JEE THEORY Capacitors

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Capacitors

15
15.1 CAPACITANCE
Capacitance of a conductor is defined as the ratio of the charge on it to its potential.
The value of C depends upon:
1. The size and shape of the conductor,
2. The nature of the medium surrounding the conductor and
3. The position of the neighbouring charges.
It does not, however, depend upon the material of the conductor. Further, let V = 1, Therefore
from equation (1),
Q = C or C = Q
Thus, capacitance of a conductor is numerically equal to the amount of charge required to
raise its potential through unity.
Capacitance of a conductor is said to be one farad if its potential rises through one volt when
a charge of one coulomb is given to it.

15.2 ISOLATED CONDUCTOR


Q Q
1. V = or C = S.I. unit → 1F (farad) = 1 Coulomb/volt
C V
Capacitance of an isolated spherical conductor of radius r placed in a medium of dielectric
constant K,
C = 4peoKr farad
For vaccum or air, K = 1, hence Co = 4peor farad.
i.e., capacitance of a spherical conductor ∝ radius.
2. Energy stored:
2
1 Qo 1 1 1 Q2 1
U= = CVo2 or U = CV = = QV
2

2 C 2 2 2 C 2
3. Loss of energy during redistribution:
Q12 Q22 1 (Q1 + Q2 )2 C1C2
Ui = + ; Uf = ; ΔU = (V1 − V2 )2
2C1 2C2 2 C1 + C2 2(C1 + C2 )

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Capacitors 171

Clearly, during sharing of charge between two charged conductors there is an electric current
in the connecting wire and hence, its thermal effect exists. The loss of energy of the system is
converted into the heat produced in the connecting wire.

1 ⎛ C1C2 ⎞
∴ Heat produced = (V1 − V2 )2
2 ⎜⎝ C1 + C2 ⎟⎠

15.3 PARALLEL PLATE CAPACITOR


εo A
1. Capacitance C =
d
2. A parallel plate capacitor having plate area A is given a charge Q. The distance between the
plates of the capacitor is d. One of the plates is fixed and the other plate is moved away from
the other till the distance between them becomes d’, then
F
(a) Force of attraction per unit area = (= electrostatic stress)
A
Q2 1 Q2 (Q /A)2 σ 2
(b) Electrostatic stress = × = = =
2 A ε o A 2 ε o A2 2 εo 2 εo

⎛ σ2 ⎞
∴ Electrostatic stress = ⎜ ⎟ Unit → N/m
2

⎝ 2 εo ⎠
Q 2 (d ′ − d )
(c) The work done by the external agent W =
2 εoA
(d) When voltage is kept constant, the force acting on each plate of capacitor will depend
on the distance between the plates.
ε o Aξ 2 ⎡ 1
1⎤
(e) The work done by the external agent W = ⎢ − ⎥
2 ⎣d d′ ⎦
3. A parallel plate capacitor of plate area A and the separation between plates d is fully filled
with a dielectric medium whose relative permittivity linearly increases from the value k1 at
the left plate to the value k2 at the right plate, the capacitance of this capacitor is

⎛ Aε ⎞ ⎛k ⎞
C = ⎜ o ⎟ (k2 − k1 ) × ln ⎜ 1 ⎟
⎝ d ⎠ ⎝ k2 ⎠

4. A parallel plate capacitor of plate area A and length L and the separation between plates d
is fully filled with a dielectric medium whose relative permittivity linearly increases from
the value k1 at the upper layer to the value k2 at the lower layer, the capacitance of this
capacitor is
Aε o k1 + k2
C=
d 2

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172 Chapter 15

5. A capacitor is formed by two square metal-plates of edge a, sepa-


rated by a distance d. Dielectrics of dielectric constants k1 and k2
are filled in the gap as shown in figure, then the capacitance is d k1
k2
ε o a ⎛ k1k2 ⎞
2
k a
⎜ ⎟ ln 1
d ⎝ k1 − k2 ⎠ k2

6. A capacitor of capacitance C1 is charged to potential difference V1 and another capacitor of


capacitance C2 is charged to potential difference V2. Both the capacitors are connected to
each other. The sharing of charge between the two charged isolated capacitors occurs till the
potential difference between the plates of capacitors becomes the same.

