University of Duhok Subject: Electromagnetic Fields
College of Engineering Stage: Third Year
Electrical and Computer Engineering Dept. Instructor: Dr. Yasser A. Fadhel
Lecture No.7
Capacitance and Dielectric Materials
7.1 Introduction
Dielectric materials become polarized in an electric field, with the result that
the electric flux density D is greater than it would be under free-space conditions
with the same field intensity. A simplified but satisfactory theory of polarization
can be obtained by treating an atom of the dielectric as two superimposed
positive and negative charge regions, as shown in Fig. 7-1(a). Upon application
of an E field, the positive charge region moves in the direction of the applied
field and the negative charge region moves in the opposite direction, as shown
in Fig. 7-1(c).
Fig. 7-1
7.2 Capacitance
Any two conducting bodies separated by free space or a dielectric material
have a capacitance between them. A voltage difference applied results in a
charge +Q on one conductor and −Q on the other. The ratio of the absolute value
of the charge to the absolute value of the voltage difference is defined as the
capacitance of the system:
where 1 farad(F) = 1 C/V.
The capacitance depends only on the geometry of the system and the
properties of the dielectric(s) involved. In Fig. 7-2, charge +Q placed on
conductor 1 and −Q on conductor 2 creates a flux field as shown. The D and E
fields are therefore also established. Doubling the charges would simply double
D and E, and therefore double the voltage difference. Hence, the ratio Q/V would
remain fixed.
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University of Duhok Subject: Electromagnetic Fields
College of Engineering Stage: Third Year
Electrical and Computer Engineering Dept. Instructor: Dr. Yasser A. Fadhel
Fig 7-2
Fig 7-3
7.3 Multiple-Dielectric Capacitors
When two dielectrics are present such that the interface is normal to D and E, as shown
in Fig. 8-5(a), the equivalent capacitance can be obtained by treating the arrangement
as two capacitors in series [Fig. 7-5(b)].
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University of Duhok Subject: Electromagnetic Fields
College of Engineering Stage: Third Year
Electrical and Computer Engineering Dept. Instructor: Dr. Yasser A. Fadhel
The result can be extended to any number of dielectrics such that the interfaces are all
normal to D and E: The reciprocal of the equivalent capacitance is the sum of the
reciprocals of the individual capacitances.
7.4 Energy Stored in a Capacitor
7.5 Fixed-Voltage D and E
A parallel-plate capacitor with free space between the plates and a constant
applied voltage V, as shown in Fig. 8-6, has a constant electric field intensity E.
With fringing neglected,
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University of Duhok Subject: Electromagnetic Fields
College of Engineering Stage: Third Year
Electrical and Computer Engineering Dept. Instructor: Dr. Yasser A. Fadhel
Fig 7-6
7.6 Fixed-Charge D and E
Fig 7-7
(See Problem 7.20)
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University of Duhok Subject: Electromagnetic Fields
College of Engineering Stage: Third Year
Electrical and Computer Engineering Dept. Instructor: Dr. Yasser A. Fadhel
7.7 Boundary Conditions at the Interface of Two Dielectrics
A useful relation can be obtained from
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University of Duhok Subject: Electromagnetic Fields
College of Engineering Stage: Third Year
Electrical and Computer Engineering Dept. Instructor: Dr. Yasser A. Fadhel
in view of the continuity relations, division of these two equations gives
Solved Problems
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University of Duhok Subject: Electromagnetic Fields
College of Engineering Stage: Third Year
Electrical and Computer Engineering Dept. Instructor: Dr. Yasser A. Fadhel
7.9. Find the capacitance of a coaxial capacitor of length L, where the inner
conductor has radius a and the outer has radius b. See Fig. 7-12.
Fig 7-12
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University of Duhok Subject: Electromagnetic Fields
College of Engineering Stage: Third Year
Electrical and Computer Engineering Dept. Instructor: Dr. Yasser A. Fadhel
6.10. In the capacitor shown in Fig. 7-13, the region between the plates is filled
with a dielectric having εr = 4.5. Find the capacitance.
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University of Duhok Subject: Electromagnetic Fields
College of Engineering Stage: Third Year
Electrical and Computer Engineering Dept. Instructor: Dr. Yasser A. Fadhel
9
University of Duhok Subject: Electromagnetic Fields
College of Engineering Stage: Third Year
Electrical and Computer Engineering Dept. Instructor: Dr. Yasser A. Fadhel
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