti called the dielectric strength of that material ial ceases to be /enmaterial is that electric field intensity for which them: an insulator and becomes a conductor. The dielectric strength for dry airat | atm pressure isaround 3MN/C. Since the dielectric strength of a ‘material varies considerably with environmental conditions, such aspressure and humidity, its difficult to compute accurate values. Note that the amount of charge that can be placedon a spherical conductor decreases with the radius of the sphere. Thus, smaller conductors can usually hold less charge. But the shape of a conductor also influences its ability to retain charge. Consider the charged conductors. If these conductor are tested with anelectroscope, it will be discovered that the charge on the surface ofa conductor is concentrated at points of greatest curvature. Because of the greater charge density in these regions, the electric field intensity isalso greater in regions of higher curvature. f the surface is reshaped to a sharp point, the field intensity may become great enough to ionize the surroundingair. A show leakage of charge sometimes occurs at these locations, producing a corona dischat Which is often observed asa faint violet glow in the vicinity of the sharply pointed conductor. It is important to remove all sharp edges from electrical equipment to minimize this leakage of charge Practice Exercise QI What isthemaximum charge that may be placed on aspherical conductor Im in diameter? Assume itis, surrounded by air. Assume the dielectric strength fordry air at 1 atm pressure is around 3MN/C Answers: Capacitance We can say that the increase in potential V is directly proportional to the charge Q placed on the conductor. Symbolically V«Q Therefore, the ratio of the quantity of charge Q to the potential V produced will be a constant fora giv conductor. This ratio reflects the anility of'a conductor to store charge and is called its capacitance C. Q Cay3 The unit of capacitances the coulomb per volt, which is redefined asa farad (F). Thus, ifa conductor has capacitance of | farad, a transter of | coulomb of charge to the conductor will raise its potential by Volt 4) The value of C fora given conductor is nota function of either the charge placed on a conductor orthe potential produced. In principle, the ratio Q/V ‘ance depends on the size and shape of a conductor as well a ill remain constant as charge is added indefinitely, but on the nature ofthe surrounding, medium, The capacitor ‘The simplest example of a capacitor consists of two conducting plates of area A, which are parallel to cach other, and separated by a distance d, ay shown in, A parallel-plate capacitor Experiments show that ihe amount of charge @ stored ina capacitor is Hinearly proportional to [AV], the clectric potential difference between the plates. Thus, wemay write Q=C lav where Cis. positive proportionality constant called capacitance. Physically, cap: of the capacity of storing electric charge for a given potential difference AV, The SI unit of capacitance is the farad(F) 1 F= 1 farad= I coulomb / volt= 1C/V A typical capacitance isin the picofarad (| pF = 10-!? F) to millifarad range, (| mF = 107 F= 1000 pF InP = 10°F) Figure (a) shows the symbol which is used to represent capacitors in circuits. For a polarized fixed ite polarity, Figure (b)is sometimes used. or. | AG. Capacitor symbols, capacitor which hasa dk Practice Exercise Ql Acapacitor having a capacitance of 4pF is connected to a 60V battery. What is the charge on the capacitor?Answers Ql 240 we Capacitors in Electric Circuits Acapacitorcan be charged by connecting the plates to the terminals of a battery, which are maintained at apotential difference AV called the terminal voltage. Charging a capacitor. The connection results in sharing the charges between the terminals and the plates. For example, the plate that is connected to the (positive) negative terminal will acquire some (positive) sgative charge. The sharing causes a momentary reduction of charges on the terminals, and a decrease in the terminal voltage. Chemical reactionsare then triggered to transfer more charge from one terminal tothe other to compensate for the loss of charge to the capacitor plates, and maintain the terminal voltage at its initial level. The battery could thus be thought of'asa charge pump that brings a charge Q from one plate tothe other. Parallel-Plate Capacitor Consider two metallic plates of equal area A separated by a distance d, asshown in Figurebelow. The topplatecarriesa charge-+Q while the bottom plate carries a charge—Q. The charging ofthe plates can be accomplished by means ofa battery which produces a potential difference. Find the capacitance of thesystem. The electric field between the plates of a parallel-plate capacitor5 To find the capacitance C, we first need to know the electric field between the plates. Areal capacitor is finite insize, Thus, the electric field lines atthe edge ofthe plates are not straight lines, and the field isnot iniform fieldsnear the contained entirely between the plates, This isknown as edge effects, and the non- edge ure the field lines are drawn by taking into consideration edge called the fringing fields. In Fi a effects. However, in what follows, we shall ignore such effectsand assumean idealized situation, where field lines betw In the limit where the plates are infinitely large, the system has planar symmetry and we can calculatethe en the plates are straight lines. electric field everywhere using Gauss’s law givenin Fq. fh. ak — tom & By choosing a Gaussian “pillbox” with