12

CLASS

Capacitor
Capacitance

Jayant Nagda
 Capacitor

Combination of two conductors

placed close to each other, +Q -Q
separated by an insulator.

Plates of Conductor

used for storing electric charge and electrical energy

Capacitance If given Q: Charge on Positive Plate

V: Potential Difference between the Plates

+Q -Q

Capacitance of a conductor is a measure of

ability of the conductor to store charge on it.
Capacitance
Amount of charge stored by capacitor
per unit of potential difference.
+Q -Q
Q
C=
V

Q: Charge on the Positive Plate

V: Potential Difference between

the +ve and -ve plates
Which of the following expressions can represent units of
Capacitance?
A. Joule/Volt B. Volt/Coulomb

C. Coulomb/Volt D. Coulomb/Joule
Capacitance C SI Unit:
Coulomb per Volt (C/V) or farad (F)

Q
C=
V 1μF = 10-6F 1nF = 10-9F 1pF = 10-12F

Scalar Quantity
 Types of Capacitors

Based on shape and arrangement of capacitor plates:

Symbol:
1. Parallel Plate Capacitor

2. Spherical Capacitor

3. Cylindrical Capacitor
 Parallel Plate Capacitor
Plates are large as
d: Distance between plates d compared to separation
+Q -Q between them,
A: Area of plate
+ -
+ -
A then electric field
+ - between the plates is
uniform and
+ - perpendicular to plates
except for small region
+ - near the edges.
+ -
+ -
Parallel Plate Capacitor

+Q -Q
 Parallel Plate Capacitor

+Q -Q
+ -
+ -
+ -
A + -
+ -
+ -
+ -
Field due to Infinite Sheet of Charge

σ
E=
2ε0

Surface charge density σ

Infinite Conducting vs Non-Conducting Plane

Infinite Non-Conducting Plane Infinite Conducting Plane

σ σ
E= E=
2ε0 ε0
 Field due to Infinite Conducting Plane

Surface charge density σ

+ +
+ +
+ +
+ +
+ +
+ +
+ +
+ +
+ +
+ +
Capacitance of Parallel Plate Capacitor

+Q -Q
+ -
+ -
+ - A
+ -
+ -
+ -
+ -
Capacitance of Parallel Plate Capacitor
d

+Q -Q
+ -
+ -
+ - A
+ -
+ -
+ -
+ -
Capacitance of Parallel Plate Capacitor
d

+Q -Q Aεo
+ - C=
-
d
+
+ - A
+ -
+ - Rectangular Plates Circular (Disc shaped) Plates
+ -
+ -
r
l C =A
d
εo
b
A parallel plate capacitor has rectangular plates of 400 cm2
and are separated by a distance of 2 mm with air as medium.
What is the capacitance of this condenser?

A. 1.77 x 10-10 F B. 3.54 x 10-11 F

C. 3.54 x 10-10 F D. 1.77 x 10-13 F

The capacitance of a parallel plate condenser does not depend upon

A. The distance between the plates

B. Area of the plates

C. Medium between the plates

D. Metal of the plates

Capacitance Capacitance depends on:
shape/geometry of capacitor &
medium between the plates

Q
Q=CV C=
V

Does not depend on:

1. Charge Q on conductor
2. Potential difference V between Plates
3. Potential Energy of Conductor
General Method of determining Capacitance
 Spherical Capacitor

-
- -
+ r2 + +
- -
+ +
- + r1 + -

- + +
+ -
+
+
- -
-
 Spherical Capacitor

-
- -
+ + +
- - 4𝜋εor1r2
+ + C=
r1 -
(r2-r1)
- + +

- + +
+ -
+
+
- -
- Capacitance depends on
geometry and medium
Cylindrical Capacitor
R2 R1

l
 Cylindrical Capacitor

R2 R1

2𝜋ε l
C = ln(Ro /R )
l 2 1

Capacitance depends on
geometry and medium
The magnitude of electric field E in the annular region of a
charged cylindrical capacitor -
 12
CLASS

