GENERAL PHYSICS 2

THIRD QUARTER
WEEK 4

CAPACITORS
One important element in an electric circuit is a capacitor. A capacitor is a device for
storing charges. There are several types of capacitors. One of the simplest types of
capacitors consists of two equally but oppositely charged parallel conducting plates
separated from each other by a thin sheet of insulating material or dielectric. When
connected to a source of charge, such as battery, the positive terminal of the source removes
electrons from the plate connected to it and transfers them to the other plate. As a result,
the two plates are equally but oppositely charged. A capacitor is usually named after the
dielectric material used. Common dielectric materials used in a capacitor are mica, glass,
air, ceramic, and paper.
CAPACITANCE
Capacitance is the ability of a capacitor to store charges. The capacitance C of a
capacitor is mathematically defined as the ratio of the amount of charge q in one plate to
the potential difference V between the plates.
In symbols,
𝑞
𝐶= (1)
𝑉

The SI unit of capacitance is the farad (F) named after Michael Faraday. Note that 1
farad is equal to 1 coulomb per volt.
The capacitance of a parallel plate capacitor is affected by the following factors:
a. The area of plates. The bigger the area of the plates, the greater the capacitance.
b. The distance between plates. The closer the plates to one another, the greater the
capacitance.
c. The insulating material or dielectric between them. The capacitance is determined in
terms of the material`s permittivity constant ∈ − the higher the ∈, the greater the
capacitance.
The dependence of the capacitance of a parallel plate capacitor on the factors cited above
is mathematically expressed as
𝐴
𝐶 =∈𝑑 (2)

where A is the area of one plate, d is the distance between the plates, and ∈ is the
permittivity of the insulating material or dielectric. Table 2-1 lists the permittivity of some
common dielectrics. Sometimes, the relative permittivity or dielectric constant of the
dielectric material is given instead of its permittivity. The relative permittivity or dielectric
constant ∈𝑅 is the ratio of the permittivity ∈ of the dielectric to the permittivity ∈𝑜 of
vacuum or air.
∈
∈𝑅 = (3)
∈0

Note that ∈𝑅 has no unit. Also, the relative permittivity is greater than or equal to
one.
Rewriting Eq. (2) using Eq. (3)
𝐴 𝐴
𝐶 =∈ = ∈𝑅 ∈0
𝑑 𝑑

Table 2-1
Permittivity of Some Common Dielectrics
Dielectric ∈ (10-11C2/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 oC 70.8

∈𝑂 𝐴
Note that 𝐶𝑂 = (capacitance with air or vacuum as the dielectric). Therefore,
𝑑

𝐶 = ∈𝑅 𝐶0 (4)
Inserting a dielectric other than air or vacuum increases the capacitance to an amount
equal to ∈𝑅 times its original value.
There is a limit to the potential difference between the plates of the capacitor. When
the maximum potential difference is exceeded, the dielectric becomes a conductor, allowing
the flow of charges. These moving charges form sparks or discharge. This condition is
known as dielectric breakdown. Lightning is an example of a dielectric breakdown.

COMBINATION OF CAPACITORS
Capacitors may be connected in series or in parallel. The series combination of capacitors
is characterized by only one path for charge transfer through terminals A and B. All the
series capacitors acquire the same charge. The charges in each capacitor are equivalent, and
are all equal to the total charge in the combination. But because they have different
capacitances, the potential differences between the plates of the capacitor are different. In
summary, the following relationships apply for capacitors in series.
a. Charge: 𝑞𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 = 𝑞1 = 𝑞2 = 𝑞3 = ⋯ = 𝑞𝑛
b. Potential difference:
𝑉𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 = 𝑉1 + 𝑉2 + 𝑉3 + ⋯ + 𝑉𝑛
c. Capacitance:
Using equation (1) and the above relationships between charges and voltages,
𝑞𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑞1 𝑞2 𝑞3 𝑞𝑛
= + + + ⋯+
𝐶𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝐶1 𝐶2 𝐶3 𝐶𝑛

1 1 1 1 1
= + + + ⋯+
𝐶𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝐶1 𝐶2 𝐶3 𝐶𝑛
For parallel capacitors, there are several paths for the transfer of charges through the
voltage terminals A and B. Since the capacitors are connected to the same terminals A and
B, then the potential differences between their plates are equivalent, and are equal to Vtotal.
In summary, the following relationships apply for capacitors in parallel.
a. Charge:
𝑞𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 = 𝑞1 + 𝑞2 + 𝑞3 + ⋯ + 𝑞𝑛
b. Potential difference:
𝑉𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 = 𝑉1 = 𝑉2 = 𝑉3 = ⋯ 𝑉𝑛
c. Capacitance:
Using Eq.1 and the above relationships between charges and voltages,
𝐶𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑉𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 = 𝐶1 𝑉1 + 𝐶2 𝑉2 + 𝐶3 𝑉3 + ⋯ + 𝐶𝑛
𝐶𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 = 𝐶1 + 𝐶2 + 𝐶3 + ⋯ + 𝐶𝑛