cap area 4’ to enclose the charge on the positive plate (see Figure), theelectric field in the region between the platesis, Gene _ GA ° Fa'= = >E BED e The same resulthas also been obtained using superposition principle. aussie siriat 4g 4 4 byt 1 Gaussian surface for culating the electric field between the pla The potential differencebetween the plates is AV Vv. fe as where we have taken the path of integration to bea straight line fiom the positive plate to the negative her potential to plate following the field lines, Since the electric field lines are alway’ directed from hi ower potential, V_ Aln(h/a)/ en, ~ In(b/a) c Once gain, wesce that the capacitance C depends only on the geometrical factors, J, a and b. Spherical Capacitor Aga third example, let’sconsidera spherical capacitor which consists of wo concentrie spherical shells of radia and b, as shown in Fi re, The inner shell has a charge +Q uniformly distributed over its surface, and the outer shell an equal but opposite charge—Q. What isthe capacitance of this configuration? (a) spherical capacitor with wvo concentric spherical shells ofradil a and b, (b) Gaussian surface for calculating the electric field. ‘The potential difference between the two conducting shells is, which yields Again, the capacitance C depends only an the physical dimensions, and b. An “isolated” conductor (with the second conductor placed at infinity) also has a capacitance. In the limit where b— 2», the above equation becomes lim @ = lim c= Him ane, bosThus, fora single isolated spherical conductor ofradius R, the capacitance is C= 4negR The above expression can also be obtained by noting that conducting sphere of radius R with a charge Quniformly distributed over its surface has V = Q/4ne,R, using infinity as the reference point havin, zero potential, V0) =0. This gives Oo _ a TAV] ~ Q/4ne,R =4ne,R Asexpected, the capacitance ofan isolated charged sphere only depends on its geometry, namely, the radius R Mlustration: A parallel plate air capacitor is made using two plates 0.2 m square, spaced I em apart. It is connected to a 50 V battery (a) what is the capacitance ? (b) what is the charge on each plate ? () what is the electric field between the plates ? (@) if the battery is disconnected and then the plates are pulled apart to a separation of 2m, what are the Answers to the above parts ? yA _ 8.85% 10"? x 0.20.2 Sol (a) on (B) Qg = CyVp = G54 107 x50C = 1.77107 uC fo. ot 32 sao m (@) If the battery is disconnected, the charge on the capacitor plates remains constant while the potential difference between plates can change.Practice Exercise Qt Qn A capacitor having plate area A. separation between plates d is connected to abattery having potential difference across it as V. Find what happens to its provided the battery remains connected 4) (a) Capacitance (c) P.d, actoss capacitor plates (b) Charge (d) Field between the plates when its area is doubled A capacitorhaving plate area A. separation between plates d is connected to abattery having potential difference across it as V, Find what happens to its provided the battery is disconnected (a) Capacitance (c) Pd, across capacitor plates (b) Charge (d) Field between the plates when itsarea is doubled Two identical metal plates are given positive charges Q, and Q, ( JAV10 These two capacitors can bereplaced by a single equivalent capacitor with tctal charge Q supplied by the battery. However, since Q is shared by the two capacitors, we must have Q=Q, +, =C, [AV +C, | AVI=(C, + Cy) [AV] The equivalent capacitance is then seen to be given by ~ av Thus, capacitors that are connected in parallel add. The generalization to any number of capacitors is =C,+C, Cay i OFC H C,H ee #CQ= LE (parallel Series Connection : Suppose two initially uncharged capacitors C, and C, are connected in series, asshown in Figure. A potential difference |AV|is then applied across both capacitors, ‘The left plate of capacitor | is connected to the positive terminal of the battery and becomes positively plate ofcapacitor2 is connected to the negative terminal and becomes negatively charged with charge — Qas electrons flow in, What about the inner plates? They were initially uncharged; now the outside plates each attract an equal and opposite charge. So the right plate of capacitor | —Qand the left plate of capacitor 2 will acqui charge of +Q sd with a charge +Q, while the right lan ad ) mI Capacitors in series and an equ valent capacitor The potential differences across capacitors C, and C,are A= respectively, From Figure, we see that the total potential difference is simply the sum of the two individual potential differences: AV| = |: In fact, the total potential difference across any number of capacitors in series connection isequal tothe sum of potential differences across the individual capacitors, These two capacitors can be replaced by a ngle equivalent capacitor C,., Q AVA = AV | + AV, Q ~ [ayy Using the fact thatthe potentialsaddin series, 4)4 and so the equivalent capacitance for two capacitorsin series becomes Als Qc Q WIG erg IM Gee Mustration: Two capacitors of capacitance C, = 6 F and C, = 3 are connected in series across a cell of emf 18 V. Calculate (a) the (b) the potential difference across each capacitor equivalent capacitance (6) the charge on each capacitor Sol. (a) are as Nore that the smaller capacitor C, has a larger potential difference acrossit. © =0, =GV, = CV. = CV charge on each capacitor =C,, V 2uF «18 volts = 364C Copied to clipboard.12 Mlustration: Find the equivalent capacitance of the combination shown in figure