Capacitors

and

Capacitance

Prepared by,

Engr. Arlene C. Patricio, MST

 capacitors
 They are another fundamental building block in electronic
circuits.
 Their certain characteristics are similar to resistors and inductors;
in other ways, they are unique.
 They are used in nearly every electronic system.
 They can be defined as the ability to store electrical energy in
electrostatic field.
 They are devices design to have a certain capacitance.
 The unit of measure is Farad.
 The usual function of the capacitor is to block the DC voltage
but pass the AC signal voltage by means of the charge and
discharge current.
 The schematic symbol is:
 Capacitor
Construction
Capacitance

Total
Energy Capacitance
Storage

Time-Varying Voltages and Currents

Capacitor
Current
Single-Capacitor DC-Excited
Circuits

RC Timers and Oscillators

capacitance

 It is the ability to hold or store an electric charge.

 The more charge stored for a given voltage, the
higher the capacitance.
 The symbol for capacitance is (C), and the unit is the
farad (F), named after Michael Faraday.
capacitance

Parallel Plate Capacitor

 In a parallel plate capacitor, capacitance is
directly proportional to the surface area of the
conductor plates and inversely proportional to
the separation distance between the plates. If
the charges on the plates are +Q and
−Q respectively, and V gives
the voltage between the plates, then the
capacitance C is given by:
𝑄
𝐶=
𝑉
 Which gives the voltage/current
𝑑𝑉(𝑡)
𝐼(𝑡) = 𝐶
𝑑𝑡
capacitance

Sample Problems
1. How much charge is stored in a 2μF capacitor
connected across a 50V supply?
𝑄 = 𝐶𝑉 = 2 × 10−6 × 50 = 100 𝜇𝐶
2. How much charge is stored in a 40μF capacitor
connected across a 50V supply?
𝑄 = 𝐶𝑉 = 40 × 10−6 × 50 = 2000 𝜇𝐶
3. The voltage across a 40 × 10−6 C charged capacitor
is 20v. Calculate C.
𝑄 40 × 10−6
𝐶= = = 2 𝜇𝐹
𝑉 20
capacitance

Sample Problems
4. A constant current of 5mA charges a 10μF capacitor
for 1s. How much is the voltage across the capacitor?
Find the stored charge first:
𝑄 = 𝐼 × 𝑡 = 5 × 10−3 × 1 = 5 𝑚𝐶
Solve for voltage:
𝑄 5 × 10−3
𝑉= = = 500 𝑉
𝐶 10 × 10−6
capacitor
construction
A capacitor is
consists of
two conductor
(called plates)
separated by
an insulator
called
dielectric.
 capacitor
construction
There are three basic
factors of capacitor
construction determining
the amount of
capacitance created.
 Plate Area
 Plate Separation
 Dielectric Material
 capacitor
construction
 PLATE AREA: All other factors being equal, greater plate area
gives greater capacitance; less plate area gives less
capacitance.

 PLATE SEPARATION: All other factors being equal, further plate

spacing gives less capacitance; closer plate spacing gives
greater capacitance.

 DIELECTRIC MATERIAL: All other factors being equal, greater

permittivity of the dielectric gives greater capacitance; less
permittivity of the dielectric gives less capacitance.
 capacitor
construction
An approximation of
capacitance for any pair
of separated conductors
can be found with this
formula:
−12 𝐹
𝐴𝜀𝑟 (8.85 × 10 ൗ𝑚)
𝐶 =
𝑑
Where,
C = Capacitance
𝜀𝑟 = Dielectric constants
A = Area of plate overlap in square meters
d = Distance between plates in meters
 capacitor
construction
Sample Problems:
1. Calculate C for two plates, each with an area 2 sq. m ,
separated by 1 cm, with a dielectric of air. (Ans. 1.77 nF)
−12
2𝑚2 1.0 8.85 × 10 𝐹ൗ𝑚
𝐶 = = 1.77 𝑛𝐹
0.01𝑚
2. Determine the capacitance of a parallel plate capacitor
having a plate area of 0.01 sq. m and a plate separation of
2.54 × 10−5 m. The dielectric is mica.
−12
2
0.01𝑚 5.0 8.85 × 10 𝐹ൗ
𝑚
𝐶 = = 0.017μ𝐹
2.54 × 10−5 𝑚
 capacitor
construction
Sample Problems:
3. Determine C where A=0.005 sq. m, d=7.62 × 10−5 m, and
ceramic is the dielectric.
2 10 −12 𝐹
0.005𝑚 1.0 8.85 × ൗ𝑚
𝐶 = = 6.97 μ𝐹
7.62 × 10−5 𝑚
 capacitor
construction
Mica Capacitors
 Thin mica sheets as the dielectric are stacked between tinfoil
sections for the conducting plates to provide the required
capacitance. Alternate strips of tinfoil are connected and
brought out as one terminal for one set of plates, and the
opposite terminal connects to the other set of interlaced
plates.
 Mica capacitors are often used for small capacitance values
of about 10 to 5000 pF.
capacitor
construction
capacitor
construction
Paper Capacitors
 Two rolls of tinfoil conductor separated by a paper
dielectric are rolled into a compact cylinder. Each
outside lead connects to its roll of tinfoil as a plate. The
entire cylinder is generally placed in a cardboard
container coated with wax or encased in plastic.
 Paper capacitors are often used for medium
capacitance values of 0.001 to 1.0 F, approximately.
 The size of a 0.05- F capacitor is typically 1 in. long
and 3⁄8-in. in diameter.
capacitor
construction
capacitor construction

