Capacitance and Laplaces Equation

Capacitance Definition
Simple Capacitance Examples
Capacitance Example using Streamlines & Images
Two-wire Transmission Line
Conducting Cylinder/Plane
Field Sketching
Laplace and Poisons Equation
Laplaces Equation Examples
Laplaces Equation - Separation of variables
Poissons Equation Example
 Potential of various charge arrangements
Point

Line (coaxial)

Sheet

V proportional to Q, with some factor involving geometry

Define
 Basic Capacitance Definition
A simple capacitor consists of two oppositely charged conductors surrounded by a uniform dielectric.

An increase in Q by some factor results in an increase D (and E) by same factor.

With the potential difference between conductors: S

Q

.A

increasing by the same factor -- so the ratio Q to V0 is constant. E, D

-Q .
We define the capacitance of the structure as the ratio of stored B
charge to applied voltage, or

Units are Coul/V or Farads

 Example 1 - Parallel-Plate Capacitor - I
The horizontal dimensions are assumed to be much greater than the plate separation, d. The
electric field thus lies only in the z direction, with the potential varying only with z.

Plate area = S

Applying boundary conditions for D at surface of a perfect conductor:

Lower plate:
Same result either way!

Upper Plate:

Boundary conditions needed

Electric field between plates is therefore: at only one surface to obtain
total field between plates.
 Example 1 - Parallel-Plate Capacitor - II
With Electric Field

Plate area = S

The voltage between plates is:

Combining with capacitance is

Note
In region between plates
 Energy Stored in parallel-plate Capacitor
Stored energy is found by integrating the energy density in the electric field over the capacitor volume.

From Chapter 4 page 102

Rearranging gives

C V0 2
Gives 3 ways of stored energy:
 Example 2 - Coaxial Transmission Line - I
Coaxial Electric Field using Gauss Law:

Writing with surface-charge density E

assume a unit length in z

Simplifying

E = 0 elsewhere, assuming hollow inner conductor, equal

and opposite charges on inner and outer conductors.
 Example 2 - Coaxial Transmission Line - II
Electric Field between conductors

S
Potential difference between conductors: E
1
assume unit length
in z

Charge per unit length on inner conductor

Gives capacitance:
 Example 3 Concentric Spherical Capacitor
Two concentric spherical conductors of radii a and b, with
equal and opposite charges Q on inner and outer conductors.

From Gauss Law, electric field exists only between spheres

and is given by:
E a
Q -Q

Potential difference between inner and outer spheres is

Capacitance is thus:
Note as (isolated sphere)
 Example 4 - Sphere with Dielectric Coating
A conducting sphere of radius a carries charge Q. A
dielectric layer of thickness (r1 a) and of permittivity 1
surrounds the conductor. Electric field in the 2 regions is
found from Gauss Law
a
Q E2
E1
r1

The potential at the sphere surface (relative to infinity) is:

= V0

The capacitance is:

Example 5 Parallel Capacitor with 2-Layer Dielectric
Surface charge on either plate is normal displacement DN through both dielectrics:

Potential between top and bottom surfaces

The capacitance is thus:

<< Rule for 2
capacitors in series
 Example6
TwoParallelWiresvs.Conducting-Cylinder/Plane
Parallel wires on left substitute conducting cylinder/plane on right
Equipotential streamline for wires on left match equipotential surface for cylinder on right.
Image wire (-a) on left emulates vertical conducting plane on right.

V=0

V = V0

.l

a
h
b

Two parallel wires Conducting cylinder/plane

 Example6-TwoParallelWiresand
Conducting-Cylinder/Plane
ParallelWires
1. Superimpose2long-wirepotentialsatx=+aandx=-a.

2. Translatetocommonrectangularcoordinatesystem.

3. DefineparameterK(=constant)forV(=constant)equipotential.

4. Findstreamlines(x,y)forconstantKandconstantV.

Conducting-Cylinder/Plane
1. Insertmetalcylinderalongequipotential(constantK)streamline.