between the points P and } Sol. The \uF and 20 uF capacitors are connected in parallel. Their equivalent capacitance is 1OMF +20uF =30 uF. We can replace the 10 WF and the 20 WF capacitors by asingle capacitor of capacitance 30xF between P and Q. This is connected in series with the given 30 wF capacitor The equivalent capacitance C of this combination is given by on, C=15 uF IWF 30uF Mlustration: Find the equivalent capacitance between points A and B capacitance of each capacitor is 2 WF 12 aa a ot, © Sol. The circuit can be redrawn as A A fue 2uF 8 4 Hy ae | 4p it uF i} f f uF fies At uF aur Copied to clipboard.43 Mlustration : Seven capacitors each of capacitance 2uF are to be connected in a configuration to obtain an effective capacitance of (\0/M)uF. Which of the combination(s), shown in figure below, will achieve the desired result? Ih H\ (a ms ) ee wv © Cane @ ese Sol. (a) or ©) or © or a cour (d) or Wf Mustration = Four identical metal plates are located in air at equal : separations d as shown. The area of each plate is A ———" Calculate the effective capacitance of the arrangement |_____ * and B. 7 Sol. Let us call the isolated plate as P.A capacitor is formed by a pair of parallel plates facing each other. Hence we have three capacitor formed by the pairs (1, 2 4) and (5, 6). The surface 2 and 3 are at same potential as that of A. The arrangement can be redrawn as a network of three capacitors14 Practice Exercise Q.L_ Find the equivalent capacitance for the combination of capacitors shown in Figure. bri Q.2._ Find the equivalent capacitance, assuming that all the capacitors have the same capacitance C. c cc Hoe cee LH Q.3- Four identical metal plates are located in air at equal distances d from one another. The areaof each plate is equal to A. Find the capacitance of the system between points A and B if the plates are interconnected as shown (a) in Fig. (a) (b) in Fig. (b) AB AB Fig. : (a) Fig. (b) QA A capacitor of capacitance C, = 1.0 pF with stands the maximum voltage V, ~6.0 kV whilea capacitor of capacitance C, vo capacitors withstand if they are connected in series? OF, the maximum voltage V, = 4.0 KV. What voltage will the system of these QS Acircuit has section AB shown in Fig, The emf of the source equals E = 10V, the capacitor capacitances, areequal toC, = 1.01 and, OV. Findthevoltage across each capacitor 0 uF and the potential difference V,—Viq ; r oe a ae t L15 Q.6 Find the potential difference between points A and B of the system shown in Fig. Ifthe emfis equal to & = 110 V and the pacitance ratio C,/C 4) ire connected as shown in figure to one at point O. Q.7 Three uncharged capacitors of capacitance C,,C, and another and to pointsA,B and D at potentialsV ,. V, and V,,. Determine the potential V Q.8 _ Inacircuit shown in Fig, Find the potential difference between the left and right plates of each capacitor C= Ink 6, = 6V Q.9 Find the capacitance of the circuit shown in Fig, between points A and B. C= IBF C= 2uF Al I. LB C= 2MF Co 1k Q.10 A capacitor of capacitance C, = 1.0 uF charged up to a voltage V ~ 110 V is connected in parallel to theterminals of.a circuit consisting of two uncharged capacitors connected in series and possessingthe 2.0 pF and C, = 3.0 uF. What charge will flow through the connecting wires? capacitances | Copied to clipboard.16 Q.IL What charges will flow after the shorting ofthe switch Sw in the circuit illustrated in Fig. through sections 1 and 2in the directions indicated by thearrows? Sw c 1 Q2 QB (aC =25,A/3d » (by C= 35,A2d Q4 vey, Q5 V,~q/C,~ IV, V,~q/C,~ SV, where q = (V,-Vq FE) C,C, (C+ C) VaCi +VC2 +VnC. Cte, Q6 V=10V Q7 Q8 V,=-4V.V,=2v uF Q.10 0.06me Ql a, ECG) > -EC,C,/(C,+C,) Force on the Plates of a Capacitor The plates of a parallel-plate capacitor havearea A and carry total charge +0 (see Figure) Electric field due to negative plate atthe location of positive plate -gative pl pi pl -Q +Q 2 ._2 K 2ey 2eyA force on the positive plate - Q Q Bu @ [gen] Deyn atracting) Copied to clipboard.a7 Mlustration: Consider anair-filled parallel-pate capacitor withone plate connected toa spring having. force constant k,and another plate held fixed. The system rests on a table top as shown in Figure 4) k oli ab Sol. Forequilibrium @ skk x= 2kAEy Practice Exercise QL Plates ofa parallel plate of area Aand separation between the plates d,s charged to a potential difference of V, Find the attraction force between plates. Answers ev AV aw Storing Energy in a Capacitor : As discussed in the introduction, capacitors can be used to stored electrical energy. The amount of energy stored isequal tothe work done to char it, During the chargi process, the battery does work: to remove charges from one plate and deposit them onto the other. a ‘| Work is done by an external agent in bringing +dg from the negative plate and depositing the charge on the positive plate ally uncharged. In cach plate of the capacitor, there aremany negative and Letthe capacitor be i positive charges, but the number of negative charges balances the number of positive cha there isno net charge, and therefore no electric field between the plates. We have a magic bucket anda set of stairs from the bottom plate to the top plate ( Wesstart out at the bottom plate, fill our magic bucket with a charge dq, carry the bucket up the stairs and dump the contents of the bucket on the top plate, charging it up positive to charge +dq. However, in doing so, the bottom plate is now charged to ~dg. Having emptied the bucket of charge, we now | Copied to clipboard.18 descend the stairs, get another bucketful of charge +dg, go back up the stairs and dump that charge on the top plate. We then repeat this process over and over. Inthis way we build up charge on the capaci and create electric field where there was none initially Suppose the amount of charge on the top plate at some instant is +g, and the potential differes between the two plates is |\V| ~ q/C. To dump ancther bucket of charge dq on the top plate, the amount of work done to overcome electrical repulsion is dW =|AV|dg. If atthe end of the charging process, the charge on the top plate is +Q, then the total amount of work done in this process is @ 4 iQ we feqhavy- fag t= 12° fea fare re This is equal to the electrical potential energy U,, of the system: ~1@ ot 1 Un sea FQ AVI > |AVP Energy Density of the Electric Field : One can think of the energy stored in the capacitor as being stored in the electric field itself. In the case ofa parallel-plate capacitor, with C= A /d and |AV| = Ed, we have A Il >! slo U, = ZCIAVP = 5 “Ed? = 5 eyF (Ad) the quantity Ad represents the velume between the plates, we ean define the electric € yas uy Se Volume 2 E Note that u, is proportional to the square of the electric field. Alternatively, one may obtain the energ stored in the capacitor from the point of view of external work. Since the plates are oppositely charged, force must be apy ntain a constant separation between them, From Eq., wesee thata small patch of charge Aq ~ o( AA) experiences anattructive force AF = 0°(AA)/2c,... Ifthe total area ofthe plate is 4. then an external agent must exert a force F,, = o24/2«, to pill the two plates apart. Since the electric field strength in ther -gion between the plates is given by E = oi, the external force can be rewritten as Note that F,,, isindependent ofd. The total amount of work done externally to separate the plates by a distance dis then - £,E7A ) Wan Precast {BO consistent with Fq, Since the potential energy ofthe system is equal to the work done hy the extemal19 e,£2/2. The electr went, we have u,= W,.,/ Ad electrostatic pressure P. energy density u, can also be interpreted as 4) First law of thermodynamics in Capacitors: If heat liberated by system = Qucres > AQ==Q ipeans Work doneby the system AW = = AWictey Now using AQ= AU + AW > -Qyreraea ~ AUapacitor — AW AWyney = MU ca Therefore, as mentioned in the beginning of chapter, the work done by battery goes in storing energy in capacitor and rest goes as heat loss in resistor. Mlustration : Two capacitors A and B with capacities 3 F and 2uF are charged to.a potential difference of 100V and 180V respectively. The plates of the capacitors are connected as shown in the figure with one wire of each capaciior free. The upper plate of A is positive and that of Bis negative. An uncharged 2 F capacitor C with lead wires falls on the free ends to complete the circuit. Calculate (the final charge on the three capacitors, and (ii) the amount of electrostatic energy stored in the system before and afier the completion of the circuit Sol. Charge on capacitor A, before joining with an uncharged capacitor, 4, = CV = (100) «3 we = 300 He similarly charge on capacitor B, Gy 7180 ¥ 2 We = 360 We Letq,, q, and q, be the charges on the threecapacitors afterjoining yy S. them as shown in fig. us From conservation of charge, wi 5 Net charge on plates 2.and 3 hefore joining « = Net charge after joining ‘ 300 = 4, +49, “ Similarly, net charge on plates 4 and 5 before joining = Net charge after joining -360 =-q,-4, Copied to clipboard.20 360 =4,+4, on) applying Kirchoff * 2 law in loop ABCD a 24,- @ From equations (1), (2) and (3), g, = 90 We, g, = 90 We and q, = 150 We (ii) (a) Electrostatic energy stored before completing the circuit, 1 3 x 10°) (100P +~(2 x 10*)(180P w-5ew) = 4.74 x 10° J = 47.4 md. (b) Electrostatic energy stored after completing the circuit, u,-4ox10%y— s0+10 u-t a) 2 xe we (Ye) = 40~ 10") = 9ms Practice Exercise Q.1 Acapacitor of capacitance C, = 1.0 nF carryinginitiallya voltage V=300 V is connected in parallel with an uncharged capacitor of capacitance C, = 2.0 uF. Find the loss of the electric energy of this system by the moment equilibrium is reached, Explain the result obtained. Q.2 What amount of heat will be generated in the circuit shown in Fig. after the switch Sw is shifted from position | to position 2? Q.3.— Each plate ofa parallel-plate air capacitor has an area A. What amount of work has to be performed to slowly increase the distance between the plates from, tox, if acitor, which is equal to q, or (b) the voltage across the capacitor, which is equal (a) the charge on thee: (0 ¥. is kept constant in the proc Answers Qt AW=-12 VCC, /(C, +) 0.03 mI Q2 Q=1NCE} QS Wg? (x,-%4)/ 26g (b) Wa eyAV? (8) x1) /28xy24 Dielectrics Dielectric is any insulating substance (insulator). It can be rubber, plastic wood, oil etc. In contrast to conductors, the electrons in dielectrics are attached to specific atoms or molecules, so they are not allowed from movi do is move abit withinthe randomly at will. They are in tight leash; all they atom ora molecule. Experimentally it was found that capacitance Cincreases when the space between the conductors is ance when there isno filled with dielectrics, To see how this happens, suppose a capacitor has a caps material between the plates. When adielectric material is inserted to completely fll the space between theplates, the capacitance increasesto K, times ive CHK Cy where K, is called the dielectric constant orrelative permittivity, In the Table below, weshow some dielectric materials with their dielectric constant, Experiments indicate that all dielectric materials have K.