⎛ C V + C2V2 ⎞
Case I: Common p.d = V = ⎜ 1 1 C1
⎝ C1 + C2 ⎟⎠ +–
+–
+–
1 1 + ––
and U1′ = C1V and U 2′ = C2V
2 2
+
2 2 (V1 > V2) S
+–
1⎛ C C ⎞ +–
loss of electrostatic energy = ⎜ 1 2 ⎟ (V1 − V2 )2 +–
2 ⎝ C1 + C2 ⎠ + ––
+
C2
This loss of energy is converted into heat produced.

C1
⎛ C V − C2V2 ⎞ 1 +–
Case II: Common p.d = V = ⎜ 1 1 and U1′ = C1V and
2

⎝ C1 + C2 ⎠ ⎟ 2
+–
+–
+ ––
+
1 (V1 > V2) S
U 2′ = C2V 2 and loss of electrostatic energy
2 –+


– +
–+
1⎛ C C ⎞ –+

= ⎜ 1 2 ⎟ (V1 + V2 )2 C2
2 ⎝ C1 + C2 ⎠

This loss of energy is converted into heat produced.


7. Two rectangular plates of length l and area A are arranged parallel to each other, a distance d
apart. They are charged to a potential difference V. A dielectric of permittivity er and thick-
ness equal to the plate separation is drawn into the space between the plates.
(a) The force acting on the dielectric in the direction of the field l
in terms of the length x of the plate between the plates if the l
capacitor remains isolated is
d er
ε o Aξ 2 εr − 1 x
F= 2
2ld ⎡ x⎤
⎢1 + (ε r − 1) l ⎥
⎣ ⎦

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Capacitors 173

In this case the force acting on the dielectric slab is the function of x. The motion of
slab is oscillatory but not an example of SHM.
(b) The force when the dielectric plate is introduced with l
a charging battery (emf = x volts) connected to the l
plates is
x d er
ε o Aξ 2
F= (ε r − 1) x
2ld
ε A
8. The capacitance of parallel plate capacitor is C = o without dielectric and if a dielectric
slab is inserted then the capacitance is d

εo A
C′ =
⎛ t ⎞
⎜⎝ d − t + ε ⎟⎠
r

9. A parallel plate capacitor has capacitance C in the absence of a +s –s ′ +s ′ –s


dielectric. If a dielectric slab of relative permittivity er is com- +– +–
pletely filled inside the air capacitor, the induced bound charge +– +–
at the surface of the dielectric slab is +– +–
+– P +–
+– +–
⎛ 1⎞ σ +– +–
σ ′ = σ ⎜1 − ⎟ . Then, putting s ′ = P and = Enet, we have +– +–
⎝ εr ⎠ εo εr
+– +–
  +– +–
P = eo(er − 1) Enet or P = ε o χ E,
where E = field inside the dielectric and χ = (er − 1), called susceptibility of the dielectric.
The dielectrics obeying the above relation are called linear dielectrics.
10. If N dielectric slabs of different materials having dielectric constants k1, k2, … and of differ-
ent thickness t1, t2, … are inserted in a charged isolated parallel plate capacitor then;
Charge = Q

Q ⎡ ⎛ 1⎞ ⎛ 1⎞ ⎛ 1⎞ ⎤
and p.d. = ⎢d − t1 ⎜ 1 − ⎟ − t 2 ⎜ 1 − ⎟ − t 3 ⎜ 1 − ⎟ …⎥
Aε o ⎣ ⎝ k1 ⎠ ⎝ k2 ⎠ ⎝ k3 ⎠ ⎦

Aε o
Capacitance =
⎡ ⎛ 1⎞ ⎛ 1⎞ ⎤
⎢d − t1 ⎜ 1 − ⎟ − t 2 ⎜ 1 − ⎟ …⎥
⎣ ⎝ k1 ⎠ ⎝ k2 ⎠ ⎦

Q2
and stored energy =
2 × Capacitance

11. If N dielectric slabs of different materials having dielectric constants k1, k2, ... and of different
thickness t1, t2, ..... are inserted in a charged isolated parallel plate capacitor then

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174 Chapter 15

Aε o
p.d. = x and capacitance =
⎡ ⎛ 1⎞ ⎛ 1⎞ ⎤
⎢d − t1 ⎜ 1 − ⎟ − t 2 ⎜ 1 − ⎟ …⎥
⎣ ⎝ k1 ⎠ ⎝ k2 ⎠ ⎦

⎛1 ⎞
and charge = (C′x) i.e., increased and stored energy = ⎜ C ′ξ 2 ⎟ i.e., increased.
⎝2 ⎠

