Capacitor

Capacitor is a device used to store electric charges and electric energy.

Capacitance of a capacitor:
It is found that, potential difference is directly proportional to charge
i.e Vq or, q  V
q = CV
Where C = constant called capacitance of the capacitor.
q
 C=
V
Capacitance of a capacitor is defined as the ratio of charge on a capacitor
to the potential difference between two conductors of it.
S.I unit is coulomb/volt (C/V) or farad (F)

Define 1 farad:
q
W.K.T., C =
V
If, q=1C, V= 1 volt, then C= 1 farad
Then, 1 farad = 1 coulomb
1Volt
1F = 1 CV-1
The capacitance is said to be one farad if one coulomb of charge is stored
when the potential difference is one volt.

Derive an expression for capacitance of Parallel Plate capacitor (If the

space between the two plates is filled with vacuum):

The parallel plate capacitor consists of two parallel metal plates X and Y
each of area A, separated by a distance d, having a surface charge density .
The medium between the plates is air. A charge + q is given to the plate X. It
induces a charge − q on the upper surface of earthed plate Y. When the plates
are very close to each other, the field is confined to the region between them.
The electric lines of force starting from plate X and ending at the plate Y are
parallel to each other and perpendicular to the plates. By the application of
Gauss’s law, electric field at a point between the two plates is,
Potential difference between the plates X and Y is given by
d
V = Ed = (1)
 r 0
where r → dielectric constant of the medium
By definition capacitance is given by
Q
C= (2)
V
Substitute (1) in (2)
Q Q
C= = r 0
d d
r 0
But Q = A
 r  0 A
 C=
d
r 0 A
 C=
d

Derive the expression for Capacitance of Parallel capacitor when dielectric

medium is present:

Consider parallel plate capacitor with

A = area of each plate
 = surface charge density
E = electric field between plates
 q
E= =
0 0 A
Potential difference, V = Ed
qd
V=
0 A
q
Capacitance C=
V
0 A
C = q
qd
0 A
c=
d
  − p
when dielectric is introduced between plates, the electric field Em = But
0
Vm
Em =
d
( −  p )
and  Vm = d
0

Now ( −  p ) = , r = dielectric constant of the medium.
r
d q d
 Vm =   =
 r  0 A 0  r
q  A
Cm = = q 0 r
Vm qd
0r A
Cm =
d

Define dielectric constant: Dielectric constant is the ratio of capacitance of

capacitor when space between the plates is filled with dielectric to the
capacitance of same capacitor when space between the plates is vacuum.

Equivalent capacitor and equivalent capacitance (Effective capacitance):

A single capacitor which produces same effect as that of set of capacitor
is called equivalent capacitor and its capacitance is called equivalent
capacitance.

Combination of capacitor:
There are two combination.
i) Series combination, ii) Parallel combination

Series combination: A set of capacitors is said to be in series if they are

connected end to end such that charge on each capacitor remains same.

Derive an expression for effective capacitance of a series combination:

Consider two capacitors of capacitance C1 and C2 are connected in series.
In series combination charge Q remains the same, whereas potential V is
different.
V = V1 + V2
Q Q Q
But C1 =  V1 = , similarly V2 =
V1 C1 C2
Q Q
V= +
C1 C2
If CS is the effective capacitance of the series combination, then
Q Q
CS = V =
V CS
Q Q Q
Therefore, = =
CS C1 C2
1 1 1 1 C2 + C1 CC
or = +  =  CS = 1 2
CS C1 C2 CS C1C2 C1 + C2

This is the Expression for effective capacitance of two Capacitors in

series.

For n Capacitors in Series

V = V1 +V2 + V3 + --------- + Vn
q q q q
= + + +−−−−−−+
C1 C2 C3 Cn
1 1 1 1 1
 = + + +−−−−−−+
CS C1 C2 C3 Cn

Parallel combination of capacitors:

The two or more capacitors are said to be in parallel if one end of all the
capacitors is joined together, and similarly the other ends joined together such
that potential difference across each capacitor is same.
Derive an expression for effective capacitance of a parallel combination

Consider two capacitors of capacitance C1 and C2 connected in parallel.

