A +Q-Q d 12 V +  device to store charge –(also stores energy) connect capacitor to battery (V) –plates become oppositely charged +Q/-Q Q = C V charge  potential difference constant of proportionality is called the capacitance C Parallel Plate Capacitor

The 750  F capacitor in a camera flash attachment is charged up by a 6V battery. What Q does it store? Q=CV = (6 volts)(750  coul/volt) = 4.5  coul

ConcepTest A one millifarad capacitor has is has a voltage of 100 V across it. What is the total charge on the capacitor? 1) Zero 2) 0.1 C 3) 10 C 4) 100,000 C

ConcepTest A one millifarad capacitor has is has a voltage of 100 V across it. What is the total charge on the capacitor? 1) Zero 2) 0.1 C 3) 10 C 4) 100,000 C What is the charge on the positive plate of the capacitor? 1) Zero 2) 0.05 C 3) 0.1 C 4) 0.2 C

Capacitors Capacitance depends only on geometry Example: parallel-plate capacitor A = area of plate d = separation between plates –  0 = 8.85 x C 2 /N-m 2 (permittivity of free space)

How big is 1 Farad? choose d = 1 mm –find the area A for such a capacitor A = C (d/  0 ) = (1 F) (0.001 m) / (8.85x ) = 1.1 x 10 8 m 2 = 110 km 2 This capacitor is as big as a city!!!

Capacitor C 1 is connected across a battery of 5 V. An identical capacitor C 2 is connected across a battery of 10 V. Which one has the most charge?Capacitor C 1 is connected across a battery of 5 V. An identical capacitor C 2 is connected across a battery of 10 V. Which one has the most charge? C 1 1) C 1 C 2 2) C 2 3) both have the same charge 4) it depends on other factors

What must be done to a capacitor in order to increase the amount of charge it can hold (for a constant voltage)? 1) increase the area of the plates 2) increase the separation between the plates decrease the separation between the plates 3) decrease the separation between the plates 4) decrease the area of the plates 5) either (1) or (2) 6)either (1) or (3) 7)either (2) or (4) 8)either (3) or (4) Q = C V

Increasing the separation, d, of the two charged plates of a capacitor, after it has been disconnected from its battery, will (1) Increase the charge on the plates. (2) Increase the capacitance of the plates. (3) Increase the voltage across the plates. (4) None of the above.

A parallel-plate capacitor initially has a potential difference of 400 V and is then disconnected from the charging battery. If the plate spacing is now doubled (without changing Q), what is the new value of the voltage?A parallel-plate capacitor initially has a potential difference of 400 V and is then disconnected from the charging battery. If the plate spacing is now doubled (without changing Q), what is the new value of the voltage? 400 V 200 V 1) 400 V 2) 200 V 3) 100 V 4) 800 V 5) 1600 V

Inserting a dielectric material between two charged parallel conducting plates, originally separated by air and now disconnected from the battery, will (1) Increase the charge on the plates. (2) Increase the capacitance of the plates. (3) Increase the voltage across the plates. (4) None of the above.

2) 0.1 C 3) 0.1 C C 2 2) C 2 6) either (1) or (3) (3) Increase the voltage across the plates. 4) 800 V (2) Increase the capacitance of the plates. Answers to Multiple Choice Questions