>1 The fact that capacitance increases in the presence of a dielectric can be explained from a molecular point of view. We shall show that K, is ameasure of the dielectric response to an external electtic field. There are two types of dielectrics. The first type is polar dielectrics, which are dielectrics that have permanent electric dipole moments. An example of this type of dielectric is water. Orientations of polar molecules when (a) E,, = 0 and (b) E, #0 As depicted in Figure, the orientation of polar moleculesis random intheabsence of an external field When an external electric field E,, is present, a torque is set up and causes the molecules to align with E,,. However, the alignmentis not complete due to random thermal motion, The aligned molecules then enerate an electri Field that is opposite o the applied field but smaller in magnitude The second type of dielectrics is the non-polar dielectrics, which are dieleciries that do not possess permanent electric dipole moment, Electric dipolemoments can be induced by placing the mat eld. externally applied electric E-0 Orientations of non-polar molecules when (a) E, = 0 and (b) Ey #0 Copied to clipboard.22 Calculation of induced (polarised) charge on dielectric Figure illustrates the orientation of non-polar molecules with and without an external field E,,. The induced surface charges on the faces produces an electric field &,, in the direction opposite to E,, leading to . with |E,. | < | F, |. Below we show how the induced electric field E,, is calculated. Letus now examinethe effects of ntroducingdielectric mate theatoms or molecules comprising the dielectricmaterial havea permanent electric dipole moment. If leftto themselves, these permanent electric dipoles ina dielectric material never line up spontaneously. into asystem. We shall firstassume that so thatin the absence of any applied external electic field 9 due tothe random alignment of dipoles, and theaverageelectric field F, is zeroas well. However, when we place the dielectric material in an external field E the dipoles will experienceatorque = px E, thattendsto alignthe dipole vectors p with E, . The effectis anet polarization parallel to E,,, and therefore an average electric field of the dipoles E,, anti-parallel to E, ,.¢., that will tend to reduce the total electric field strength below E,, The total electric field F isthe sum of these two fields: p+ Ep Note that every dielectric material has characteristic dielectric strength which is the maximum value of electric field before breakdown occurs and charges begin to flow. Material x Dielectie strength (10°V/in) Ai 1.00059 3 Paper 7 16 Gass +6 3 Water a0 ~ Lee pe Revised energy density becomes: = Ke,E* However, we have just seen thatthe effect ofthe dielectric is to weaken the ori al field E, bya factor K, Therefore, Ey _Q_ QQ K.~ KA tA from which theinduced charge Q, can be obtained as23 Mlustration : Two small identical balls carrying the changes of the same sign are suspended from the same point hy insulating threads of equal length. When the surrounding space was filled with kerosene (of 4) density pq, dielectric constant K) the divergence angle between the threads remained constant. What is the density of the matertal of which the balls are made? Initially Sol. W-pXg Finally Ar When dielectric is filled, force on charge is reduced by K factor b> pVs f K According to question o W-pve F F K tan 0=tan 0" > = > poe (p—po)Vs Practice Exercise Qu The charges on the plates of a parallel-plate capacitor are of opposite sign, and they attract each other, To increase the plate separation, isthe external work done positive or negative? What happens tothe external work done in this process? Q.2__ How does the stored energy change ifthe potential difference across a capacitor is ipled? Q.3 Does the presence of a dielectric increase ordecrease the maximum operating voltage of a capacitor? Explain Answers Ol He 0.2 9times 0.3. Dependson the dielectriestrength Copied to clipboard.Capacitor Containing Dielectrics without Battery : As shown in Figure, a battery with a potential difference |AV | .acrossits terminalsis first connected to a capacitor C,, which holds a charge Q, = CJAV,|. We then disconnect the battery, leaving Q, = const. Lt b+ BB Fig: 44- Inserting a If we then insert a dielectric between the plates, while keeping thecharge constant, experimentally itis tric material between the capacitor plates while keeping the charge Q, constant found that the potential difference decreases by a factor of Ke ENA BVI KS This implies that the capacitance is changed to Q Qo Qo < KC, Co Jay] [aWy|/K, ~ Ke fav, | ~ KeCo Thus, we see that the capacitance has increased by a factor of Ke. The electric field within the dielectric isnow pa HAV LAWu/ Ke d d K. We see that in the presence of'a dielectric, the electric field decreases by a factor of K, Capacitor Containing Dielectrics with Battery : Consider a second case where a battery supplying a potential difference remains connected as the dielectric isinserted, Experimentally, itis found (first by Faraday) that the chargeon the platesis increased bya factor K, Q=K.Q, where Q, isthe charge on the plates in the absence of any dielectric. == 7 Bd Fig. :45 -(b) Figure: Inserting a dielectric material between the capacitor plates while maintaining a constant potential difference V,| | Copied to clipboard.25 The capacitance becomes _ K.Q @ jay. 7K © Java)” [Av.