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research final capacitor

Preprint · September 2020

DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.10920.39688

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 ABHIRAM SRIKANTH
Ahmedabad University
abhiram.s@ahduni.edu.in

ABSTRACT
In this report, we discuss about capacitor and its properties with
scientific calculation from a physics simulation. The online simulation
by the University of Colorado Boulder have many features to analyse
the various factors that affects capacitance. We do this by creating
visual output of the information and understanding the idea of the
plots utilizing suitable theories and hypotheses. Graphical
interpretation and in depth overview of theories and equations are
provided here.
AIM
To understand and analyse the nature of parallel plate capacitors
and its capacitance using online simulation.
RESOURCES USED
PhET simulation by University of Colorado Boulder
The book of Good Shepherd Centre for Physics/ Askiitians
MS Excel and Word
THEORY
Capacitor as shown in figure 1 also known as Electric-condenser is
two terminal electric components which has ability or capacity to
store energy in the form of electric charge. Capacitors are usually
designed to enhance and increase the effect of capacitance
considering the capacitor’s size and shape. There are 3 types of
capacitors (Parallel plate, Cylindrical and Spherical).
fig (1): different tpes of capacitors https://www.powerelectronicstalks.com/2019/05/capacitor.html

The storing capacity of capacitance vary from small storage to high

storage. The ability of an capacitor to store the energy in form of
electric charge is known as Capacitance. Also capacitance of a
conductor is defined as the ratio of the charge given to the
conductor to the potential raised to it.
C=Q/V
Where C is the capacitance, Q is the charge and V is the Potential
Difference.
It is measured in Farads (SI Unit). if 1 coulomb of charge given to a
conductor raises its potential by 1 volt, then the electrical
capacitance is said to be 1 farad. Capacity of a parallel plate capacitor
with air in between the plates is given by....
C0=E0A/d
Where C0 is the capacity (initial capacitance), E0 is permittivity of free
space, A is the overlapping surface area of the plates and d is the
distance between the plates.
Most capacitor usually contains two electrical conductors which are
surface separated by dielectric or between metallic plates as shown
in figure 2. Conductors may be in form of electrolyte, thin film,
sintered bead of metal etc. The non-conducting dielectric like glass,
plastic, mica are used to increase capacity of capacitor to charge. if
the space between two electrodes are filled with dielectric the
capacitance of the capacitor will be increased. If all the space is filled
by a dielectric that is there is no place left then the capacitance of a
capacitor will be increased by K. and here K is known as Dielectric
Constant.
C0=KE0A/d
Where C0 is the capacity (initial capacitance), K is the dielectric
constant, E0 permittivity of free space A is the overlapping surface
area of the plates and d is the distance between the plates.

fig (2): the structure of parallel plate capacitor https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dielectric

The energy stored in a capacitor (fig 3) is nothing however the

electric potential energy and is related to the voltage and charge on
the capacitor. On the off chance that the capacitance of a conductor
is C, at that point it is initially uncharged and it acquires a potential
difference V when connected with a battery.
U=0.5CV2
Where U is the potential Energy, C is the capacitance and V is the
potential difference.

Fig (3): Energy stored in a capacitor https://byjus.com/physics/energy-stored-in-a-capacitor/

SIMULATION DETAILS
Simulation called phET from university of Colorado Boulder(figure 4) was used
to visualise the capacitors and its capacitance. It has many features to show
voltage, electric field, field lines, plate charge, stored energy, increasing or
decreasing plate area and distance between plates, connect a voltmeter, add a
dielectric and changing dielectric constant, connect multiple capacitors etc.
From these features we can get the capacitance, variation of it with many
other factors.

Fig(4) Capacitor Lab PhET Simulation (below figure also)

OBSERVATIONS, GRAPHICAL INTERPRETATION AND INFERANCES
1. A)
 From the graph, we know that plate area is directly
proportional to the capacitance.
B) The role is to give an initial potential difference to the
charges to move also, reside to the capacitor plates. After this,
the electric field gets constant inside the capacitor and there is
no more progression of current. It doesn’t have a notable effect
in capacitors. But the voltage has extensive impact on the
vitality (energy stored) in a capacitor.
C) at 1.5V

At 0.833V
At -0.833V
 From the above graphs and observation, we could conclude
that capacitance is independent of the supplied voltage.
2. A)

From this we could conclude that capacitance is inversely

proportional to distance between the plates. This may be due to
electrostatic force field between the plates which indeed
proportional to the capacitance. The field gets stronger as distance
between place reduces.
B) plate area 1.00E-04m2 plate area 2.49E-04m2 plate area 4.00E-04m2
Here also as the capacitance decreased with increase in distance
between the plates. So the plate area is inversely proportional to the
distance between the plates. The rate gets increasing with more
plate area.
3. Dielectrics are materials that are poor conductors of electric
current and can be easily polarized when electric field id
applied. The dielectric reduces the electric field strength inside
the capacitor, resulting in a smaller voltage between the plates
for the same charge. The capacitor stores the same charge for a
smaller voltage, implying that it has a larger capacitance
because of the dielectric. They both have a linear relationship
because capacitor is directly proportional to dielectric constant.
A)
 Relation is linear
B)
The graph proves that the capacitance increases with increase in
plate area and decrease with increase of distance between the
plates.

CONCLUSION AND LEARNING

1. A capacitor is a device which stores electrical energy in the form of
electrical fields. Capacitance of a conductor is defined as the ratio of
the charge given to the conductor to the potential raised to it. The
capacitance of a capacitor can be increased by increasing the plate
area, decreasing the distance of separation between plates and also
by keeping dielectrics in between the electrodes. Higher value of
dielectric constant implies a higher capacitance.
2. The role is to give an initial potential difference to the charges to
move also, reside to the capacitor plates. After this, the electric field
gets constant inside the capacitor and there is no more progression
of current. It doesn’t have a notable effect in capacitors. But the
voltage has extensive impact on the vitality (energy stored) in a
capacitor. The capacitance is independent of supplied voltage.
3. Capacitance will not change with respect to Potential Difference as
mentioned in above point. The capacitance depends only on the
geometry and nature of dielectric. The charges get collected on the
plates of electrodes thus increasing the Electric field increases to a
 maximum value. The value remains same as no current flows
through the circuit. During discharge the field gets decreased as
extra charges move away from the plates of the capacitor (vice versa
of 1st situation).

SOURCE OF ERROR
1) Errors due to sensitivity of sliders.
2) Parallax errors while taking measurement. (Human)
3) Sensitivity of arrows used for changing various parameters.

REFERENCES
https://phet.colorado.edu/sims/cheerpj/capacitor-
lab/latest/capacitor-lab.html?simulation=capacitor-lab
https://www.askiitians.com/iit-jee-electrostatics/capacitors-and-
capacitance/

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