Capacitance

Should correspond to AP Physics C Unit 10.

Capacitance formula

q = CΔV

Electric field in parallel plate capacitor

Remember that the electric field due to one charged plate is

→
E =
σ

2ϵ 0

(where σ is charge density and ϵ is the permittivity of free space) due to Gauss's Law.
0

For capacitors there are 2 of these plates which makes the

→
E =
σ

ϵ0

Capacitance of Parallel Plate Capacitor

Notice that σ = q

A
where A is area of plate.
− −
q qd
ΔV = ∫ Eds = ∫ ds =
+
Aϵ 0 +
ϵ0 A

where d is the separation distance between the plates.

Using C =
q

ΔV
, this gives that

ϵ0 A
C =
d

Spherical capacitor

Spherical shell with a hollow shell with radius b with a sphere inside with radius a, with the
inner sphere positively charged and the spherical shell negatively charged.
With Gauss's Law,
q
E =
4πϵ 0 r 2

where a < r < b

b
qdr q 1 1
ΔV = ∫ = ( − )
2
a
4πϵ 0 r 4πϵ 0 a b

Therefore, using C =
q

ΔV
so

ab
C = 4πϵ 0
b − a

Cylindrical capacitor

Let cylinder capacitor have length L and again inner have radius a and outer have radius b
with L >> b.

1 q
E =
2πϵ 0 Lr

by Gauss's Law.
b
q dr q b
ΔV = ∫ = ln
2πϵ 0 L a
r 2πϵ 0 L a

This gives that

L
C = 2πϵ 0
ln b/a

Capacitors in Series and Parallel

Properties of Capacitors in Parallel:

1). If connected to a battery with potential ΔV , then the potential is ΔV across all
connected capacitors.
2). Total charge delivered shared by elements.
Therefore, for parallel capacitors, total capacitance is just sum of individual capacitors.

Properties of Capacitors in Series:

1). Current must travel through all capacitors in succession.
2). When battery is connected, potential difference ΔV equals potential differences across
each capacitor
3). Charge delivered to each element is the same.
Can be represented by

1 1
= ∑
C total Cn
n

Energy Storage in Capacitors

A charged capacitor has electric potential energy U equal to the work done by the external
agent to charge the capacitor.
q
dU = ΔV dq = dq
C

q 2
q q
U = ∫ dq =
0
C 2C

This can be expressed as

2
1 2
q
U = C(ΔV ) =
2 2C

Energy density u can be expressed as

2
U ϵ0 ΔV 1 2
u = = ( ) = ϵ0 E
Ad 2 d 2

Capacitor with Dielectrics

A dielectric is a object/substance inserted between the plates of a capacitor.

It reduces strength (interference) of the electric field making it E which is where κ is
E0
= e
κe

the dielectric constant (usually over 1).

Consider a capacitor connected to a battery and let the charge stored by the capacitor
before the dielectric be q .
0

ΔV remains the same, but notice that since

σ q q0
E = = =
ϵ0 κ e Aϵ 0 Aϵ 0

So

q = κe q0
 which using the important formula gives

C = κe C0

Since U =
1

2
QΔV , energy stored in capacitor increases.

If isolated, the overall charge stays the same, and therefore the same happens with
capacitance but ΔV = .
ΔV 0

κe

Notice that in this case that since U =

1

2
CΔV
2
=
1

2
QV , the energy stored in the capacitor
decreases.

This result can also be obtained/described as a result of Gauss's Law.

End.