PHYSICS

CAPACITANCE
1 . CAPACITO RS
arry charges ±q and have a potential difference V, the capacitance of the capacitor is defined as the
magnitude of the charge on one of the plates divided by the magnitude of the potential difference V between
them

q
C
V
Capacitance depends on the size and shape of the plates and the material between them. It does not
depend on q or V individually. The SI unit of capacitance is the farad (F)
1 farad = 1 coulomb/volt
In circuit, a capacitor is represented by the symbol
+
+++ C
++ + -
+
q

V
+ -
(a) (b) V

2 . TYPES O F CAPACITO R
(a) Parallel plate capacitor
(b) Spherical capacitor
(c) Cylindrical capacitor

3 . CAPACITY O F CAPACI TO R - ITS CALCULATI O N

PARALLEL PLATE CAPACITOR :
A parallel plate capacitor consists of two metal plates placed parallel to each other and separated
by a distance d that is very small as compared to the dimensions of the plates. The area of each
plate is A. The electric field between the plates is given by

  
E   d
20 2 0 0
+
Where  is surface charge density on either plate. +
+
The potential difference (V) between plates is given by V = Ed.
+
 Q +
or, V = d d +
0 A 0 +

Q 0 A
Hence, C = 
V d
CYLINDRICAL CAPACITOR
 Cylindrical capacitor consists of two co-axial cylinders of radii a and b and length l. If a charge q is
given to the inner cylinder, induced charge -q will reach the inner surface of the outer cylinder. By symmetry,
the electric field in the region between the cylinder is radially outward.
By Gauss’s theorem, the electric field at a distance r from the axis of the cylinders is given by

1 q
E
20l r
The potential difference between the cylinders is given by
A
a  a
 1 dr
V   E.dr   q B
b 20l b r
b
l
q  a  a
=  ln 
20l  b 

q 20l
or C = 
V  b
 ln 
 a
SPHERICAL CAPACITOR
A spherical capacitor consists of two concentric spheres of radii a and b as shown. The inner sphere
is positively charged to potential V and outer sphere is at zero potential.
The inner surface of the outer sphere has an equal negative charge.
The potential difference between the spheres is
- -
-
Q Q + + -
V  - + +
4 0 a 40 b + b
+ -
- + -
+
Hence, capacitance - + a +
- + + -
Q 4 0ab - - -
C 
V ba
Illustration : 1 The plates of a parallel plate capacitor are 10mm apart and 1m 2 in area. The plates are in
vacuum. A potential difference of 10,000 V is applied across a capacitor.
Calculate -
(a) the capacitance
(b) the charge on each plate
(c) the electric field in space between the plates

0 A 8.85 1012 1
Solution : (a) C =   8.85 × 10–10 F = 0.0008 F
d 10 103
(b) Q = CV = (0.000885 × 10–6) × (10,000) = 0.85 C
The plate at higher potential has a positive charge of +8.85 C and the plate at lower potential
has a negative charge of –8.85C.

V 10, 000
(c) E =   1106 V / m
d 0.01
4 . DI ELECTRI C
Effectively, there are no free electrons in dielectric materials.
In monatomic materials, the centre of the negative charge coincides with the centre of the positive charge
whereas in polyatomic materials, on the other hand, the center of the negative charge may or may not
coincide with the centre of the positive charge distribution. If it does not coincide, each molecule behaves

as a dipole with dipole moment p . Such materials are known as polar materials.
If such a material is placed in an electric field, the individual dipoles experience torque due to the field and
they try to align along the field.
The charge appearing on the surface of a dielectric when placed in an electric field is called induced
charge. As the induced charge appears due to a shift in the electrons bound to the nuclei, this charge is
also called bound charge.


Because of the induced charges, an extra electric field is produced inside the material. If E 0 be the

applied field due to external sources and E P be the field due to polarization. The resultant field is
   
E  E 0  E P . For homogeneous and isotropic dielectrics, the direction of E P is opposite to the direction
  
of E 0 . The resultant field E is in the same direction as the applied field E 0 but its magnitude is reduced.
We can write

 E0
E
K
where K is a constant for given dielectric which has a value greater than one. This constant K is called the
dielectric constant or relative permittivity of the dielectric.
Effect of dielectric on capacity of a capacitor
When certain non-conducting materials such a glass, paper or plastic are introduced, between the plates
of a capacitor, its capacity increases. If capacity of a capacitor when completely filled with dielectric
is C and that without dielectric is C0
then C = KC0

5 . CO M BIN ATIO N O F CAPACITO RS

Series Combinations :
When two or more than two capacitors are connected in such a way that plates of capacitors are conneted
with each other, the combination is known as series combination. [Only first plate of first capacitor and
second plate of last capacitor is connected to source.]

C1 C2
+ – + –
+ – + –
V1 V2

When capacitors are connected in series, the magnitude of charge Q on each capacitor is same. The
potential difference across C1 and C2 is different i.e., V1 and V2.
Q = C 1 V1 = C 2 V2
The total potential difference across combination is :
V = V1 + V2

Q Q V 1 1
V=   
C1 C 2 Q C1 C 2
 The ratio Q/V is called as the equivalent capacitance C between points a and b.