Capacitor
Energy Stored in
Capacitor

Jayant Nagda
Force between plates of Capacitor

+Q -Q
+ -
+ -
+ -
+ -
+ -
+ -
+ -
 Electrostatic Pressure

+Q -Q
+ - Q2 σ2 A
+ - F= F=
+ - 2Aεo 2εo
+ -
+ -
+ -
dF σ2
=
+ - dA 2εo

Force per unit Area

(Electrostatic Pressure)
Energy stored in a Capacitor

+
dx
-

+ -

FE
+ -

+ -
 Energy stored in a Capacitor

d
+Q -Q
+ -
+ -
+ -
C
+ -
+ -
+ -
+ -
V
The potential energy of a charged conductor of charge (q)
and potential (v) is given by-

A. B.

C. D.
 Energy stored in a Capacitor

d
+Q -Q
+ -
+ -
+ -
C Q2 1 1
+ - U= = QV = CV2
+ - 2C 2 2
+ -
+ -
V
A conductor of capacitance 0.5μF has been charged to 100 volts.
The energy stored in it is-
A. 2.5 × 10-3 J B. 2.5 x 10-4 J

C. 1.4 x 10-4 J D. 5 x 10-3 J

A parallel plate capacitor having charge Q on it
and plate area A, has d separation between the
plates. If one of the plates is pulled to make the
final separation 2d, then work done in this
process is -
A.

B.

C.

D. Cannot be calculated
 Energy Density in Electric Field
d
+Q -Q
+ -
+ -
+ -
A
+ -
+ -
+ -
+ -
 Energy Density in Electric Field
d
Energy stored per unit volume in the plates of Capacitor
+ -
+ - 1
+ - εo E2 Ad
A Energy stored 2
+ - u=
+ - Volume Ad
+ -
+ -
1
u= εo E2
2

General result, (true for any configuration)

The energy density in the electric field created by a point
charge falls off with the distance from the point charge as-

A. B.

+
C. D.
 12
CLASS

Capacitor
Combination of
Capacitors
Parallel
Series

Jayant Nagda
Parallel Combination of Capacitors

1. Send +Q and -Q from Battery terminals.

2. Write charge on each capacitor plate,

use Q1, Q2, Q3 variables.
 Parallel Combination of Capacitors

Splitting of Charge/Current
delivered by the battery/cell
among various branches
Parallel Combination of Capacitors

1. Send +Q and -Q from Battery terminals.

2. Write charge on each capacitor plate,

use Q1, Q2, Q3 variables.

3. Charge on opposite plates are opposite

4. Conservation of Charge holds.

 General Method to find Ceq

1. Send +Q and -Q from Battery terminals.

2. Write charge on each capacitor plate, use Q1, Q2, Q3 variables.
3. Charge on opposite plates are opposite
4. Conservation of Charge holds.

5. Take Potential difference across

each capacitor as V1, V2, V3…

6. Write equation Q = CV for each capacitor,

write V = V1 + V2 …. across AB.
7. Ceq = Q/V eliminate everything to
get Ceq in terms of C
Parallel Combination of Capacitors
Parallel Combination of Capacitors
Parallel Combination of Capacitors

Ceq = C1 + C2
Parallel Combination of Capacitors
Parallel Combination of Capacitors

Ceq = C1 + C2+ …. + Cn

1. Potential Difference across

each Capacitor is same

2. Charge on each Capacitor

is proportional to its Capacitance
 Parallel Combination of Capacitors

1. Potential Difference across

each Capacitor is same

2. Charge on each Capacitor

is proportional to its Capacitance

Q∝C
Two capacitors connected in parallel having the capacities C1
and C2 are given ‘q’ charge, which is distributed among them.
The ratio of the charge on C1 and C2 will be -
A. C1 / C2 B. C2 / C1

C. C1 C2 D. 1/C1C2
 General Method to find Ceq

1. Send +Q and -Q from Battery terminals.

2. Write charge on each capacitor plate, use Q1, Q2, Q3 variables.
3. Charge on opposite plates are opposite
4. Conservation of Charge holds.

