Chapter 24 Capacitance and

Dielectrics
Capacitance and dielectrics (sec. 24.1)
Capacitors in series and parallel (sec. 24.2)
Energy storage in capacitors
and electric field energy (sec. 24.3)
Dielectrics (sec. 24.4)
Molecular model / polarization (sec. 24.5)
R-C circuits (sec. 26.4)
Learning Goals - we will learn: Ch 24
The nature of capacitors, and how to
calculate their ability to store charge.
How to analyze capacitors connected
in a network.
How to calculate the amount of energy
stored in a capacitor.
What dielectrics are, and how they make
capacitors more effective.
 A "charged" capacitor
can store charge.
When a capacitor is
being charged, negative
charge is removed from
one side of the
capacitor and placed
onto the other, leaving
one side with a negative
charge (-q) and the
other side with a
positive charge (+q).
Any two conductors insulated from one
another form a CAPACITOR.
 Q = C V
where C = A / d
for a parallel plate capacitor,
where is the permittivity of
the insulating material
(dielectric) between plates.

Recall that we used Gauss's Law

to calculate the electric field (E)
between the plates of a charged
capacitor:
E = / where there is a
A charged parallel vacuum between the plates.
plate capacitor.
Vab = E d, so E = Vab /d
The unit of capacitance is called the Farad (F).
 1
1

1 / Ceq = 1 / C1 + 1 / C2

(a) Two capacitors in series

(b) The equivalent capacitor
 Ceq = C1 + C2

(a) Two capacitors in parallel

(b) The equivalent circuit
 Capacitors can store charge and ENERGY
U = q V and the potential V increases as the
charge is placed on the plates (V = Q / C).
Since the V changes as the Q is increased, we
have to integrate over all the little charges
dq being added to a plate: U = q V leads to
U = V dq = q/C dq = 1/C q dq = Q2 / 2C.
And using Q = C V, we get
U = Q2 / 2C = C V^22 / 2 = Q V / 2
ENERGY STORED IN A CAPACITOR
The potential energy stored in the system of
positive charges that are separated from the
negative charges is like a stretched spring has
potential energy associated with it.
 ELECTRIC FIELD ENERGY
Here's another way to think of the energy
stored in a charged capacitor: If we consider
the space between the plates to contain the
energy (equal to 1/2 C V2) we can calculate an
energy DENSITY (Joules per volume). The
volume between the plates is area x plate
separation (A d). Then the energy density u is
u = 1/2 C V22/A d = o E22/ 2
Substituting C = o A / d and V = E d
u = 1/2 (o A/d) (Ed)22 /Ad = o E22/2
C 2009 J. F. Becker
 Energy density: u = o E22/ 2
This is an important result because it tells us
that empty space contains energy if there is
an electric field (E) in the "empty" space.

If we can get an electric field to travel (or

propagate) we can send or transmit energy
and information through empty space!!!

C 2009 J. F. Becker
 DIELECTRIC
CONSTANT:
K = C / Co
= ratio of the
capacitances

V = Vo / K

Effect of a dielectric between the plates of a

parallel plate capacitor.
Note the charge is constant !
 A dielectric is added between the plates of a
charged capacitor (battery not connected):
Q = Q, therefore Q = C V and Q = Co Vo
Co Vo = C V,
and if Vo decreases to V, Co must increase to
C to keep equation balanced, and
V = Vo Co/C
Definition of DIELECTRIC CONSTANT:

K = C / Co = ratio of the capacitances

V = Vo / K
C 2009 J. F. Becker
The charges induced on the surface of the
dielectric reduce the electric field.
 Polarization of a
dielectric in an
electric field E gives
rise to thin layers of
bound charges on
the dielectrics
surfaces, creating
surface charge
densities
+i and i.
 A neutral sphere
B in the electric
field of a charged
sphere A is
attracted to the
charged sphere
because of
polarization.
 DISCHARGING: CHARGING:

An RC circuit
that can be used
to charge and
discharge a
capacitor
(through a
resistor).
CHARGING A CAPACITOR:
current vs time

CHARGING A CAPACITOR:
charge vs time
DISCHARGING A CAPACITOR:
current vs time

DISCHARGING A CAPACITOR:
charge vs time
 Review
See
www.physics.sjsu.edu/becker/physics51

C 2010 J. F. Becker
Polarization of a dielectric in
an electric field E.