1 1 1
The equivalent capacitance C is given by :  
C C1 C 2
The potential difference across C1 and C2 is V1 and V2 respectively, given as follows :

C2 V C1
V1  & V2  V
C1  C2 C1  C2
In case of more than two capacitors, the relation is :

1 1 1 1 1
     .........
C C1 C 2 C 3 C 4

n
1 1
 C eq
 C
i 1 i
.

Parallel Combinations :
When two or more than two capacitors are connected in such a way that one plate of all capacitors are
connected to one point and other plate of all capacitors are connected to other single point, such an
arrangement of capacitors is known as parallel combination.
–
C1
+ –
+ –
Q1
a b
Q Q2 C2
+ –
+ –
When capacitors are connected in parallel, the potential difference V across each is same and the charge
on C1, C2 is different i.e., Q1 and Q2.
The total charge is Q given as :
Q = Q1 + Q 2
Q  C1V  C 2 V
Q
= C1 + C2
V
Equivalent capacitance between a and b is :
C = C1 + C 2
The charges on capacitors is given as :
C1 C2
Q1 = Q and Q2 = Q
C1  C 2 C1  C 2
In case of more than two capacitors,
C = C1 + C2 + C3 + C4 + C5 +……….

Illustration : 2 Two capacitors of capacitance C1 = 6 μ F and C2 = 3  F are connected in series across a cell of
emf 18 V.
Calculate :
(a) the equivalent capacitance
(b) the potential difference across each capacitor
(c) the charge on each capacitor.
1 1 1
Solution : (a)   C1 C2
C C1 C 2 + – + –
+ – + –
CC 63
 C  C  C  6  3  2μF.
1 2

1 2
C2 3
(b) V1  V  18  6 volts V
C1  C 2 63
 C1 6
V2  V  18  12 volts
C1  C 2 63
Note that the smaller capacitor C2 has a larger potential difference across it.
(c) Q1  Q 2  C1V 1  C 2 V2  CV
charge on each capacitor = Ceq V
 2μF  18 volts  36μC ++++++++++++++
Illustration : 3 Find the capacitance of the system in which dielectric is filled as K1 d1
shown in the figure. Each plate is of area A.
K2 d2
1 1 1 ––––––––––
Solution:  
C C1 C 2
1 d1 d2
 
C K1 0 A K 2 0 A
0 A
C
d1 d 2

K1 K 2
A1 A2
++++++++++++++
Illustration : 4 Find the capacitance of the system in which dielectric is filled as
shown in the figure. d K1 K2
Solution: ––––––––––
C = C1 + C 2
K10 A1 K 2 0 A 2
C 
d d

C  0 [K1A1  K 2 A 2 ]
d

6 . KIRCH O FF’S LAW FO R AN ALYSIS O F CAPACITIV E CI RCU ITS

Many electric circuits cannot be reduced to simple series-parallel combinations.
However, it is always possible to analyze such circuits by applying two rules, devised by Kirchhoff in
1845 and 1846 when he was still a student.
First here are the two terms that we will use often.
Junction : A junction in a circuit is a point where three or more conductors meet. Junctions are also called
nodes or branch points.
Loop : A loop is any closed conducting path.
Kirchhoff’s rules consist of the following two statements.
First law : The sum of all the charges entering a junction in a circuit is equal to the sum of all the
charges exiting from the junction.
This is basically the law of conservation of charge.
Second law : The algebraic sum of all the potential differences along a closed loop in a circuit is zero.
Illustration : 5 Find the charges on the three capacitors shown in figure.
2F 4F

6F
2F 4F
C
10V 20V B + - - + D
q1 q2
Solution : Let the charges on the three capacitors be as shown in figure. +
Charge supplied by 10V battery is q1 and that from 20V 6F - q3
battery is q2. Then, E
A
F
q1 + q2 = q3 .......(i) 10V 20V
 This relation can also be obtained in a different manner. The charges on the three plates which
are in contact add to zero. Because these plates taken together form an isolated system which
can’t receive charges from the batteries. Thus,
q3 – q1 – q2 = 0
or q3 = q 1 + q 2
Applying second law in loops BCFAB and CDEFC, we have

q1 q 3
   10  0
2 6
or q3 + 3q1 = 60 ..... (ii)

q2 q
and   20  3  0
4 6
or 3q2 + 2q3 = 240 .....(iii)
Solving the above three equations, we have 10/3F 140/3 F
+ - - +

10 +
q1  C - 50F
3
10V 20V
140
q2  C
3
and q3 =50C
Thus, charges on different capacitors are as shown in figure.