Film Capacitors
 Film capacitors are constructed much like paper
capacitors except that the paper dielectric is
replaced with a plastic fi lm such as polypropylene,
polystyrene, polycarbonate, or polyethelene
terepthalate (Mylar).
 Film capacitors are very temperature-stable and are
therefore used frequently in circuits that require very
stable capacitance values as in radio-frequency
oscillators and timer circuits.
capacitor construction
capacitor
construction
Ceramic Capacitors
 The ceramic materials used in ceramic
capacitors are made from earth fired under
extreme heat.
 Most ceramic capacitors come in disk form, some in
axial leads form.
 Ceramic capacitors are available with values of 1 pF
(or less) up to about 1 F.
Capacitor Construction
capacitor construction

Surface-Mount Capacitors
 Like resistors, capacitors are also available as surface-
mounted components.
 They are often called chip capacitors.
 Chip capacitors are constructed by placing a
ceramic dielectric material between layers of
conductive film which form the capacitor plates.
capacitor construction
capacitor construction

Electrolytic Capacitors
 Electrolytic capacitors are commonly used for C
values ranging from about 1 to 6800 F because
electrolytic provide the most capacitance in the
smallest space with least cost.
 They can be polarized or non polarized.
capacitor construction
total capacitance

Series Connection
 When connected in series, the total capacitance is
less than the value of any individual capacitances.
 total capacitance
Sample Problems

Solution:
 total capacitance
1. Find the overall capacitance and the individual rms
voltage drops across the following sets of two
capacitors in series when connected to a 12V a.c.
supply.
a) two capacitors each with a capacitance of 47nF
b) one capacitor of 470nF connected in series to a
capacitor of 1uF
 total capacitance
Solution

a) Total Capacitance

 b) Total Capacitance,
total capacitance

Parallel Connection
 When capacitors are connected in parallel, the total
capacitance is equal to the sum of the individual
capacitances.
 total capacitance
Sample Problem
Find the total capacitance

Solution:

CT = C1 + C2 + C3 = 0.1uF + 0.2uF + 0.3uF = 0.6uF

energy storage

 The energy stored in a capacitor is almost entirely in the

electric field produced between the plates.
 It takes energy from a battery or some other power
source to move electrons to one of the plates and away
from the other. This makes one plate positively charged
and the other negatively charged.
 Electric field is produced in proportion to the charge per
unit area on a plate, and this electric field is said to
originate on positive charges and terminate on negative
charges.
 Energy stored in electric fields is proportional to the
square of the electric field strength and the volume of the
field.
 energy storage

SWITCH OPEN - NO
CURRENT FLOWING
 energy storage

SWITCH CLOSED – CURRENT

FLOWING
 energy storage

SWITCH CLOSED – NO
CURRENT FLOWING
 energy storage

SWITCH OPEN – NO
CURRENT FLOWING
 energy storage
 The energy is transferred from the power source to the electric
field through the rearrangement of electrical charges. It stores
energy as potential energy.
 To compute the stored energy, use:
𝐶𝑉 2
𝑊= 2

where,
W = stored energy
C = Capacitance
V = voltage
 Increasing capacitance increase the stored energy
linearly. Increasing the voltage increases energy quadratically.
 energy storage
Sample Problems
1. An air-filled parallel plate capacitor has a capacitance of 5.0
pF. A potential of 100V is applied across the plates, which
are cm apart, using a storage battery. What is the energy stored
in the capacitor?
𝐶𝑉 2 (5𝑥10−12 )(10000)
W= = = 2.5𝑥10−8 𝐽
2 2

2. A parallel-plate air capacitor of area 25 cm2 and with plates 1

mm apart is charged to a potential of 100 V. Calculate the
energy stored in it.
−12
25 × 10−4 𝑚2 1.0 8.85 × 10 𝐹ൗ𝑚 1002
𝑊= = 1.1 × 10−7 𝐽
0.001𝑚(2)
 energy storage
Other equation that can be use inor
getting the energy stored in 4𝜋𝜀𝑎𝑏
capacitor C = (from spherical
𝑏−𝑎
capacitor equation)
W = QV/2
where
W = Q^2/2C
L = length
where,
b = outer conductor diameter
Q = charge(coulomb)
a = inner conductor diameter
V = voltage(volt/s)
C = capacitance(farad)
𝑏
C = 2𝜋𝜀𝐿/ln(𝑎) (from cylindrical
capacitor equation)
 energy storage
Sample Problems
1. Three capacitors are connected as shown in Figure 27.12. Their
capacitances are C1 = 2.0 uF, C2 = 6.0 uF, and C3 = 8.0 uF. If a
voltage of 200 V is applied to the two free terminals, what will
be the charge on each capacitor ? What will be the electric
energy of each ?
 time varying voltages and current

