CO QAH + MELC LW

Course Outline & Quality Assured HANDOUT No. 4

Handouts paired with MELC- in General Physics 2
Based Learner’s Worksheet

MELCs:

17.) Determine the total charge, the charge on, and the potential difference across each capacitor
in the network given the capacitors connected in series/parallel. (STEM_GP12EM-IIId-25)
18.) Determine the potential energy stored inside the capacitor given the geometry and the
potential difference across the capacitor. (STEM_GP12EM-IIId-26)
19.) Describe the effects of inserting dielectric materials on the capacitance, charge, and electric
field of a capacitor. (STEM_GP12EM-IIId-29)
Semester: 2nd Week No. 4 Day: 1 - 4

LESSON 1: SOLVE THE TOTAL CHARGE, CHARGE AND POTENTIAL ACROSS EACH
CAPACITOR

In this handout, you will learn on how to calculate, total charge, charge each capacitor, potential
difference (voltage) across each capacitor connected in series / parallel, potential energy stored inside
a capacitor and effect of dielectric materials on capacitance, charge, and electric field.

Calculating Total Charge and Potential Difference Across Each Capacitor in Series
Connection

There are three important rules for capacitors in series. These are:

1. ) The reciprocal of the total capacitance is equal to the sum of the reciprocals of the individual
capacitance. It should be noted that adding a capacitor in series decreases the total capacitance of the
combination.

2. The total potential diference or total voltage is the sum of the potential differences across each
capacitor.
VT = V1 + V2 + V3 + VT + . . . . .

3. The total charge is equal to the individual charge stored in each capacitor.
QT = Q1 = Q2 = Q 3

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 Figure 1: Capacitor in Series Connection
Young H. D. & R. G. Freedman. 2004. University Physics with Modern Physics 11 th Edition

Sample Problem

Three capacitors 4 μF, 6 μF, and 8 μF are to be connected in series. Find the charge on its
capacitor and potential difference across each capacitor. The combination is connected to a power
source of 20 V.

Given: C1 = 4 μF C2 = 6 μF C3 = 8 μF

Solution: Using the formula of total capacitance on its capacitor;

1 / CT = (1 / 4 μF) + (1 / 6 μF) + (1 / 8 μF)

1 / CT = [ 1(6) + 1 (4) + 1 (3) ] / 24
1 / CT = 13 / 24
CT = 24 / 13
CT = 1.85 μF

Using th formula of capacitance; C = Q / V

QT = CT VT
= (1.85 x 10-6 F) (20 V)
QT = 3.7 X 10-5 C

Calculating charge on each capacitor: QT = Q1 = Q2 = Q3 = 3.7 X 10-5 C

Calculating potential difference across each capacitor: VT = V1 + V2 + V3 + VT + . . . . .

Using the formula: C = Q / V
Therefore: V = Q / C

V1 = Q1 / C1 = ( 3.7 X 10-5 C ) / (4 x 10--6 F) = 9.25 V

V2 = Q2 / C2 = ( 3.7 X 10-5 C ) / (6 x 10--6 F) = 6.17 V
V3 = Q3 / C1 = ( 3.7 X 10-5 C ) / (8 x 10--6 F) = 4.625 V

Calculating Total Charge and Potential Difference Across Each Capacitor in Parallel
Connection

1. ) The total capacitance is the sum of the individual capacitances.

CT = C1 + C2 + C3 + . . . . .

2. The voltage across all capacitors is equal to the voltage across each capacitor.
VT =V1 = V2 = V3 = . . . . . .

3. The total charge is equal to the sum of the individual charges.

QT = Q1 + Q2 + Q 3 + . . . . . . . . . .

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 Figure 2: Capacitor in Parallel Connection
Young H. D. & R. G. Freedman. 2004. University Physics with Modern Physics 11 th Edition

Sample Problem:

Three capacitors 4 μF, 6 μF, and 8 μF are to be connected in parallel. Find the charge on its
capacitor and potential difference across each capacitor. The combination is connected to a power
source of 20 Volts.

