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a
b
A
++++
d -----
C3
Q
V
C1
C2
Today
Calculate E from V
Definition of Capacitance
Example Calculations-Parallel Plate
Capacitor
Combinations of Capacitors
Capacitors in Parallel
Capacitors in Series
Lightning!
Last time
Potential energy of a test charge in external field:
potential x test charge (q)
U qV
Conductors in E-fields become equipotential
surfaces/volumes
E from V?
We can obtain the electric field E from the potential V
by inverting our previous relation between E and V:
V
Ex
x
V
Ey
y
r x dx
V+dV
V
Ez
z
dV E x dx E x dx
E V
Cartesian coordinates:
V
V
V
V
x
y
z
x
y
z
Spherical coordinates:
V
1 V
1 V
V
r
r
r
r sin
Preflight 7:
E from V: an Example
Consider the following electric potential:
V(x, y, z) 3x2 2xy z2
V
6 x 2 y
x
Ey
V
2 x
y
Ez
V
2z
z
E ( 6 x 2 y ) x 2xy 2 zz
2aq
E
2
cos
sin
4 0 r 3
Lecture 7, ACT 1
1
V x 3x 2 x 3
The x-component of the electric field Ex at x = 2 is
(a)
Ex = 0
(b)
Ex > 0
(c)
Ex < 0
Lecture 7, ACT 1
The electric potential in a region of space is given by
V x 3x 2 x 3
The x-component of the electric field Ex at x = 2 is
(a)
Ex = 0
(b)
Ex > 0
(c)
Ex < 0
We know
V(x) everywhere
E V
V
Ex
x
E x 6 x 3 x 2
E x 2 12 12 0
WAB
VB VA E dl
VB V A
q0
A
E V
allows us to calculate the electric field
E everywhere
Capacitance
A capacitor is a device whose purpose is to store electrical
energy which can then be released in a controlled manner
during a short period of time.
A capacitor consists of 2 spatially separated conductors
which can be charged to +Q and -Q respectively.
The capacitance is defined as the ratio of the charge on
one conductor of the capacitor to the potential difference
between the conductors.
[The unit of capacitance is
Q
C
the Farad: 1 F = 1C/V]
V
The capacitance belongs only to the capacitor,
independent of the charge and voltage.
Example:
Parallel Plate Capacitor
Calculate the capacitance. We
assume + , - charge densities
on each plate with potential
difference V:
A
++++
d -----
Q
C
V
Need Q:
Q A
Need V:
from defn:
Vb Va E dl
Recall:
E dS AEinside
+
+
E=0
+
+
A +
+
+
+
+
A
+
+
- E=0
E
++++
d
Q
E
0 A 0
Q
Vb Va E dl Ed
d
A 0
a
b
-----
Q A 0
V
d
Fixed plate
Lecture 7, ACT 2
In each case below, a charge of +Q is placed on a solid
spherical conductor and a charge of -Q is placed on a
concentric conducting spherical shell.
Let V1 be the potential difference between the spheres with (a1, b).
Let V2 be the potential difference between the spheres with (a2, b).
What is the relationship between V1 and V2? (Hint think about
parallel plate capacitors.) -Q
-Q
+Q
+Q
a1
(a) V1 < V2
(b) V1 = V2
a2
(c) V1 > V2
Lecture 7, ACT 2
In each case below, a charge of +Q is placed on a solid
spherical conductor and a charge of -Q is placed on a
concentric conducting spherical shell.
Let V1 be the potential difference between the spheres with (a1, b).
Let V2 be the potential difference between the spheres with (a2, b).