| Keo which is thesame asthe firstcase where the charge Q, is kept constant, but now the charge has increased. Mlustration: A parallel plate capacitor has plates of area 4m? separated by a distance of 0.5 mm. The capaci- tor is connected across a cell of emf 100 volts. Find the capacitance, charge & energy stored in the capacitor ifa dielectric slab of dielectric constant k=3 and thickness 0.5 mm is inserted inside this capacitor after it has been disconnected from the cell. Sol. when the capacitor is without dielectric BA 8.85.10 a 05x10" = = 7.08% 107 we. Qu = CoM = (7.08% 107 <100|C = 7.08 nC 1 Uy = 0 yVe = 354% 10°. as the cell has been disconnecied, charge on the capacitor remain constant kp. = S04 aC, = 0.2124 pk 7 “ ul 1810 Vo a kD Electric field inside the plates = ©. Note that the field becomes 1/k times by insertion of dielectric Mustration = 46 x 10°F parallel plate capacitor is connected to a 500 V battery. When air is replaced by another dielectric material. 7.5 10°C charge flows into the capacitor. Find the dielectric con- stant of the material Copied to clipboard.26 Sol QO =CV Q, = 6x 10° x S00 3x 10°C Afier inseriion of dielectric Q',~ B475) « 10*C 10.5 * 106C O'= CVK 10.5% 10" = 6 10" 500K K=35 Capacitance of capacitor filled partially with dielectric : A non-conducting slab of thickness ¢, area A and dielectric constant K, is inserted into the space between the plates of « parallel-plate capacitor with spacing d, charge Q and area A, as shown in Figure(a). The slab is not necessarily halfway between the capacitor plates, What is the capacitance of thesystem? 4 Fig. : 46 (a) Capacitor witha dielectric. (b) Elecitic field between the plates. To find the capacitance C, we first calculate the potential difference AV. We have already seen that in the absence of a dielectric, the electric field between the plates is given by E, = O/e,A and Ey potential can be found by integrating the electric field along a siraight line from the top to the bottom plates E,/K, when a dielectric of dielectric constant K,, is present, as shown in Figure (b). The AV Tear Q Q fed = AV, - AV) = -E,(d-) - Ent =- yy d-0-Aet sag | L}| where AV, = Ef is the potential difference between the two faces of the dielectric. This gives c-e BoA.27 We also comment that the configuration is equivalent to two capacitors connected in series, as own in Figure. 4) It is useful to check the following limits @ Ast +0 ie, the thickness of the dielectric approaches zero, we have C which is the expected result for no dielectric (i) As, K, 1, weagain have C > & Ad = Cy, and the situation also correspond to the case where the dielectric is absent. (ii) In the limit where t 4d, the space is filled with dielectric, we have. C+ K,yA/d = K.Cy Ald = Cy Capacitor filled with two different dielectrics Two dielectric with dielectric constant K,, and Keach fill half the space between the plates of a parallel-plate capacitor as shown in figure Capacitor filled with two different dielectrics Each plate has an area A and the plates are separated by a distance d. Compute the capacitance of the system. > C-C,+¢, Copied to clipboard.28 Mlustration : Find the equivalent capacitance of the system shown (assume square plates). L Key oka} Kes] 4 U3 Sol, The system can be represent as Taking K, = 2 t0 be series in K, = 3 left (L) . eo Z|) Aeois Bs (3) Now Now Cup and Cy), are in parallel 2 beg L Coq Ciep * Cig = Gq * Practice Exercise Q.L A parallel plate capacitor has a capacitance of 112 pk, aplate area of 96.5 cm’, and amica dielectric: (k,=5.40).Ata55 V potential difference, calculate (a) Theelectric field strength ina the mica. (6) The magnitude of the free charge on the plates, (©) Themagnitude of the induced surface charge. Copied to clipboard.29 Q.2 Twoparallel-plate air capacitors, each of capacitance C, were connected in series toa battery with emf & . Then one of the capacitors was filled up with slab of dielectric constant k (a) What amount of charge flows through the battery? (b) Find the factor by which electric field in each capacitor charges during the process. | E Lo Erne J Q3__ Find the equivalent capacitance of the system shown (assume square plates each of area A) (Ky 2ai3[ Ky QA Anideal parallel plate capacitor of atea A is filled with three dielectric An slabs having dielectric constants K, =3.0,K,~5.andK,-2.0as K Tk, ]a2 shown. Ifa single dielectric material isto be used to have the same” a ap capacitance as this capacitor, then find its dielectric constant, Answers QI (a) 13.4 kW/m, (b) 6.16 nC, (c) 5.02 nC 2 The strength decreased 1/2.(e + 1) times ; (a) q= U2 CE (e-1)/(e+ 1)] Q3 Q4 83 Energy Related discussion for dielectric capacitor Mlustration : Sol. In the figure shown, a parallel plate capacitor is connected across a source of emf ©. The plates are square shaped with edge ‘f’and separated by a distance d. A dielectric slab of dielectric constant k and thickness d is inserted between the plates with constant speed v. Find the current in the connecting wires [ignore the resistance of connecting wires]. Consider that length x of the dielectric is inside the capacitor. The capacitance of the system is a) d lathe]30 Mlustration : Sol. A dielectric completely fills the gap between the plates of a parallel-plate capacitor whose capacitance is equal to C, when the dieleciric is absent. Find the mechanical work which must be done against electric forces for extracting the dielectric out of the capacitor if (i) Voltage (V) of the capacitor is maintained constant. (ii) Charge (Q) of the capacitor is maintained constant. Neglect the resistance of the circuit (Ifany ) (@ T maintain constant voltage we have to used ideal battery change in capacitance AC = C,—KC, =-(K- 