Given: C1 = 4 μF C2 = 6 μF C3 = 8 μF V = 20 Volts

Solution: Using the formula of charge on its capacitor; C = Q / V

Q1 = C1 (V) = 4 x 10-6 (20 V) = 8 x 10-5 C

Q2 = C2 (V) = 6 x 10-6 (20 V) = 1.2 x 10^-4 C

Q3 = C3 (V) = 8 x 10-6 (20 V) = 1.6 x 10-4 C

QT = Q1 + Q2 + Q3
= 8 x 10-5 C + 1.2 x 10-4 C + 1.6 x 10-4 C

Potential difference across each capacitor: VT =V1 = V2 = V3 = 20 V

LESSON 2: CALCULATING POTENTIAL ENERGY STORED

The energy Uc stored in a capacitor is electrostatic potential energy and is thus related to the
charge Q and voltage V between the capacitor plates. A charge capacitor stores energy in the
electrical field between its plates. As the capacitor is being charged, the electrical field builds up.
When a charge capacitor is disconnected from a battery, its energy remains in the field in the space
between its plates.

To gain insight into how this energy may be expressed (in terms of Q and V), consider a charged,
empty, parallel-plate capacitor; that is, a capacitor without a dielectric but with a vacuum between its
plates. The space between its plates has a volume Ad, and its filled with a uniform electrostatic field
E. The total energy Uc of the capacitor is contained within this space. The energy density UE in this
space is simply Uc Divided by the volume Ad. If we know the energy density, the energy can be found as
Uc = UE (Ad).
Uc = 1/2 [ V2 C ]
= 1/2 [ Q2 / C ]
= 1/2 ( Q V )

SInce the geometry of the capacitor has not been specified, this equation holds for any type
of capacitor. The total work W needed to charge a capacitor is the electrical potential energy Uc
stored in it, or Uc = W. When the charge is expressed in coulombs, potential is expressed in volts,
and the capacitance is expressed in farads, this relation gives the energy in joules.

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 Knowing that the energy stored in a capacitor is Uc = Q2 / 2C, we can now find the energy
density UE stored by the volume Ad of space between its plates and take into account that for a
parallel-plate capacitor, we have E =

Energy density - Energy stored in a capacitor divided by the volume between the plates.

Sample Problem

1. ) Calculate the energy stored in the capacitor netwrok, when the capacitors are fully charged and
when the capacitance are C1 = 12.0 μF at V1 = 4.0 V, C2 = 2.0 μF at V2 = 8.0 V, and C3 = 4.0 μF at V3
= 8.0 V, respectively.

Solution:
U1 = 1/2 [ V2 C ] = 1/2 [ (4.0 V)2 (12.0 μF) ] = 96 μJ
U2 = 1/2 [ V2 C ] = 1/2 [ (8.0 V)2 (2.0 μF) ] = 64 μJ
U3 = 1/2 [ V2 C ] = 1/2 [ (4.0 V)2 (4.0 μF) ] = 130 μJ

The Total Energy stored in this network is: Uc = U1 + U2 + U3 = 96 μJ + 64 μJ + 130 μJ = 0.29 μJ

LESSON 3: EFFECTS OF INSERTING DIELECTRIC MATERIALS

Dielectric

Dielectrics are non-conducting substances which are the insulating materials are bad conductor of
electric current. Dielectric Materials can be made to hold an electrostatics charge while dissipating
minimal energy in the form of heat. Examples of Dielectric are Mica, Plastics, Glass, Porcelain and
Various Metal Oxides and even dry air is also example of dielectric.

Inserting dielectric in Capacitor

When a dielectric material is introduced between the plates and when a dielectric materials is
placed between the plates of parallel plate capacitor then due to polarization of charges on either
side of the dielectric, it produces an electric field of its own which acts in a direction opposite to that
of the field due to the source.

Effect of dielectric on plates when voltage or charge is held constant

Inserting a dielectric between the plates of capacitor while eitherthe voltage or charge is held
constant has the same effect that is the ratio of charge to voltage increases.

