WELCOME
TOPIC - CAPACITOR
What is a capacitor storing electric A passive component designed for
energy (charge) Increases efficiency of a circuit system Does not dissipate heat but stores energy Energy stored can be retrieved at a later time
Capacitor cotaint
Electronic component
Two conducting surfaces separated by an insulating material
Stores charge Uses
Time delays Filters Tuned circuits
Capacitors electrical components
Construction Consists of two conducting plates
separated by an insulating layer called a dielectric. Differs in size, arrangements of plates and dielectric material
Application
Electronics
Communications Computers Power supply systems
Capacitance
The measure of a capacitor in its ability to store
electric charge Expressed in Farads (F) Electric charge stored is proportional to voltage supplied from Power Supply: Q = CV
Q = Charge stored C = Capacitance V = Voltage applied to capacitor
Factors affecting capacitance Size of plates (area)
larger plate greater capacity Distance between plates closer together more capacity Dielectric constant different material capacitance changes
C = (8.855kA) / d C = capacitance (picofarads) k = dielectric constant A = area of plate (m^2) d = distance between plates (m)
Purpose of dielectric material
Prevents flowing of current between its plates
Support electrostatic force that have been induced
between the plates
Dielectric material
Dielectric Vacuum Air Polystyrene Paper Mica Flint glass Methyl alcohol Glycerin Pure water Constant 1.0 1.00059 2.5 3.5 5.4 9.9 35 56.2 81
Charging a capacitor Capacitor not charged yet :
Capacitor not connected to
power source (battery) No potential difference between plates Therefore no charges stored in capacitor
Chargingcontd Battery connected across capacitor:
Electrons flow to and from plates Electrons cannot flow through
because of dielectric material Counter emf (reactance) induced on plates Electrostatic field induced between plates Reactance level = Power Supply no further flow of current
Chargingcontd Power Supply disconnected:
Capacitor retains charges because of
electrostatic force existing between plates Unequal charges on both negative & positive plates Capacitor is now a source of potential energy
Discharging to other circuit: a capacitor Capacitor connected
Electrons flow through from
negative plated to positive plate Capacitor is discharging
Dischargingcontd Current will stop flowing when
charges of both positive and negative plates are equal Capacitor is fully discharged when theres no more energy left
Capacitors in parallel circuits Same effect as increasing plate size
Increase in plate size = increase capacitance
Able to store more charges
C = C1+C2+C3
Capacitors in series circuits Same effect as increasing distance between plates
Increase in dist = decrease in capacitance
Able to store less charges
C = (C1xC2) / (C1+C2)
Resistive-Capacitive (RC) series circuit
Capacitor charges current flow decreases
Reactance (opposing emf) increases over time
Rate of charging a capacitor decreases over time Resistors used to control charge/discharge time Increase resistor = more time to charge a capacitor
RC Time Constant Rate of charge greatly decreases
over time Time required to charge to 63.2% of full capacity Take only 1/5 of its total time for capacitor to reach 63.2% of charge t=CxR t = time (sec) C = capacitance (farads) R = resistance (ohms)