1) C, Charge supplied by battery Ag = VAC Work done by battery W,, = VAg = VAC Change in energy of capacitor AU= 5 Now using work energy theorem yi + W, = AK + AU ‘mechanical l I Woechanieal = AK + AU= Wy, D =F VIAC= 2(K=1)Cy (ji) To maintain constant charge capacitor should not be connected with the battery or any thing else] AU W, = ‘mechanical AK + AU-W = 0+ Practice Exercise Ql Between the plates of a parallel-plate capacitor there is a metallic plate whose thickness takes up 1) =0.60 ofthe capacitor gap. When that plate is absent the capacitor has a capacity C = 20 nF. The capacitor is connected to a de voltage source V ~ 100 V. The metallic plat slowly extracted from the gap. Find: (a) the change in the energy of the capacitor; (b) the mechanical work performed in the process of plate extraction 4)34 Answers V2CV'q/ (1-9 = 0.15 mJ ; (b) W= 12CV2q /(1 =n) = 0.15 mI R¢ Circuit Charging a capacitor : Let the capacitor be initially uncharged. As soon as the circuit completes, the charge begins to flow Let'q’ be the charge on the capacitorat certain instance & i be the current in the circuit. Then, 4 dq netevoe i c at dq _CV & = rf-—4 coo ae T F > ee!) ts gay (Ie) where, q, =CV = maximum amount of charge stored onthe plates ‘ da VY er Vu Now, “=i ce aX Once we know the change on the capacitor we also can determine the voltage across the capacitor, ay RC Vett) “Cc (Ie ) The graph of voltage as a function oftime has the same form as figure. From the figure, we see that after a sufficiently long time the charge on the capacitor approaches the value (l=) =Ce=Q At that time, the voltage across the capacitor is equal to the applied voltage source and the charging processeffectively ends, _alt=%)_Q coc c For currenta capacitor acts as: + Short-circuitjustafter closing the switch. + Open circuita long timeatfter closing the switch,32 Discharging a Capacitor ‘Suppose initially the capacitor has been charged to some value Q. Fort <0 , the switch is open and the (i) potential difference across the capacitor is given by V=Q/C. On the other hand, the potential difference across the resistor is zero because there is no current flow, that is, I= 0, Now suppose att =D the switch is closed (Figure). The capacitor will begin to discharge. dq at cm Now, Mlustration In the circuit shown in Fig. the sources have emf's & , = 1.0 Vand & Vand the resistances have the values R, = 10Q and R, = 20 Q. The internal resistances of the sources are negligible. Find the potential diffrence between the plates 4 and B ofthe eapacitor C. a E c pptt—stk 4, R, Fig. : 63 Sol, Atsteady siate there is no current through capacitor i.e. current exist in bigger loop anticlockwise which will be 25-101 10+20 20 Now =Vaat Van Tay HIO> Vig + => Vy OSV33 Mlustration : In the figure shown find (i) The charge of the capacitor as a function of time (ii) equivalent time a dq Sol 1,= 4 a 1,h+ Lady st)R=V 4 7h B-1R=0 2 aN Mth* Re-R (i) nas (iii 1 RC From (ii) and (iti) (a) + ale) aq Vv It Re R (iv) from (i) and (iv) 3dq dt34 3RC obviously t= = Practice Exercise Q.L__ Inthe circuit in figure, suppose the switch has been open fora very long time. Attimet closed. R, itis suddenly Ry (a) Whatisthetime constant before the switch is closed? (6) What isthetime constant afier the switch is closed? (©) Find the currentthrough the switch as a function of time after the switch isclosed. Q.2_ Find how the voltage across the capacitor C varies with time t(Fig,) after the shorting of the switch Sw atthe moment t= 0. 7 Sw Q.3 A capacitor of capacitance C =5.00 pF is connected toa source of constant emf & = 200 V (Fig, Then the switch Sw was thrown over from contact | to contact 2. Find theamount of heat generated in aresistance R, = 500 QifR, =330Q.35 Answers =n 4) Ql (a(R, FR) CHR, C () MWO=hFKO= z{2 QS Q=12CEPR, /(R, +R,) = 60 mJ36 Solved Example Sol Q2 Sol In the given figure, what is the equivalent capacitance between points A and B? « ae 1 « « ‘ c ne Circuit ean be redrawn as. Hence, equivalent capacitance =2C Find the capacitance of the infinite ladder shown in figure. Asthe ladder is in tely long, the capacitance of the ladder to the right of the points P,Q isthe same as that of the ladder to the right of the points A, B. Ifthe equivalent capacitance of the ladder is C, .the given ladder may be replaced by the connections shown in figure, ce, The equivalent capacitance between A and Bis easily found to be C+ CHC, Butbeing equivalent to the original ladder, the equivalent capacitance is also C, ce CHC, Thus, €1=C+37 Q3 Sol Or C+} =C7 +20, Or, c}-ce,-c? Negative value of C, is rejected. The emfofthe cel in the circuitis 12 volts and the capacitors ry are: C,=Tuf,C, = 3 pf.C, =2 wf, = 4 uf. Calculate the Ly tt charge on each capacitor and the total charge drawn from the cellwhen d (a)_ the switchs is closed v (b)_ the switchs is open (a) Switch $ is closed c total charge drawn fromthe cell is, o c al C 7 1 1 Q=CV=21 uF» 12 volts = 25.2 pc C,,C, are in parallel and C,, C, are in parallel ChargeonC, Q = 1 x25.2NC= 8c Chargeon C, c = 25.2uC = 16.8uC. arg Charge on C, 25.2uC = 10.8uC. wae " %25,2C = 14,44. (b) Switch S is open Copied to clipboard.38 Qa Sol on will flow The connections shown in figure are established with the switch open. How much char, through theswitch ifit is closed? 