Time Dependent Circuit

 Up until now we have assumed that
the emfs and resistances are
constant in time, so that all
potentials, currents and powers are
constant in time.
 However, whenever we have a
capacitor that is being charged, or
discharged, this is not the case.
 Now, consider a circuit that consists
of an emf, a resistor and a
capacitor, but with an open switch.
 With the switch open the current in
the circuit is zero and zero charge
accumulates on the capacitor.
 time varying voltages and current

Time Dependent Circuit

At t=0, there is no charge on
(hence no potential across) the
capacitor so at the “instant” the
switch is closed, we expect a
current of I0=ε/R (voltage drop is
only across the resistor). As the
capacitor charges, we expect
the current to fall.

Close Switch at t=0.

 time varying voltages and current

Charging a Capacitor Continuously

 Charge will flow on the capacitor and the current
will decrease until we reach i = 0, then:
𝜀 𝑞 𝜀 𝑄𝑓
𝑖= − ↔ =
𝑅 𝑅𝐶 𝑅 𝑅𝐶
 Charge on the capacitor with i=0.
𝑄𝑓 = 𝐶𝜀
 Charge on the capacitor at any instant in time:
𝑞 = 𝑄𝑓 1 − 𝑒 −𝑡Τ𝑅𝐶
 To get the instantaneous current, i:
𝑖 = 𝐼0 𝑒 −𝑡Τ𝑅𝐶
 time varying voltages and current

Time Constant
 The product RC is a measure of how quickly the
capacitor charges.
 RC is called the time constant (τ) of the circuit.
𝜏 = 𝑅𝐶
 time varying voltages and current

Sample Problem
In the circuit shown in the figure, C=
5.9μF, ε= 28V, and the emf has a
negligible resistance. Initially, the
capacitor is uncharged and the
switch S is in position 1. The switch is
then moved to position 2, so the
capacitor begins to charge.
a. What will be the charge on the
capacitor a long time after the
switch is moved to position 2?
𝑄𝑓 = 𝐶𝜀 = 𝐶𝑉
= 5.90 × 10−6 𝐹 28.0𝑉
𝑄𝑓 = 1.65 × 10−4 𝐶
 time varying voltages and current

Sample Problem
b. After the switch has been in
position 2 for 3ms, the charge on
the capacitor is measured to be
110μC. What is the value of
resistance R?
𝑞 = 𝑄𝑓 1 − 𝑒 −𝑡Τ𝑅𝐶
110𝜇𝐶 = 1.65 × 10−4 𝐶 1 − 𝑒 −𝑡Τ𝑅𝐶
2
1 − = 𝑒 −𝑡Τ𝑅𝐶
3
−𝑡Τ𝑅𝐶
𝑙𝑛1Τ3 = 𝑙𝑛𝑒
−𝑡
−1.1 =
𝑅𝐶
−3 × 10−3
𝑅(−1.1) =
5.90 × 10−6
𝑅 = 463Ω
 capacitor current

• Even though a capacitor has an

internal insulator, current can flow
through the external circuit as
long as the capacitor is charging
and discharging.
• Once a capacitor has fully
charged in a DC circuit, no
current will flow through it or the
circuit.
• An open circuit forms an
accidental capacitance that
charges to the value of the
applied voltage.
 capacitor current

• The reason that a capacitor

allows current to flow in an AC
circuit is the alternate charge and
discharge. If we insert an
ammeter in the circuit, as shown
in the Figure, the AC meter will
read the amount of charge and
discharge current. This current is
the same in the voltage source,
the connecting lead, and the
plates of capacitor.
• However, there is no current
through the dielectric between
the plates of the capacitor.
 capacitor current
Capacitive Reactance
 The value of current in a capacitive circuit with an AC source
is directly proportional to the value of the capacitor.
 Current is also directly proportional to frequency, meaning
the cap has to charge more times per second.
 Opposition to current flow due to the charging and
discharging of the plates is referred to as capacitive
reactance and is calculated:
1
𝑋𝑐 =
2𝜋𝑓𝐶
where
f = frequency
C = capacitance
 capacitor current
Sample Problem
What is the capacitive reactance offered by a 20𝜇f capacitor
when in a 60Hz AC circuit and then a 200Hz?
a. in 60Hz
1 1
𝑋𝑐 = = = 132.6Ω
2𝜋𝑓𝐶 2𝜋(20)(20 × 10−6 )
b. in 200Hz
1 1
𝑋𝑐 = = = 39.7.6Ω
2𝜋𝑓𝐶 2𝜋(200)(20 × 10−6 )

*Like inductive reactance, capacitive reactance is a function of

frequency, but they are inverses of each other.