Q = Q1 = Q2 = Q3

Each capacitor has the same charge.

V1 = Q/C1 V2 = Q/C2 V3 = Q/C3

(22) What is the equivalent capacitance when n identical capacitors

are connected (a) in parallel, (b) in series?
Let n = number of capacitors and C = capacitance of each
capacitor
When n identical capacitors are connected in parallel,
The equivalent capacitance is Cp = nC.
When n identical capacitors are connected in series,
CHAPTER 9
The equivalent capacitance is Cs = C/n.
CAPACITANCE
-2 2 -1
(23) The unit for is N-1m C and the unit for E is NC . What is the
unit for E? Is it reasonable to assume that E = Q/A.
2 -1 -2 -1 -2
The unit for E = C N m NC = C m
2 -2
Unit for Q/A = C/m = Cm .
Therefore, we can assume that E = Q/A.

12
 CHAPTER 9 (b) for three capacitors in parallel C = 1/C1 + 1/C2 + 1/C3.
When the capacitors are connected in series, all the capacitors
Fill in the blanks.
have the same charge. But they have different potential
1. The insulating materials are also called -----. differences.
2. The dielectric constant value for vacuum is -----. The total potential difference of the capacitors is
3. A ----- is an electrical device that stores electrical energy. V = V1 + V2 + V3 Q1 C1 Q2 C2 Q3 C3
-1
4. 1CV is expressed as 1-----. =
Q
+
Q
+
Q + - + - + -
C1 C2 C3
5. A capacitor stores electrical ----- in the form of electric field. 1 1 1 V V V
=Q( + + )
C1 C2 C3
6. The unit of capacitance of a capacitor is -----. V
If C is the capacitance of the
7. A capacitor stores electrical energy in the form of ----- field.
equivalent capacitor, then V = Q/C.
8. A ----- capacitor is the simplest capacitor. Q 1 1 1
C
= Q (C + C + C )
9. A capacitor stores -----. 1 2 3
1 1 1 1
10. The unit of capacitance is -----. C
= (C + C + C )
1 2 3

11. A ----- is an electrical device that stores electrical energy in the

form of an electric field. (20) In which condition of the capacitors has each capacitor the same
12. A parallel-plate capacitor consists of ----- parallel metal plates. charge?
13. The charge of a capacitor is directly proportional to its -----. When capacitors are connected in series, each capacitor has the
14. The capacitor is a device that stores -----. same charge.
15. For a vacuum = 1 and for other media -----.
16. The energy stored in a capacitor can be expressed as -----. (21) If three capacitors (C1, C2, C3) are connected in series, compute
Answers the voltage across each of them. Does each process the same
1. dielectric 2. one 3. capacitor 4. farad 5. Energy amount of charge?
6. farad 7. electric 8. parallel-plate 9. electrical energy Let V = the potential difference of the series combination
10. farad 11. capacitor 12. two 13. potential difference for C1, C2 and C3 in series Q1 C1 Q2 C2 Q3 C3
14. electrical energy 15. >1
1
16. W = QV
1
=
1
(C +
1
+
1
) + - + - + -
2 Cs 1 C2 C3

Q = Cs V V V V
V
2 11
(17) Is the electric field between the plates of a parallel-plate capacitor Are the following statements TRUE or FALSE?
uniform or non-uniform field? (1) Capacitors are used in radio and television.
The electric field is uniform field. (2) The dielectric constant of vacuum is two.
(3) When charge, Q on a capacitor is doubled, its capacitance, C
(18) Write down the expression for the capacitance of parallel-plate also doubles.
capacitor. (Mention the capacitance of a parallel-plate capacitor). (4) A dielectric material is a conductor.
A
Capacitance, c = (5) Dielectric material is insulator.
d
C = capacitance A = area d = distance (6) A capacitor is an electrical device that stores electrical energy

= dielectric constant = permittivity of vacuum in the form of a magnetic field.

(7) A capacitor stores electrical energy in the form of an electric

(19) Show that (a) for three capacitors in parallel C = C1 + C2 + C3. field.

When the capacitors are connected in parallel, all the capacitors (8) Capacitors are used in radios and TVs.

have the same potential difference. But they have different (9) A dielectric material is a conductor.

charges. (10) The capacitor stores electrical energy in the form of magnetic
Q1 C1
The total charge of the capacitors is - field.
+
Q = Q1 + Q2 + Q3 Q2 C2 (11) Capacitors are connected in series to get the higher
+ -
= C1V + C2V + C3V capacitance.
Q3 C3
= (C1 + C2 + C3) V + - (12) When Q on a capacitor is doubled, its capacitance also

If C is the capacitance of the V doubles.

Equivalent capacitor, then Q = CV. (13) Capacitors are used in radios and televisions.

CV = (C1 + C2 + C3) V (14) The dielectric constant of air is close to 1.