2 When the switch is open, capacitors (2) and (3) are in series. Their equivalent capacitance is = HP . The charge appearing on each of these capacitors is, therefore, 24V x pF = 16uC The equivalent capacitance of (1) and (4), which are also connected in series, is also HP and the charge on each of these capacitors is also 164 . The total charge on the owo plates of (1) and (4) connected to the switch is, therefore, zero, The situation when the switch Sis closed is shown in figure. Let the charges be distributed as shown in cchosen for the p. the figure. Q, and Q, are itive plates of (1) and (2). The same magnitude of charges will appear at the negative plates (3) and (4)39 Sol. Take the potential al the negative terminal to the zero and at the switch tobe V, Writing equations for the capacitors (1), (2),(3) and (4), Q) = AV - Vy) BE (Q24V ~ Vy) 2HF ii) Vite (i) Vy « Qu (iv) From (i) and Thus, from (i a ‘The charge on the wo plates of (1) and (4) which are connected o the switch is, therefore Q, ~Q, = 124C 2uc and Q, = 24 pC When the switch was open, this charge was zero. Thus, 12C of charge has passed through the switch after itwasclosed. Iwo capacitors C, = IF and C, = 4uF are charged to a potential difference of 100 volts and 200 volts respectively. The charged capacitors are now connected to each other with terminals of opposite sign connected together. What isthe (a) final (b) decrease in the energy of the syst large on each capacitor in ste dy state ? Initial charge on C, = C,V, = 100uC Initial charge on C, = C,V, = 800nC Cy) @ese,NC+C,) 20+, When the switch is in position 2, thecharge distribution on the three capacitors is obtained as ect Eo +0.) B-3C+6,- Bd and a= ZEEga1 ‘Now, heat produced = (lossin stored electrical energy) + (extra energy drawn from the battery) Since the equivalent capacitance C., remains unchanged in both the positions ofthe key the loss in stored energy is zero. Hence, 4) Heat produced ~ energy drawn irom the batery Bag = E(q’,— 4) - EG, 4’) EC(C+C,)__ EC 2C+C, ~ 2C+C, | Ecc, 2046, Q.7 The capacitance ofa parallel plate capacitor with plate area A and 7 separation d is C. The space between the plates is filled with two [_ x I wedges of dielectric constants K, and K, respectively (Fig,). Find i the capacitance of the resulting capacitor. © 1 iM Sol. _Letlength and breadth of the capacitor be | and brespectively and d be the distance between the plates as shown in fig, Then consider a strip at a distance x af width dx Now QR =x tan 9 and PQ=d=xtan 6 Where tan 9 =d/l, Capacitance of PQ I A b ac, -BEMe dd) _ bebe j @-xtano gy xd 1 Kyebldx _ ke, A(X) . dC,- - y + a(x) d(x) = and dC, = capacitance of QR ° dc ac, — Ktsblde) x | dtan@ TA ke, A(dx) I d\ Ft BC, TT ae ]F wNONT} Now dC, and dC, are inseries. Therefore, their resultant capacity AC will be given by a, __al-x) |x K,e,A(dx) Ke,A(ax)az od fiex alK.U-x) 4 K,x} aCe AG) K, - e (x) ac ac -—_ SAK Ks gg , KK, -K x] Allsuch elemental capacitor representing DC are connected in parallel Now the capacitance of the given parallel plate capacitor is obtained by adding such infinitesimal capaci= tors parallel from x= 010 x= 1 5, AK.K p_S0AKK, gy MdIKI+(K, Kx] KK tgA 1K C= KKK, Q.8 A capacitor has rectangular plates of length a and width b. The top plate is inclined ata small angle as shown in figure The plate separation varies fromd=y, atthe left to d= 2y, at the right where y, is much less than a or b, Calculate the capacitance ofthe system Sol. Weeonsidera differential stip of width dx and lengthb toapproximate a differential capacitor of area b dx and separation d= y,+| a | x.All such differential capacitorare in parallel arrangement. Copied to clipboard.CAPACITORS.pdf ow TTS 43 Q.9 — Thecapacitor C, figure initially carries acharge q, . When the switches 8, and, are shut, capacitor C ed in series toresistor R and a second capacitorC,, which initially does not carry any charge. (i) Find the charge deposited on the capacitor and the current through R as a function of time. (ii) What isthe heat lost in the resistor affer along time of closing the switch ? Tt 5, a. Bw Is ey — (a) Sol. (i) Suppose at amoment 't' the charge deposited an C, isq (. } ay Vo a iG da-ad) and Voy c v,=1R dq and I at Applying KVL 40-4) _ipe psd CQ Put44 Qo Sol Co tne o ede ao ral G c w= dq do tire (Oe RG] Charge C, qa) =a, GE (et) (i) Electrostatic energy at t= 0 is, - UO 36, . ai Final enerey =U) = 5S iC U=U0)-U@)= 5 AU=U0)-U@)= 5516, +e) Shows parallel-plate capacitor having square plates of edge aand plate-separation d. The gap be~ of dielectric constant K which varies parallel to an edge as ‘ween the plates is filled with a dielectri Where K and care constants and x is the distance from the left ends. Calculate the capacitance. Consider a small strip of width dx at separation x from the left end. This strip forms small capacitor of plate area adx, Its capacitance is Ko ac =‘ ax}egadx d The given capacitor may be divided into such strips with x varying from 0 to a. All these strips are connected in parallel. The capacitance of the given capacitor is, 4 (Ky +axjegady d 2 = Ky ake )45 Qu Sol A capacitor of capacitance C is charged by connecting it to battery of ems, The capacitor is now disconnected and reconnected to the battery withthe polarity reversed, Calculate the heat developed in th When the capacitor is connected tothe battery, a cha connecting wires, c. When the polarity is reversed, a char on the other, When the polarity is reversed, a charge ~Q appears an the first plate and + Q on the second, A charge 2Q, therefore passes through the battery from the negative to the positive terminal The battery does a work W = (2Q)e = 2Ce in the process, The energy stored in the capacitor is the same in the two cases. Thus, the work done by the battery appears as heat in the connecting wires. The heat produced is, therefore, 2Ce? | Copied to clipboard. 4)