15.4 SPHERICAL CAPACITOR


A spherical capacitor consists of a spherical conductor surrounded by
– – ––
a concentric spherical conducting shell, the inner sphere is charged –– + b–
– + + –
and the outer shell is earthed. – + + –
– + + –
Q 4πε o – + O a + –
1. Capacitance C = = – + + –
V 1 1 – + + ––
− – ++ + –
–– Q
– – ––
a b
2. If charge Q is given to the outer shell, then induced
charge −Q appears on the outer surface of the inner c
shell. The outer surface of the inner shell is earthed, then b
the capacity of the capacitor so formed is Q1 (Q – Q1)
B A O a
⎡ ab ⎤
C = 4πε o ⎢ + c⎥

⎣b a ⎦ –Q1

15.5 CYLINDRICAL CAPACITOR


A cylindrical capacitor consists of a cylindrical conductor surrounded by a coaxial cylindrical
conducting shell, the inner cylinder is charged and the outer cylindrical shell is earthed.

2πε o l
1. Capacitance is C =
⎛ b⎞
ln ⎜ ⎟
⎝ a⎠
2πε o
2. Capacity per unit length is
⎛ b⎞
ln ⎜ ⎟
⎝ a⎠

15.6 COMBINATION OF CAPACITORS


1. A number of capacitors are said to be connected in series if each capacitor acquires the same
charge and the sum of the voltage drops across all the capacitors is equal to the voltage of the
battery charging the capacitors.

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Capacitors 175

1 1 1 1
In series, = + + +…
Ceq C1 C2 C3
1 1 1 V C
Two capacitors in series = + and 1 = 2
Ceq C1 C2 V2 C1
2. A number of capacitors are said to be connected in parallel if potential difference across
each capacitor is the same (and is equal to the voltage of the battery) and the total charge is
equal to the sum of the charges on the individual capacitors.
In parallel, Ceq = C1 + C2 + C3 ......;
q1 C1
Two capacitors in parallel, Ceq = C1 + C2 and =
q2 C 2
1
(a) Energy density of a charged capacitor is u = ε o kE and the electrical energy stored in
2

a charged capacitor is 2

1
U = u × (Total volume) = kε o E 2V
2
(b) If the dielectric breakdown occurs in a parallel plate capacitor, then the leakage current
V VA
is I = =
R ρd
(c) If n charged drops, each of capacity C, charged to potential V with charge q, surface
density s and potential energy U coalesce to form a single drop, then for such a drop,
total charge = nq,
total capacity = n1/3 C, potential = n2/3 V
Surface density of charge = n1/3 s,
and total potential energy = n2/3 U.

15.7 DIELECTRICS
Dielectrics are of two types: Non-polar and polar. The non-polar dielectrics (like N2, O2 benzene,
methane) are made up of non-polar atoms or molecules, in which the centre of mass of negative
coincides with the centre of mass of positive charge of the atom or molecule.
1. The polar dielectrics (like H2O, CO2, NH3, HC1) are made up of polar atoms or molecules,
in which the centre of mass of positive charge does not coincide with the centre of mass of
negative charge of the atom or molecule.
2. A non-polar dielectric can be polarized by applying an external electric field on the dielectric.

15.7.1 Polarization of Dielectric Medium Placed in an Electric Field


A dielectric may be made up of polar or non-polar molecules. But the net effect of an external
field is almost the same, i.e., the external field will compel the molecules to align their dipole
moments along its own direction.

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176 Chapter 15

The alignment of the dipole moments of the permanent or induced dipoles with the direction
of the applied electric field is called polarization.
Polarization of a dielectric is also defined as the transition into such a state when within a
small volume of the dielectric, the vector sum of the dipole moment vectors of the molecules is
not zero.
Polarization can also be thought of as a phenomenon in which an alignment of positive and
negative charges takes place within the dielectric resulting in no net increase in the charge of the
dielectric.
1. A non-conducting medium that can be polarized by an external field is called dielectric. A
special class of substances (BaTiO3, KNbO3, LiTaO3) which exhibit a permanent polariza-
tion even in the absence of an electric field, are called ferroelectrics.
2. The amount of polarization developed by nonpolar molecules is not as great as it is in polar
molecules. However, for both polar and nonpolar dielectrics, the net effect of the external
electric field is to give the dielectric positive and negative surface charges.

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