C = C1 + C2 + C3 (15) The capacitance of a parallel plate capacitor is given by C=

2 /d.
(16) The dielectric constant of vacuum is two.
1. True 2. False 3. False 4. False 5. True 6. False
7. True 8. True 9. False 10. False 11. False 12. False
13. True 14. True 15. False 16. False
10 3
 Questions The work done for transferring charge Q between two conductors
is
(1) What is a capacitor? Give a short description of a capacitor. Name 1
W = 2 QV.
some of its uses.
Using the relations Q = CV and V = Q/C,
Capacitor
The energy of the capacitor is
A capacitor is an electrical device that stores electrical energy in
2
1 1 2 1Q
the form of an electric field. W = QV = CV = .
2 2 2 C

A short description of a capacitor W = energy stored by the capacitor

A capacitor consists of two conductors separated by a small C = capacitance of the capacitor,
distance. An insulator is inserted between its conductors. Q = charge of the capacitor,
Uses of capacitors V = potential difference of the capacitor
Capacitors are widely used in electrical circuits. They are used in
radio, television, computer and many other electrical appliances. (15) How much energy can be stored by a capacitor of capacitance, C
and the potential difference, V?
1 2
(2) What is the electric capacity of a capacitor? Energy stored by the capacitor is W = 2 CV .
The amount of charge given to a conductor to change its potential
by one unit is called the electric capacity of that conductor. (16) Draw a parallel capacitor and show that C = A/d assuming E =
Q/ A.
(3) Draw the symbols for a capacitor and a battery. Sketch a circuit
d
diagram for charging a capacitor.
+ - For a parallel-plate capacitor
+Q -Q +Q
+ dielectric -
-Q
+ - Q V
E = A and E= d
+ -
Symbol of a capacitor
+ - Q V Q A
Therefore, A
= d
or V
= d
V Q A A
Symbol of a battery Circuit diagram for charging a capacitor Since c = V, c= =
Diagram of a parallel- d d

plate capacitor

4 9
(12) A parallel plate capacitor remains connected to a battery. Is the (4) Define capacitance of a capacitor. What is its unit? On what factors
charge on the plates increased or decreased when a sheet of glass is does the capacitance of a capacitor depend?
substituted for the air separating them? If the dielectric constant for Capacitance
glass is 5, how many times does the capacitance increase or The capacitance of a capacitor is the ratio of the charge to the
decrease? Explain. potential difference between two conductors of that capacitor.
0 A Q
C= d
, C . Since = 5 for glass, the capacitance increases 5 C = V, C = capacitance of the capacitor,
times. Since, the capacitor remains connected to the battery, Q = charge of the capacitor,
potential difference remains the same. Therefore, the charge V = potential difference of the capacitor
increases 5 times, because Q = CV. The SI unit of capacitance is farad.
( battery The capacitance of a capacitor depends on (i) the size and the
battery potential difference, V charge, Q shape of the capacitor and (ii) the dielectric constant (i.e. type) of
battery charge potential the insulator between the two conductors.
1
difference times )
5

(5) Define 1 farad. What is the equivalent unit of farad? What must be
1
(13) In the equation W = QV, explain the symbols used. Express done to increase the capacitance of a capacitor?
2
this equation in two other forms. farad
2
1 1 2 1Q If the potential difference of the capacitor is 1V when it is given a
W = QV 2
W = CV 2
W= 2 C
W = energy stored by the capacitor charge 1 C, its capacitance is 1 farad.
-1
C = capacitance of the capacitor, The equivalent unit of farad (F) is coulomb per volt (CV ).
-1
Q = charge of the capacitor, (1F = 1CV )
0 A
V = potential difference of the capacitor Since C = , to increase the capacitance of a capacitor (i) the
d
area of the conductors (or plates) must be increased, (ii) the
(14) Compute the energy stored by the capacitor. distance between the conductors must be decreased, (iii) an
The average potential difference of the capacitor before and after insulating material of large dielectric constant must be used.
it is charged is
0+V V
V= 2
= 2.

8 5
(6) Express the sub-multiple units of farad are used for practical (9) When the distance between the two parallel plates having the
purpose. Does a capacitor store electrical energy? charges of equal magnitude and opposite signs is reduced, what
Capacitors are widely used in electrical circuits. They are used in will happen to the potential difference between the plates?
V
radio, television, computer and many other electrical appliances. Since E = and V = Ed, V d. When the distance between the two
d
-6 -9
1 microfarad (F) = 10 F, 1 nanofarad (nF) = 10 F, parallel plates having the charges of equal magnitude and opposite
-12
1 picofarad (pF) = 10 F. signs is reduced, the potential difference between the plates will
proportionally decrease.
(7) When the charge on a capacitor is increased does its capacitance or
increase? Explain. C=
0 A
, and C d.
1
d2 < d1, C2 > C1.
d
(What happens when charge Q on a capacitor is increased?) Since Q1 = Q2, C1V1 = C2V2. Therefore, V2 < V1.
The capacitance of a capacitor does not depend on its charge Q and
potential difference V. When the charge Q on the capacitor is (10) When an insulating material is inserted between the conductors
increased, the potential difference V also increases proportionally. of a capacitor in vacuum, does its capacitance increase or decrease?
Q
Since C = V, the capacitance C remains constant. Explain.
0 A
Since C = d
, C . When an insulating material is inserted
(8) Define dielectric constant. between the conductors of a capacitor in vacuum, its capacitance
C
Dielectric constant = will increase. Because = 1 for air or vacuum and > 1 for other
C0

The ratio of the capacitance of a capacitor with an insulating material.

material between its two conductors to the capacitance of that
capacitor with a vacuum between its two conductors is called the
dielectric constant of that insulating material.
(11) Is there any kind of material that, when inserted between the
plates of a capacitor, reduces its capacitance?
There is no material which reduces the capacitance. The
capacitance will be increased, because the dielectric constant k>
1 for any insulating material.

6 7