7 . FO RCE BETWEEN PLATES O F A PARALLEL PLATE CAPACITO R

Intensity of the field at surface of any plate due to other is half of the field between plates
E 
= =
2 2 0
E  2 ds -Q +Q
Force on area dS of any plate dF  ds 
2 2 0 –
–
+
+
A2 – +
Net force on any plate F  dF   2 0
–
–
–
+
+
+
– +
2 – +
Force per unit area  – +
2 0

8 . EN ERGY STO RED IN A CAPACI TO R

The energy stored in capacitor is equal to the work done to charge it. Let q be the instantaneous charge

q
on either plate of the capacitor and the potential difference between the plates is V = . The work
C
done to transfer an infinitesimal charge dq from the negative plate to the positive plate is

q
dW = Vdq =   dq
C
The charges move through the wires, not across the gap between the plates
The total work done to transfer charge Q is
 Q
q Q 2 QV 1
W =  dq    CV 2
0 C 2C 2 2
Where is the potential energy stored :
The energy is stored in the space occupied by the electric field. In the case of parallel plate capacitor
electric field is confined in the spacing between the plates.

0 A
C = and V = Ed
d

1 1  0 A  2 1 2
 U = CV2 =  d  (Ed)  2  0 E (Ad)
2 2  
Since volume between the plates where the field exists is Ad, the energy density or the energy per unit
volume is

U 1
u =  0E 2
Ad 2
Illustration : 6 An uncharged capacitor is connected to a battery. Show that half the energy supplied by the
battery is lost as heat while charging the capacitor.
Solution: Suppose the capacitance of the capacitor is C and the emf of the battery is V. The charge given
to the capacitor is Q = CV. The work done by the battery is
W = QV
The battery supplies this energy. The energy stored in the capacitor is

1 1
U CV 2  QV
2 2

The remaining energy QV 

1 1
QV  QV is lost as heat.
2 2
Thus, half the energy supplied by the battery is lost as heat.
Illustration : 7 A parallel plate air capacitor is made using two plates 0.1 m square, spaced 1 cm apart. It is
connected to a 100 V battery.
(a) What is the capacitance ?
(b) What is the charge on each plate ?
(c) What is the energy stored in the capacitor ?
(d) What is the electric field between the plates ?
(e) If the battery is disconnected and then the plates are pulled apart to a separation of 2 cm,
what are the answers to the above parts ?

 0 A 8.85  0.1 0.1

Solution : (a) C0  
d0 0.01

C0 = 8.85 × 10–6 F

(b) Q0 = C0V0 = 8.85 × 10–6 × 100 = 8.85 × 10–4 F

(c) U0 = (1/2) C0V02 = 1/2 (8.85 × 10 –12 × 50 × 50)
= 2.21 × 10–8 J

V0 100
(d) E0    10000V / m
d 0 0.01
 (e) If the battery is disconnected, the charge on the capacitor plates remains constant
while the potential difference between plates can change.

A 0
C  4.428 × 10 –6 F
2d
Q = Q0 = 8.85 × 10–4 C

Q Q0
V   2V0 = 200volts
C C0 / 2

1 Q 2 1 Q 02
U   2 U 0 = 4.42 × 10–8 J
2 C 2 C 0 / 2 

2V0
E  E 0  1000 V/m
2d 0
Work has to be done against the attraction of plates when they are separated. This
gets stored as the energy of the capacitor.

9 . IN TRO DU CTIO N O F A DIELECTRIC BETWEEN TH E PLATES

We have discussed that with the introduction of dielectric, capacity of capacitor increases. The effect
of dielectric on other physical quantities such as charge, potential difference, field and the energy associated
with a capacitor depends on the fact that whether the charged capacitor is isolated (i.e., charge held
constant) or attached to a battery (i.e, potential is held constant).
(a) When the battery is disconnected

q0
C0, V0, E0, U0 K

Let q0, C0, V0, E0 and U0 represents the charge, capacity, potential difference, electric field and energy
associated with charged air capacitor respectively. With the introduction of a dielectric slab of dielectric
constant K between the plates and the battery disconnected.
(i) Charge remains constant, i.e., q = q0, as in an isolated system charge is conserved.
(ii) Capacity increases, i.e., C = KC0, as by the presence of a dielectric capacity becomes K times.

 V0 
(iii) Potential difference between the plates decreases, i.e., V =   as
K

q q V
V =  0  0 [  q = q and C = KC ]
C KC0 K 0 0

E0
(iv) Field between the plates decreases i.e, E = , as
K

V V0 E 0 V0 V0
E   [as V = ] and E0 =
d Kd K K d
  U0 
(v) Energy stored in the capacitor decreases i.e., U =   , as
 K 

q2 q 02 V
U =   0 (as q= q0 and C = KC0)
2C 2KC0 K
(b) When the battery remains connected (potential is held constant)
(i) Potential difference remains constant, i..e, V = V0 as battery is a source of constant potential
difference.
(ii) Capacity increases, i.e. C = KC0 , as by presence of a dielectric capacity becomes K times
(iii) Charge on capacitor increases, i.e, q = Kq0 , as
q = CV= (KC0)V = Kq0 [ q0 = C0V]
(iv) Electric field remains unchanged i.e., E = E0 , as

V V0 V
E =   E 0 [as V = V0 and 0 = E0]
d d d
(v) Energy stored in the capacitor increases,

1 1 1 1
i.e., U = KU0, as U = CV 2  (KC0) (V0)2 = CV 2  KU0
2 2 2 2

1 1
[as C = KC0 and U0 = CV 2  C0V02]
2 2