5. Take Potential difference across

each capacitor as V1, V2, V3…

6. Write equation Q = CV for each capacitor,

write V = V1 + V2 …. across AB.
7. Ceq = Q/V eliminate everything to
get Ceq in terms of C
Series Combination of Capacitors
 Series Combination of Capacitors

In series since there is no branching,

same charge/current is delivered to
each circuit element
(capacitor/resistor) by the battery.
 Concept of Island

Conservation of Charge.
 Series Combination of Capacitors

5. Take Potential difference across each

capacitor as V1, V2,V3…

6. Write equation Q = CV for each capacitor,

write V = V1 +V2…. across AB.
 Series Combination of Capacitors

6. Write equation Q = CV for each capacitor,

write V = V1 +V2…. across AB.

7. Ceq = Q/V Eliminate everything to get

Ceq in terms of C
Three capacitors of capacity C1, C2, C3 are connected in series.
Their total capacity will be -
Series Combination of Capacitors

1 1 1
= + + …….. + 1
C C 1 C2 Cn
Series Combination of Capacitors C1 C2

Ceq
Series Combination of Capacitors

1 1 1
= +
C C1 C2
Series Combination of Capacitors

1 1 1
= + + …….. + 1
C C 1 C2 Cn

1. Each capacitor has same charge

2. Potential Difference is inversely

proportional to Capacitance.
 Series Combination of Capacitors

1. Each capacitor has same charge

2. Potential Difference is inversely

proportional to Capacitance.
A capacitor C1 = 4μF is connected in series with another
capacitor C2 = 1μF. The combination is connected across a d.c
source of voltage 200V.
The ratio of charge appearing on C1 and C2 is -

A. 1 : 4 B. 4 : 1

C. 1 : 1 D. 2 : 1
A capacitor C1 = 4μF is connected in series with another
capacitor C2 = 1μF. The combination is connected across a d.c
source of voltage 200V.
The ratio of potential across C1 and C2 is -

A. 1:4 B. 4 : 1

C. 1:1 D. 2:1
‘n’ capacitors of equal Capacitance C are arranged in Series as
shown. Find the equivalent capacitance between A and B.

A. (n-1)C B. nC C. (n+1)C D. C/n

C C C C C C
A B
Calculate the capacitance between the points P and Q in the
following circuit-

A. 1.5 μF B. 3 μF

C. 2 μF D. 1 μF
 12
CLASS

Capacitor
Equivalent
Capacitance

Jayant Nagda
Series Combination of Capacitors

1 1 1
= + + …….. + 1
C C1 C2 Cn

1. Each capacitor has same charge

2. Potential Difference is inversely

proportional to Capacitance.
Series Combination of Capacitors

Two Identical Capacitors Three Identical Capacitors

C C C C C
‘n’ capacitors of equal Capacitance C are arranged in Series as shown.
Find the equivalent capacitance between A and B.

A. (n-1)C B. nC C. (n+1)C D. C/n

C C C C C C
A B
Parallel Combination of Capacitors

Ceq = C1 + C2+ …. + Cn

1. Potential Difference across

each Capacitor is same

2. Charge on each Capacitor

is proportional to its Capacitance

Q∝C
‘n’ identical capacitors of Capacitance C are arranged in Parallel as
shown. Find the equivalent capacitance between A and B.
A. (n-1)C B. nC C. (n+1)C D. C/n

C
A B

C
Ten capacitors C, 2C, 3C, 4C ……. 10C are connected in parallel,
then what will be their equivalent capacitance ?

A. 110C B. 100C C. 55C D. ∞

2C

3C
A B

10C
Infinite number of capacitors C, 2C, 4C, 8C ……. ∞ are connected
in series then what will be their equivalent capacitance ?

