Transcript Lecture 9

Physics 2102 Jonathan Dowling

Physics 2102 Lecture: 11 FRI 06 FEB

Capacitance I

25.1

–3 QuickTime™ and a decompressor are needed to see this picture.

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• Lab Location: 102 Nicholson (across the hall from class) • Lab Hours: MTWT: 12:00N –5:00PM F: 12:N –3:00PM

Capacitors and Capacitance

Capacitor: any two conductors, one with charge

+Q

, other with charge

–Q

Potential DIFFERENCE between conductors = V

Q = CV

Units of capacitance:

Farad

where

C =

capacitance (F) = Coulomb/Volt

+Q –Q

Uses: storing and releasing electric charge/energy. Most electronic capacitors: micro-Farads (  F), pico-Farads (pF) — 10 –12 F New technology: compact 1 F capacitors

Capacitance

• Capacitance depends only on GEOMETRICAL factors and on the MATERIAL that separates the two conductors • e.g. Area of conductors, separation, whether the space in between is filled with air, plastic, etc.

+Q –Q

(We first focus on capacitors where gap is filled by AIR!)

Electrolytic (1940-70) Electrolytic (new) Paper (1940-70)

Capacitors

Variable air, mica Tantalum (1980 on) Ceramic (1930 on) Mica (1930-50)

Parallel Plate Capacitor

We want

capacitance

: C = Q/V E field between the plates: (Gauss’ Law)

E

   0 

Q

 0

A

Area of each plate

= A

Separation

= d

charge/area

=

= Q/A

Relate

E V

 to potential difference

V

: 0 

d

E

 

d x

 

d

0

Q

 0

A dx

Qd

 0

A

What is the capacitance

C

?

C

Q V

  0

A d

-Q

Units :   C 2 Nm 2 m 2 m     C 2 Nm    CC J    C  V   

+Q



Capacitance and Your iPhone!

C

Q V

  0

A d



Parallel Plate Capacitor — Example

• A huge parallel plate capacitor consists of two square metal plates of side 50 cm, separated by an air gap of 1 mm • What is the capacitance?

C =

0 A/d

= (8.85 x 10 –12 F/m)(0.25 m 2 )/(0.001 m) = 2.21 x 10 –9 F (Very Small!!)

Lesson: difficult to get large values of capacitance without special tricks!

Units :   C 2 Nm 2 m 2 m     C 2 Nm    CC J    C  V      Farad

Isolated

Parallel Plate Capacitor • A parallel plate capacitor of capacitance

C

is charged using a battery. • Charge

= Q,

potential difference

= V.

• Battery is then disconnected. • If the plate separation is INCREASED, does Potential Difference

V

: (a) Increase?

(b) Remain the same?

(c) Decrease?

• Q is fixed!

• C decreases (=  0 A/d) • V=Q/C; V increases.

+Q –Q

Parallel Plate Capacitor & Battery

• A parallel plate capacitor of capacitance C is charged using a battery. • Charge = Q, potential difference = V.

• Plate separation is INCREASED while battery remains connected.

+Q –Q

Does the Electric Field Inside: (a) Increase?

(b) Remain the Same?

(c) Decrease?

• V is fixed by battery!

• C decreases (=e • E = Q/  0 0 A/d) • Q=CV; Q decreases A decreases

Spherical Capacitor

V

What is the electric field inside the capacitor? (Gauss’ Law) 

b

 Relate

E

to potential difference between the plates:

a E

Q

4  0

r

2 

E

d r

 

a b

kQ dr r

2   

kQ r

 

b a

Radius of outer plate

= b

Radius of inner plate

= a

Concentric spherical shells: Charge

+Q –Q

on inner shell, on outer shell 

kQ

 1

a

1

b

 

Spherical Capacitor

What is the capacitance?

C = Q/V =

Q Q

4  0 1

a

1

b

   4  0 (

b

ab a

) Radius of outer plate

= b

Radius of inner plate

= a

Concentric spherical shells: Charge

+Q –Q

on inner shell, on outer shell Isolated sphere: let

b >> a, C

 4  0

a

Cylindrical Capacitor

QuickTime™ and a decompressor are needed to see thi s pi ctur e.

What is the electric field in between the plates? Gauss’ Law!

Radius of outer

V

 Relate

E

to potential difference between the plates: 

b

a

E

d r

C

Q

/

V a b

E

Q

2  0

rL

2 

Q

0

rL dr

  2  0

L

ln 

b a

  

Q

ln

r

2  0

L

 

b a

Length of capacitor

= L +Q

on inner rod,

–Q

on outer shell 

Q

2  0

L

ln 

b a

 plate

= b

Radius of inner plate

= a

cylindrical Gaussian surface of radius

r



Summary

• Any two charged conductors form a capacitor.

•Capacitance :

C= Q/V

•Simple Capacitors:

Parallel plates

:

Spherical

:

Cylindrical

:

C =

0 A/d C = 4



e 0 ab/(b-a)

C = 2   0 L/ln(b/a)]