What is the relationship between V1 and V2? (Hint think about
parallel plate capacitors.) -Q
-Q
+Q
+Q
a1
(a) V1 < V2
(b) V1 = V2
a2
(c) V1 > V2
Capacitors in Parallel
a
a
Q1
V C1
-Q1
Q2
-Q2
C2
-Q
b
Parallel Combination: V
C1
C1 C2
Q Q1 Q2 Q1 (C1 C2 )
C
Equivalent Capacitor:
V
V
C1V
C C1 C2
Preflight 7:
Two identical parallel plate
capacitors are shown in an endview in A) of the figure. Each
has a capacitance of C.
b) C
c) 2C
Capacitors in Series
+Q -Q
a
C1
+Q
C2
-Q
+Q
-Q
RHS:
ab
1
1
1
C
Q Q
C C1 C2
V
LHS:
ab
1
2
C1 C2
Examples:
Combinations of Capacitors
a
C3
b
C1
C2
How do we start??
Recognize C3 is in series with the parallel
combination on C1 and C2. i.e.,
1 1
1
C C3 C1 C2
C3 (C1 C2 )
C1 C2 C3
Preflight 7:
C
C
Configuration A
Configuration B
Configuration C
Preflight 7:
A circuit consists of three unequal capacitors C1, C2, and C3 which are
connected to a battery of emf The capacitors obtain charges Q1 Q2,
Q3, and have voltages across their plates V1, V2, and V3. Ceq is the
equivalent capacitance of the circuit.
b) Q2= Q3
e) V1 < V2
f) Ceq > C1
c) V2= V3
d) E = V1
Lecture 7, ACT 3
What is the equivalent capacitance, Ceq, of the
combination shown?
o
Ceq
(c) Ceq = 3C
Lecture 7, ACT 3
What is the equivalent capacitance, Ceq, of the
combination shown?
o
Ceq
1 1 1
C1 C C
C
C1
2
(c) Ceq = 3C
C1
C
C 3
Ceq C C
2 2
+
_
+
_
Collisions produce
charged particles.
The heavier
particles (-) sit near
the bottom of the
cloud; the lighter
particles (+) near
the top.
Stepped
Leader
Negatively
charged
electrons
begin
zigzagging
downward.
Attraction
As the stepped
leader nears
the ground, it
draws a
streamer of
positive charge
upward.
Flowing
Charge
As the leader
and the
streamer come
together,
powerful
electric current
begins flowing
t ~ 30ms
Contact!
Intense wave of
positive charge,
a return stroke,
travels upward
at 108 m/s
P ~ 1012 W
Summary
A Capacitor is an object with two spatially separated conducting
surfaces.
The definition of the capacitance of such an object is:
C
Q
V
A
++++
d ----Parallel Plates
A
d
+Q
-Q
+Q
a
b
Cylindrical
L
C
ln(b / a )
Spherical
ab
C
ba
Now
Review items :
Capacitors (series and parallel)
Calculate Energy Stored in Capacitor
Calculate Energy Density in Electric Field
Define Dielectric Constant
Modify Gauss Law to include Dielectrics
Q
V
A
++++
d ----Parallel Plates
A
C o
d
+Q
+Q
-Q
a
b
Cylindrical
2 o L
b
ln
a
Spherical
ab
C 4 o
ba
In SI unit system:
C has units of Farads or F (1F = 1C/V)
o has units of F/m
ACTIVITY 1
What is the relationship between V0 and V in the
systems shown below?
+Q
V0
(Area A)
+Q
d
-Q
(a) V = (2/3)V0
(Area A)
d/3
V
-Q
(b) V = V0
conductor
d/3
(c) V = (3/2)V0
ACT 1
What is the relationship between V0 and V in the
systems shown below?
+Q
V0
(Area A)
+Q
d
-Q
(a) V = (2/3)V0
(Area A)
d/3
V
-Q
(b) V = V0
conductor
d/3
(c) V = (3/2)V0
V0 E dl Ed
d
d
V E dl E 0 E
3
3
2
V Ed
3
+Q
(Area A)
V0
(Area A)
d/3
d/3
-Q
-Q
(b) V = V0
(a) V = (2/3)V0
conductor
(c) V = (3/2)V0
+Q
d/3
d/3
-Q
Ceq
1
Ceq C
2
1 A 0
3 A 0 3
C0
2 d / 3 2 d
2
(Area A)
d/3
d/3
-Q
conductor
Q
Q
2
V0
Ceq 3 / 2 C0 3
Energy of a Capacitor
How much energy is stored in a charged capacitor?