A. C B. C/2 C. 3C/4 D. C/4

C 2C 4C ……………….. ∞
A B
Find the equivalent capacitance between A and B.

A. 3C B. 2C C. C D. 4C

8C

8C 12C 24C
A B

4C
Find the equivalent capacitance between A and B .

A. 6C B. 2C C. 8C D. 5C

6C 6C 6C
A

4C 4C 6C

B
6C 6C 6C
Find the equivalent capacitance between A and B.

A. 2C B. 3C C. 6C D. 8C

6C

6C 6C

3C
3C

6C 6C
3C

3C
A B
Find the equivalent capacitance between A and B.

A. 2C B. 3C C. 6C D. 8C

6C

6C 6C

3C
3C

6C 6C
3C

3C
A B
Find the equivalent capacitance between A and B.

A. 7C/8 B. 4C/3 C. 5C/3 D. 3C/4

2C 2C

2C C 2C

A 2C 2C B
Find the equivalent capacitance between A & B
A. 3C/2 B. 2C/3 C. 2C D. 4C/3

2C 2C 2C
A

C C C 2C

B
Find the equivalent capacitance of the infinite ladder

2C 2C 2C 2C
A ∞

C C C C

B
∞

A. 3C B. 2C

C. 6C D. C
Find the equivalent capacitance of the infinite ladder

2C 2C 2C 2C
A ∞

C C C C

B
∞

A. 3C B. 2C

C. 6C D. C
Find the equivalent capacitance between A & B
A. 3C B. 2C C. C D. 6C

A
C C
B
 General Method to find Ceq

1. Send +Q and -Q from Battery terminals.

2. Write charge on each capacitor plate, use Q1, Q2, Q3 variables.
3. Charge on opposite plates are opposite
4. Conservation of Charge holds.
5. Take Potential difference across
each capacitor as V1, V2, V3…

6. Write equation Q = CV for each capacitor,

write V = V1 + V2 …. across AB.
7. Ceq = Q/V eliminate everything to
get Ceq in terms of C
 Concept of Same Potential

Equivalent capacitance between A and B

B
C
C C
A

C
Find the equivalent capacitance between A & B

A. 3C B. 2C C. C D. 6C

A
C C
B
Find the equivalent capacitance between A & B

A. C B. 2C C. 3C D. 6C

C C
A B
C
Find the equivalent capacitance, if each capacitance is C
A. C B. 3C C. 2C D. 6C
A

B
If each Capacitor is C.
Find the equivalent capacitance between A & C

A. 2C B. C/3 C. C D. 4C/3

B C

A D
If each Capacitor is C.
Find the equivalent capacitance between A & D

A. 2C B. C/3 C. C D. 4C/3

B C

A D
Twelve capacitors, each having capacitance C, are joined to form
a cube as shown. Find the equivalent capacitance between the
ends of Body Diagonal i.e. between A and G.

F C A. 6C/5 B. 4C/3
G
C C C. 12C/7 D. None of these
C C
C
B
C C
C C E
C H
C
A
D
C
1. Body Diagonal i.e. between A and G.

Points which are symmetrically located

with respect to both A & G are equipotential

F C
G
C C
C C
C
B
C C
C C E C H

A C
D
C
Twelve capacitors, each having capacitance C, are joined to form a
cube as shown. Find the equivalent capacitance between the ends
of a Side between A and D.
A. 6C/5 B. 4C/3
F C
G
C C C. 12C/7 D. None of these
C C
C
B
C C
C C E C H

A C
D
C
2. Sidel i.e. between A and D.