2. Workbackwardtofindlong-wireposition,chargedensity,andKparameterfromcylinder
diameter,offset,andVpotential.

3. Calculatecapacitanceofcylinder/planefromlong-wirepositionandchargedensity

4. Writeexpressionforpotential,D,andEfieldsbetweencylinderandplane.

5. Writeexpressionforsurfacechargedensityonplane.
 Two Parallel Wires Basic Potential

Begin with potential of single line charge on z axis,

with zero reference at = R0

Then write potential for 2 line charges of opposite sign positioned at x = +a and x = -a
 2 Parallel Wires Rectangular Coordinates

2 line charges of opposite sign:

Choose a common reference radius R10 = R20 . Write R1 and R2 in terms of common rectangular
coordinates x, y.
 2 Parallel Wires Using Parameter K
Two opposite line charges in rectangular coordinates :

Write ln( ) term as parameter K1:

Corresponding to potential V = V1 according to:

Corresponding to equipotential surface V = V1 for dimensionless parameter K = K1

 2 Parallel Wires Getting Streamlines for K
Find streamlines for constant parameter K1 where voltage is constant V1

V=0

To better identify surface, expand the squares, and collect terms:

V = V0

l b
x
a h

Equation of circle (cylinder) with radius b and displaced along x axis h

2 Parallel Wires - Substituting Conducting-Cylinder/Plane

Find physical parameters of wires (a, L, K1) from streamline parameters (h, b, Vo)
y

and V=0

Eliminate a in h and b equations to get quadratic V = V0

l b
x
a h
Solution gives K parameter as function of cylinder diameter/offset

Choose positive sign for

positive value for a

Substitution above gives image wire position as function of cylinder diameter/offset

 Getting Capacitance of Conducting-Cylinder/Plane

Equivalent line charge l for conducting cylinder is located at

y
From original definition or
V=0

V = V0 Capacitance for length L is thus

.l

a
h
b

x
 Example 1 - Conducting Cylinder/Plane
y Conducting cylinder radius b = 5 mm, offset h = 13 mm, potential V0 = 100 V. Find
offset of equivalent line charge a, parameter K, charge density l , and capacitance C.
V=0

mm

V = V0

.
l

a
h
b

Charge density and capacitance

Results unchanged so long as

relative proportions maintained
 Example 2 - Conducting Cylinder/Plane
For V0 = 50-volt equipotential surface we recalculate cylinder radius and offset

mm

mm

The resulting surface is the dashed red circle

 GettingFieldsforConductingCylinder/Plane
Gradient of Potential
y

V=0
Electric Field

V = V0
Displacement l b
a h x

For original 5 mm cylinder diameter, 13 mm offset, and 12 mm image-wire offset

Where max and min are between cylinder and ground plane, and opposite ground plane
 Getting Capacitance of 2-Wire or 2-Cylinder Line

With two wires or cylinders (and zero potential

plane between them) the structure represents two
wire/plane or two cylinder/plane capacitors in
series, so the overall capacitance is half that b
derived previously. x
h

Finally, if the cylinder (wire) dimensions are much

less than their spacing (b << h), then

L
Using Field Sketches to Estimate Capacitance

This method employs these properties of conductors and fields:

 Sketching Equipotentials
Given the conductor boundaries, equipotentials may be sketched in. An attempt is made to
establish approximately equal potential differences between them.

A line of electric flux density, D, is then started (at point A), and then drawn such that it crosses
equipotential lines at right-angles.
TotalCapacitanceas#ofFlux/VoltageIncrements

Forconductorboundarieson
leftandright,capacitanceis

Writingwith#fluxincrements
and#voltageincrements
Electrode

Electrode
CapacitanceofIndividualFlux/VoltageIncrements
Writingfluxincrementasfluxdensity
timesarea(1mdepthintopage)

Writingvoltageincrementas
Electricfieldtimesdistance

Formingratio

TotalCapacitanceforSquareFlux/VoltageIncrements

Capacitancebetween
conductorboundaries

Combiningwithflux/voltageratio

ProvidedLQ=LV(incrementssquare)
FieldsketchexampleI
FieldSketchExampleII
 LaplaceandPoissonsEquation

1. Asserttheobvious
Laplace-Fluxmusthavezerodivergenceinempty
space,consistentwithgeometry(rectangular,
cylindrical,spherical)
Poisson-Fluxdivergencemustberelatedtofree
chargedensity
2. Thisprovidesgeneralformofpotentialand
fieldwithunknownintegrationconstants.
3. Fitboundaryconditionstofindintegration
constants.
 Derivation of Poissons and Laplaces Equations
These equations allow one to find the potential field in a region, in which values of potential or electric field
are known at its boundaries.

Start with Maxwells first equation:

where

and

so that

or finally:
 Poissons and Laplaces Equations (continued)
Recall the divergence as expressed in
rectangular coordinates:

and the gradient:

then:

. It is known as the Laplacian operator

 Summary of Poissons and Laplaces Equations

we already have:

which becomes:

This is Poissons equation, as stated in rectangular coordinates.

