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Potential Difference and Capacitance
Potential Difference and Capacitance
Potential at a point
Usually all we care about is differences in potential between two points, occasionally you need the absolute potential at a point. To do this we take the earth as a reference point. We say the earth is at zero potential, so to get the absolute potential of a point we measure the potential difference between it and the earth.
Potential on a conductor
All points on a charged conductor are at the same potential if this were not the case there would be a potential difference between two points and this would cause the charges to move until there was no resulting potential difference between the two points
Thus, if the charges are static it must mean that all points are at the same potential. THERE IS NO POTENTIAL DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ANY TWO POINTS ON ANY CONDUCTOR
Capacitance
Capacitance= the ratio of the charge to the potential C = Q/V measured in farads F.
If you bring a negatively charged object nearby, it reduces the potential of the positive object, hence it is now easier to put an extra positive charge onto the object. Since C = Q/V, as V has been lowered, C will have increased.
Charging a capacitor
If a capacitor is connected to a battery it will charge-Electrons flow from the negative of the battery to the plate of the capacitor, and builds up on this plate. This repels the electrons on the other plate of the capacitor and they flow back to the battery
Thus one plate is negatively charged and the other is positively charged. As the charge builds up, the voltage across the capacitor increases, which causes the flow of electrons to decrease. The flow of electrons stops when the potential across the capacitor =potential across the battery. at this point the capacitor is fully charged
Discharging a capacitor
If the capacitor is then disconnected from the battery it retains its charge. If it is then connected across a lamp, the capacitor discharges and the electrons flow back from the negative to the positive plate through the lamp.
Action of a capacitor
While a capacitor is in the process of charging it allows current to flow through it. Once the capacitor is fully charged it stops current flowing through.
Capacitors and AC
With AC, the current switches direction 100 times per second. Thus the capacitor starts to fill from one side, then when the current switches direction, the capacitor discharges in this direction and starts to charge from the other direction.
Capacitors and DC
With DC the current is always in the same direction. Thus, once the capacitor is fully charged it stops any current flowing through it. This is why a capacitor blocks DC once it is fully charged.