| Capacitance | Ratio of the magnitude of the charge on either plate to the magnitude of the potential difference between the plates. |
| Unit for capacitance. | Farads(F) |
| How does a capacitor Wo? | When connected to the battery, charge is pulled off one plate and transferred to the other plate.
The transfer/flow stops when DifVcap = DifVbattery when they reach their maximum charge |
| Capacitance, Potential dif. and total charge in a Parallel-Plate Capacitor. | - C=Epsilon(A/d) & Ceq = C1 + C2 + …
- Epsilon: permitivity of free space 8,85x10^-12 (C^2)/(N.m^2)
- The plates have the same potential difference. Dif V=DifV1=Dif V2=...
- The total charge, Q, is equal to the sum of the charges on the capacitors. Q = Q1 + Q2 |
| Electric Field in a Parallel-Plate Capacitor | Uniform near the center
Nonuniform near the edges |
| Circuit | Collection of objects usually with a source of electrical energy connected to elements that convert it in to other forms. |
| Capacitors in Series | - C=Epsilon(A/d) & (Ceq/1) = (1/C1)+(1/C2)+...
- The potential differences add up to the battery voltage. Dif V=DifV1+Dif V2+...
- The magnitude of the charge must be the same on all the plates.
Q = Q1= Q2 |
| Energy Stored in a Capacitor | Energy stored = ½ Q ΔV
IN THE IMAGE V=ΔV |
| Dielectric Strength? | The maximum electric field can be produced in the dielectric before it breaks down and begins to conduct. |
| Atomic Description of Dielectrics | The field produces an induced polarization in the dielectric material and the capacitance increases. |
| Dielectric: | Insulating material or a very poor conductor of electric current. |