In the event that there is zero volume charge density, the right-hand-side becomes zero, and we obtain

Laplaces equation:
Laplacian Operator in Three Coordinate Systems

(Laplaces equation)
 Example 1 - Parallel Plate Capacitor
Get general expression for potential function
Plate separation d smaller than plate dimensions.
x
Thus V varies only with x. Laplaces equation is:
V = V0
d

Integrate once: 0
V=0

Boundary conditions:
Integrate again
1. V = 0 at x = 0
2. V = V0 at x = d

where A and B are integration constants evaluated according to boundary conditions.

 Parallel Plate Capacitor II
Apply boundary conditions
General expression: x
V = V0
Boundary condition 1: d
Equipotential
0 = A(0) + B Surfaces

0
Boundary condition 2: V=0

V0 = Ad
Boundary conditions:

1. V = 0 at x = 0
2. V = V0 at x = d
Finally:
 Parallel Plate Capacitor III

Getting 1) Electric field, 2) Displacement, 3) Charge density, 4) Capacitance

Potential Surface Area = S

x
V = V0
Electric Field
d + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
E Equipotential
n Surfaces
Displacement - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
0
V=0

At the lower plate n = ax

Conductor boundary condition

Total charge on
capacitance
lower plate
 Example 2 - Coaxial Transmission Line

Get general expression for potential

V varies with radius only, Laplaces equation is:

(>0) V0 V=0
E

L
Integrate once:

Boundary conditions:

1. V = 0 at b
Integrate again: 2. V = V0 at a
 Coaxial Transmission Line II

Apply boundary conditions

General Expression

Boundary condition 1:
V0 V=0
E

L
Boundary condition 2:

Combining:
Boundary conditions:

1. V = 0 at b
2. V = V0 at a
 Coaxial Transmission Line III

Getting 1) Electric field, 2) Displacement, 3) Charge density, 4) Capacitance

Potential:

Electric Field:

V0 V=0
E

Charge density on inner conductor: L

Capacitance:
Total charge on inner conductor:
 Example 3 - Angled Plate Geometry
Get general expression, apply boundary conditions, get electric field

Cylindrical coordinates, potential varies only with

Integrate once:

Integrate again: x

Boundary Conditions:
Boundary condition 1:
1. V = 0 at 0
Boundary condition 2: 2. V =V0 at

Potential: Field:
 Example 4 - Concentric Sphere Geometry
Get general expression, apply boundary conditions

V varies only with radius. Laplaces equation:

V=0

or: E a
V0

b
Integrate once: Integrate again:

Boundary Conditions:

Boundary condition 1: 1. V = 0 at r = b
2. V = V0 at r = a

Boundary condition 2:

Potential:
 Concentric Sphere Geometry II

Get 1) electric field, 2) displacement, 3) charge density, 4) capacitance

Potential: (a < r < b) V=0

Electric field:
E a
V0

Charge density on inner conductor:

Total charge on inner conductor:

Capacitance:
 Example 5 Cone and Plane Geometry
Get general expression, apply boundary conditions

V varies only with only, Laplaces equation is:

R, >

Integrate once:

Integrate again

Boundary condition 1: Boundary Conditions:

1. V = 0 at
2. V = V0 at

Boundary condition 2:

Potential:
 Cone and Plane Geometry II
Get electric field

Potential:

r2

Electric field: r1

Check symbolic
calculators
 Cone and Plane Geometry III
Get1)chargedensity,2)capacitance

Charge density on cone surface:

r2

Total charge on cone surface:

r1

Capacitance: Neglects fringing fields, important

for smaller .

Note capacitance positive (as should be).

Example6ProductSolutionin2Dimensions

 ProductSolutionin2DimensionsII

Paul Lorrain and Dale Corson, Electromagnetic Fields and Waves 2nd Ed, W.H. Freeman, 1970
ProductSolutionin2DimensionsIII
ProductSolutionin2DimensionsIV

This problem just keeps on going!

ProductSolutionin2DimensionsV
ProductSolutionin2DimensionsVI
Example7AnotherProductSolutionin2Dimensions
AnotherProductSolutionin2DimensionsII
AnotherProductSolutionin2DimensionsIII
 Poissonsequationexample
p-njunctionzerobias
p-type for x < 0, n-type for x > 0.
holes diffuse to right, electrons diffuse to left.
creates electric field to left (depletion layer).
electric field to left inhibits further hole movement right, electron movement left.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/P-n_junction
p-njunctionzerobias
p-njunctionforward/reversebias

Applied field Applied field

p-njunctioncharge,field,potential
p-njunctionObtainingElectricField
p-njunctionObtainingPotential
p-njunction-ObtainingCharge
p-njunctionObtainingJunctionCapacitance