Calculate the work provided (usually by a battery) to charge a
capacitor to +/- Q:
Calculate incremental work dW needed to add charge dq to capacitor
at voltage V (there is a trick here!):
-
q
dW V (q ) dq dq
C
1
1 Q2
W qdq
C0
2 C
Look at this!
Two ways to write W
1
CV 2
2
Capacitor Variables
hook it up to a battery
Q CV
Q
V
C
1
U CV 2
2
Question!
Suppose the capacitor shown here is
charged to Q and then the battery is
disconnected.
A
++++
d -----
Now suppose I pull the plates further apart so that the final
separation is d1.
Q:
C:
E:
V:
U:
C
V
V
U
U
1
Answers:
1
1
d1
d
d
Related Question
A
++++
d -----
C:
V:
Q:
E:
U:
E
C
C
U
U
1
1
1
Answers:
d
d1
d1
1
must decrease (
,
)
D
E0
2
must decrease (U 12 CV )
Preflight 8:
b) Q1 = Q2
c) Q1 < Q2
b) decreases
c) doesnt change
Preflight 8:
b) V1 = V2
c) V1 < V2
ACT 2
Two identical parallel plate capacitors are connected to a battery.
C1 is then disconnected from the battery and the separation between the
plates of both capacitors is doubled.
2d
C1
C2
2d
What is the relation between the U1, the energy stored in C1, and
the U2, energy stored in C2?
(a) U1 < U2
(b) U1 = U2
(c) U1 > U2
ACT 2
Two identical parallel plate capacitors are connected to a battery.
C1 is then disconnected from the battery and the separation between the
plates of both capacitors is doubled.
2d
C1
C2
2d
What is the relation between the U1, the energy stored in C1, and
the U2, energy stored in C2?
(a) U1 < U2
(b) U1 = U2
(c) U1 > U2
What is the difference between the final states of the two capacitors?
The charge on C1 has not changed.
The voltage on C2 has not changed.
The energy stored in C1 has definitely increased since work must be
done to separate the plates with fixed charge, they attract each other.
The energy in C2 will actually decrease since charge must leave in order
to reduce the electric field so that the potential
remains the same.
2
1 Q0
1
1
2
Later:
U
2
U
U
C
V
U0
C
C
Initially:
1
0
2
2 0
1
2
2 C1
2
2
Energy Density
Claim: the expression for the energy density of the
electrostatic field
1
u 0E 2
2
is general and is not restricted to the special case of the
constant field in a parallel plate capacitor.
1
1
U 0 E 2 dV 0 E 2 r dr dl etc.
2
2
Compare this value with what you expect from the
general expression:
1
W CV 2
2
Dielectrics
Empirical observation:
Inserting a non-conducting material between the plates of a
capacitor changes the VALUE of the capacitance.
Definition:
The dielectric constant of a material is the ratio of the
capacitance when filled with the dielectric to that without it:
C
C0
C0V 2
CV 2
U
U
2
2
0
C C0
Capacitance increases C = C0
+++++++++++++++
+
---------------
E0
V0
+++++++++++++++
---------------
+++++++++++++
+ + +
- -
E0
+
-
V0
+
-
+++++++++++++
- + +
+
- +
-
-------------
V0
V
E0
E
Two identical parallel plate capacitors are given the same charge Q,
after which they are disconnected from the battery. After C2 has
been charged and disconnected it is filled with a dielectric.
Preflight 8:
b) V1 = V2
c) V1 < V2
b) E1 = E2
c) E1 < E2
Preflight 8:
b) negative work
c) no work
Summary
Capacitors in parallel and in series
energy stored in a charged capacitor
work done to assemble charges on plates
1
1 Q2
2
W CV
2
2 C
1
1 r r
2
u 0 E 0 E E
2
2
Replace o with