In parallel combination potential V is same across each capacitor whereas
charges are different.
Q = Q1 + Q2
Q1
But C1 =  Q1 = VC1 , similarly Q2 = VC2
V
Q = VC1 + VC2
If CP is the effective capacitance of the parallel combination, then
Q
CP =  Q = VC P
V
Therefore, VCP = VC1 + VC2
CP = C1 + C2

This is the expression for effective capacitance of two capacitors in

parallel.
For ‘n’ capacitors
q = q1 + q2 + q3+ ----------- + qn
CpV = C1V + C2V + C3V + ------- + CnV
Cp = C1 + C2 + C3 + ------- + Cn

Note:
1. In series combination, charge on each capacitor remains constant.
2. In parallel combination, potential difference across each capacitor remains
constant.
3. If C1 and C2 connected in series.
1 1 1 C2 + C1 C1C2
then, = + = ,  Cs = .
Cs C1 C2 C1C2 C1 + C2
 For three capacitors
1 1 1 1 C2C3 + C3C1 + C1C2 C1C2C3
= + + = ,  Cs =
Cs C1 C2 C3 C1C2C3 C1C2 + C2C3 + C3C1
4. For ‘n’ capacitors in series
1 1 1 1 1
= + + +−−−−−−+
CS C1 C2 C3 Cn
For ‘n’ identical capacitors, C1 = C2 = C3 = ……. = Cn = C,
1 1 1 1 1 1 1 C
= + + +−−−−−−+ , = n  , CS =
CS C C C C Cs C n
5. If ‘n’ identical capacitor are connected in parallel
CP = C1 + C2 + C3 + ...... + Cn
For ‘n’ identical capacitor, CP = C + C + C + ……. + C
CP = nC
Derive an expression for energy stored in a capacitor

Consider a capacitor of capacitance C. The capacitor consists of two

conductors, initially these are uncharged. When a positive charge is transferred
from conductor 2 to 1 bit by bit, finally conductor 1 gets charge ‘+q’ and
conductor 2 has –q. In transferring positive charge from conductor 2 to 1, work
will be done externally.
At intermediate situation,
Let, +Q and -Q' be the charge on conductor 1 and 2
V'=Potential difference,
 Potential difference, V' = Q
C
At this stage,
dQ = a small charge is transferred from conductor 2 to 1.
dW=Small work done to transfer dQ
but, dW = V' dQ dW
V' =  dW = V'dQ
dQ
 Q
 dW = dQ
C
q
1
 Total work done to transfer a charge from
C 0
W= Q dQ
zero to q is q
1  Q1+1 
= 
C  1 + 1 
q
x n +1
W =  dW  x dx = n + 1
0
n
q
1  Q2 
=
C  2 
0
0
q2 1
W= = q 2 − 0 
2C 2C
q2
Work done is stored as a potential energy W=
2C
i.e. work done (W) = potential energy (U)
q2
 U=
2C
This is the expression for energy stored.
Note:
q2
1. W.K.T. U = --------------- (1)
2C
but, q=CV
( CV )
2

U=
2C
CV 2
U=
2
1
U = CV 2 --------------- (2)
2
q
but, C=
V
1 q
U =   V2
2 V
1
U = qV --------------- (3)
2
q2 1 1
 U= = CV 2 = qV
2C 2 2
Energy density: The energy stored per unit volume is called Energy density.
Energy
Energy density=
Volume
S.I. Unit is Joule/meter3. Ad = Area X distance
Ad = volume of region between
plates
U
= energy / volume
Ad
U
= energy density
Ad

Derive an expression for energy density:

q2
We have, U= …………..(1)
2C
But,  =
q  02 E 2 A 2
, U=
A A
2 0
 q=A ----------------(2) d
  E Ad 2

But, E = U= 0
0 2
U 0 E 2
 = 0 E =
Ad 2
Equation (2) becomes
q = 0 EA --------------(3)
Substituting Equation (3) in (1)
(  EA )
2

U= 0
2C
02 E 2 A 2
U= --------------(4)
2C
A
But, C = 0
d
Above equation (4) becomes
0 E 2
 Energy density =
2
This is the expression for energy density.
Uses of capacitor (Condenser):
1. It is used to store electrical energy and electric charge.
2. It is used in filter circuits.
3. It is used in tuning circuits.
4. It is used to generate and detect electromagnetic waves.