Figure 3: Effect of dielectric on plates when voltage or the charge is held constant
https://www.askiitians.com/iit-jee-electrostatics/effect-of-dielectric-on-capacitance/

Adding Dielectric to a Capacitor

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 The capacitance of a parallel plate capacitor is affected by the following factors:

A. ) Area of plates
- The bigger the area of the plates, the greater is the capacitance.

B. ) Distance between the plates

- The closer the plates to one another, the greater the capacitance.

C. ) Insulating material or dielectric between them.

CAPACITANCE OF CAPACITOR

The dependence of the capacitance of a parallel plate capacitor on the factors cited above is
mathematically expressed as:
C = Ɛ (A / d)

Where: A - is the area of one plate expressed in square meters, m2

d - is the distance between plates expressed in meter, m
Ɛ - is the permitivity of the insulating material or dielectric, expressed in C² / N m²

Charge Parallel Plate Capacitor

Young H. D. & R. G. Freedman. 2004. University Physics with Modern Physics 11 th Edition

Permitivity of Some Materials

Material Ɛ (x 10ˉ¹¹ C² / N m² )
Air or Vacuum 0.885
Glass (Ordinary) 7
Glass (Pyrex) 4.7
Mica 4.8
Mylar 2.7
Paraffin 2
Polyethylene 1,99
Porcelain 6.2
Teflon 1.9
Water at 20 °C 70.8

Example Material: Mica

Permitivity, Ɛ = 4.8 x 10ˉ¹¹ C² / N m²

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The electric field between the plates of parallel plate capacitor is directly proportional to capacitance
C of the capacitor. The strenth of electric field is reduced due to presence of dielectric and if the total
charge on the plates is kept constant then the potential difference is reduced across the capacitor
plates. In this way dielectric increases the capacitance of capacitor. The capacitance is increased by
the factor k called Dielectric Constant. Thus;
C = k Ɛ (A / d)

The table below shows the dielectric of some common materials.

Substance Dielectric Constant, k

Air 1.0006
Benzene 2.3
Glass 5-8
Mica 2.5 - 7
Teflon 2.1
Waxed Paper 2.2

The Capacitance of a capacitor changes if the dielectric is placed between plates of a capacitor. The
charge of the capacitor is not affected by the dielectric. The change in the capacitance is affected by
the dielectric constant of the substance and given as:
Cn = k Co

Where: Cn =The new capacitance

K - The dielectric constant of the substance
Co - The original Capacitance

Since the capacitance changes, the potential difference across the plates also changes and given as
Vn = V o / k

Where: Cn =The new capacitance

K - The dielectric constant of the substance
Co - The original Capacitance

Sample Problem

1. A parallel plate capacitor is filled (air) with an insulating material with a dielectric constant of 2.6.
The distance between the plates of the capacitor is 0.0002 m. Find the plate area if the new
capacitance (after the insertion of dielectric) is 3.4 μF.
Given: C = 3.4 μF
K = 2.6
Ɛ = 0.885 x 10ˉ¹¹ C² / N m²
d = 0.0002 m
Solution:
C = (k Ɛ A ) / d
A = Cd / k Ɛ
= ( 3.4 μF ) ( 0.0002 m ) / (2.6) ( 0.885 x 10ˉ¹¹ C² / N m² ) 6.8 x 10-10
A = 29.6 m2

REFERENCES

Silverio, Angelina. 2006. Physics. 927 Quezon Avenue, Quezon City. Phoenix Publishing House
Inc.

Malenab, R. G. G. C. Catchillar, et. Al. 2002. SImplified Physics. 856 Nicanor Reyes Sr. St.
Manila Philippines. Rex Book Store Inc.

Sotto, Rosario 2005. Physics Textbook. 8F, Globe Telecom Plaza II Pioner Higlands, Pioner
corner Madison St. 1552 Mandaluyong City Philippines.

https://courses.lumenlearning.com/physics/chapter/19-4-equipotential-lines/
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https://www.britannica.com/science/electric-field

https://opentextbc.ca/universityphysicsv2openstax/chapter/energy-stored-in-a-capacitor/

https://www.askiitians.com/iit-jee-electrostatics/effect-of-dielectric-on-capacitance/

https://www.physics-prep.com/index.php/practice-problems-capacitors-and-dielectrics-2/