A capacitor stores electric charge between two conducting parallel plates separated by an insulating material called a dielectric. When a switch is closed to connect the capacitor to a power supply, electrons are repelled from the negative plate and attracted to the positive plate, building up opposite charges on each plate. This stored charge results in an electric field within the dielectric and a potential difference between the plates. The capacitor can then maintain this stored charge even after the switch is opened, until the capacitor is discharged.

1. The Capacitor
A capacitor can be made up of two conducting parallel plates separated by
an insulating material called the dielectric.
When switch (S) is closed electrons on the positive plate are repelled by the
negative charge on negative and attracted to the positive supply terminal
causing a deficiency of electrons in the left plate this becomes positively
charged.
Since electrons cannot pass through the dielectric insulation an electric field is
set up within the dielectric causing a charge to exist across the plates.
The charge builds up until the potential difference between the plates equals the
source (E).
S E
+ -
+
+
+
+
-
-
-
-
pd = E

2. If the switch is opened the conduction path between the plates is removed, the
surplus electrons remain on the right plate (negative plate) while the left plate
remains deficient in electrons (positive plate).
The parallel plates store electric charge causing a potential difference to exist
between the two plates.
The stored charge will remain indefinitely until the capacitor is discharged.
The charge will reduce in time due to leakage of electrons through the dielectric.
S E
+ -
+
+
+
+
-
-
-
-
pd = E
The Capacitor

3. Construction of a Capacitor
ceramic
(dielectric
)
silver
(plates)
Non polarised
(can be connected
either way round)
Polarised Electrolytic
(must be connected
as shown)
+
-
Circuit Symbols

4. Capacitance is the ability of a capacitor to store electric charge
and is,
a. directly proportional to its plate area.
(capacitance increases with plate area)
b. inversely proportional to the distance between the plates.
(capacitance decreases with dielectric thickness)
c. dependent on the dielectric material used to separate the
plates.
(various materials are used to obtain the required capacity and dielectric
strength)
Capacitance

5. The Dielectric
The dielectric is the material used to separate the plates of a capacitor.
The dielectric constant (k or εr ) also called the relative permittivity of a material is
the ratio between the permittivity of a material (ε) and the permittivity of free space
(ε0 ).
Permittivity relates to a material's ability to "permit" an electric field.
The dielectric strength of a material is the maximum electric field strenth that it can
withstand without breaking down.
Material K or εr Strength (kV/mm)
Air 1.0 3
Barium-strontium titanate 7500 3
Polystyrene 2.6 16
Paper 2.5 20
Mylar 3.0 24
Glass 6 120
Mica 5 200
k or εr = ε
ε0

6. Capacitance of a Capacitor
The capacitance (C) of a capacitor is dependent upon the plate area the
distance between the plates in metres and its dielectric constant.
Knowing these parameters it is possible to determine the capacitance of any
parallel plate capacitor.
The unit of capacitance is the Farad (F).
where k is the dielectric constant
ε0 is permittivity of free space (8.85 x 10-12
) F/m
A is the area of each plate in m2
d is the distance between each plates in m.
C = kε0
A Farads
d

7. Capacitance of a Capacitor
Activity 1
Determine the capacitance of a 2 plate capacitor having a plate dimensions
of 2m x 10cm using 0.20mm of paper as its dielectric material.
If the dielectric material was changed to mica what would you expect to
happen to the capacitance.
If the plate area was to double what would be the effect on the capacitance.
Activity 2
Choose a suitable dielectric material and determine the plate area for a 25uF
2 plate capacitor having a 0.1mm thickness of dielectric material, for the
smallest case size of capacitor.
Also state the working voltage, assume 100% margin for safety.

8. Capacitance and Charge
A capacitor is a component that stores electric charge.
The symbol for capacitance is “C”.
The unit of capacitance is the Farad “F”.
The unit for charge is the coulomb, “C”.
The symbol for charge is “Q”.
also
Charge, Q = C x V coulombs where C is in Farads
coulombs where t is in secondsCharge, Q = I x t

9. Capacitors in Parallel
Capacitors connected in parallel effectively increases the plate area
and therefore increases the capacitance.
The total capacitance of capacitors connected in parallel is the sum of
all the individual capacitors.
CT = C1 + C2
The total charge drawn from a supply is the sum of the charge stored
in each capacitor.
QT = QC1 + QC2
=E
+
-
C1
C2 E
+
-
CT

10. Capacitors in Parallel
Activity
1. Three capacitors 10uF, 25uF and 50uF are connected in parallel to a 18 volt
dc supply. Determine a) the total capacitance, b) the charge on each
capacitor and c) the charge drawn from the supply.
2. An electronic circuit operating from a 12 volt dc supply requires a charge of
200uC. If we already have a 12uF capacitor, determine the capacitance that
we must connect in parallel with this to obtain the required charge.
It is a good idea to sketch these circuits before starting to calculate
your results.

11. Capacitors in Series
The positive charge on the top plate of C1 attracts electrons from the top plate
of C2 to the bottom plate of C1. The negative charge on the bottom plate of C2
repels electrons from the top plate of C2. This effect is the same as increasing
the space between the plates thus reducing the capacitance.
The total capacitance of capacitors connected in series
Since the current is the same in all parts of the series circuit, charge drawn
from a supply and the charge on each capacitor is the same. However the pd
across individual capacitors will vary.
QT = QC1 = QC2 = CT E
1 1 1
CT C1 + C2
=
E
+
- +
C2
-
+
C1
-
VC1 =
QT
C1
VC2 =
QT
C2

12. Capacitors in Series
Activity
1. A 20uF capacitor and 40uF capacitor are connected in series to an 36 volt
dc supply. Determine a) the total capacitance, b) the charge on each
capacitor, c) the charge drawn from the supply and d) the potential
difference developed across each capacitor.
2. Three capacitors 10uF, 25uF and 50uF are connected in series to an 18 volt
dc supply. Determine a) the total capacitance, b) the charge on each
capacitor and c) the charge drawn from the supply.
It is a good idea to sketch these circuits before starting to calculate
your results.

13. Capacitors in Combinational Networks
Capacitors connected in combinational networks are treated using the
principles developed for the series and parallel circuits.
CT = C1 + CP
QT = CT x E
VC1 = VCP =C1 CP
QT QT
VCP
E
+
-
C1
C2
C3
VC1

14. Combinational Networks
Activity
1. A 20uF capacitor and 40uF capacitor are connected in parallel and a 30uF
is connected in series with this parallel section.
If this network is connected to a 36 volt dc supply determine;
a) the total capacitance,
b) the total charge,
c) the potential difference developed across each capacitor.
It is a good idea to sketch these circuits before starting to calculate
your results.

15. Energy Stored By A Capacitor
When a capacitor is charging energy is transferred from the source voltage to
the capacitor.
When the capacitor is removed from the source the potential difference across
its plates remains constant.
Since no current is required to maintain this potential difference, the
capacitance stores electric energy. This energy is stored in the electric field
between the plates.
The energy stored by a fully charged capacitor,
The letter symbol for energy is “W”
The unit for energy is the joule, “J”
1
W =
2
CV2

16. Activity
1. A 470pf high voltage filter capacitor is charged to 12kV, determine the
energy stored.
2. A power supply uses two 4700uF capacitors connected in parallel to
provide smoothing in a full-wave rectified dc supply. Both capacitors are
charged to a peak voltage of 24 volts. Determine a) the energy stored by the
combination and b) the current required to charge the capacitors during the
10mS charge time.
It is a good idea to sketch these circuits before starting to calculate
your results.
Energy Stored By A Capacitor