Points which are symmetrically located

with respect to both A & D are equipotential

F C
G
C C
C C
C
B
C C
C C E C H

A C
D
C
Twelve capacitors, each having capacitance C, are joined to form a
cube as shown. Find the equivalent capacitance between the ends
of Face Diagonal i.e. between A and H.
A. 6C/5 B. 4C/3 C. 12C/7 D. None of these

F C
G
C C
C C
C
B
C C
C C E
C H
C
A
D
C
 12
CLASS

Capacitor
1. Concept of Battery
2. Wheatstone Bridge

Jayant Nagda
 General Method to find Ceq

1. Send +Q and -Q from Battery terminals.

2. Write charge on each capacitor plate, use Q1, Q2, Q3 variables.
3. Charge on opposite plates are opposite
4. Conservation of Charge holds.

5. Take Potential difference across

each capacitor as V1, V2, V3…

6. Write equation Q = CV for each capacitor,

write V = V1 + V2 …. across AB.
7. Ceq = Q/V eliminate everything to
get Ceq in terms of C
Concept of a Battery Battery delivers equal and opposite
charges in every situation.

The total charge in a battery always remains zero.

Concept of a Battery

The cause of flow of charges through a

conductor is potential difference applied
across its ends.
 Concept of a Battery

Symbol: The terminal with higher potential is called

+ _ the positive terminal and that with lower

potential is called the negative terminal.

The potential difference V between the

terminals is constant for a given battery.

Potential difference across the

two terminals of the battery is called
electromotive force (emf) or ε

Measured in Volts (V)

 Work done by a Battery

Battery transfers +Q charge from

negative plate to positive plate of Capacitor
Work done by a Battery
A battery is used to charge a parallel plate capacitor till the
potential difference between the plates becomes equal to the
electromotive force of the battery. The ratio of the energy
stored in the capacitor and the work done by the battery will be

[AIEEE - 2007]

A. 1

B. 2

C. 1/4

D. 1/2
Heat produced in the circuit

+Q -Q Q : Charge through battery

+ - WB = QV = CV2
+ - V : potential across battery (emf)
+ -
+ -
+ - 1
U= CV2 U : energy stored in Capacitor
+ - 2
+ -

Q2 1 1
H= = CV2 = QV
2C 2 2
H : Heat developed in the circuit
 General Method to find Ceq

1. Send +Q and -Q from Battery terminals.

2. Write charge on each capacitor plate, use Q1, Q2, Q3 variables.
3. Charge on opposite plates are opposite
4. Conservation of Charge holds.

5. Take Potential difference across

each capacitor as V1, V2, V3…

6. Write equation Q = CV for each capacitor,

write V = V1 + V2 …. across AB.
7. Ceq = Q/V eliminate everything to
get Ceq in terms of C
 Find the equivalent capacitance

C C
A. C/2

B. 2C
A C B
C. C

D. 4C
C C
 Find the equivalent capacitance

C C
A. 3C/2

B. 2C
A C B
C. C/2

D. C
2C 2C
Wheatstone Bridge
C1 C2
is said to be Balanced if

A C5 B

C3 C4
Wheatstone Bridge
C1 C1

A B

C2 C2
Find the equivalent capacitance between A & B

C 2C
A. 3C/2

B. 2C
A 5C B
C. C/2

D. 4C/3
2C 4C
Find the equivalent capacitance between A and B.
All the capacitors have capacitance 2C.

A. 3C B. 2C C. C D. 6C

2C
B

2C 2C

2C
A
Find the equivalent capacitance between A and B.
All the capacitors have same capacitance.
A. 7C/8
C
B. 16C/8
C C C C C. 19C/8

C D. 14C/8
C
A B
Find the equivalent capacitance between A and B.

2C 2C

2C A. 3C/10
2C
C C B. 7C/10
A B
C. 6C/5
2C C C 2C
D. 8C/5
2C 2C
What fraction of the energy drawn from the charging battery is
stored in a capacitor ?

A. 75 % B. 100 % C. 25 % D. 50 %
Find the equivalent capacitance between A and B. All the
capacitors have same capacitance.
C
C
C

C C A. 16C/8

C B. 15C/8
C C
C. 19C/8

D. 14C/8
A B