Conductors and Insulators

Materials are generally classified according to the ability of the charge to move through them. Conductors are materials through which charge can move rather freely; examples include metals (such as copper), the human body and tap water. Conductor implies that the outer electrons of the atoms are loosely bound and free to move through the material. Most atoms hold on to their electrons tightly and are insulators (or non-conductors) they are materials through which charge cannot move freely; examples include rubber, plastic, glass and chemically pure water. !imply stated, most metals are good electrical conductors and most non-metals are not.

Electric Charge
"lectric charge is a physical property of matter that causes it to experience a force when near other electrically charged matter. "lectric charge comes in two types, called positive and negative. #wo positively charged substances, or ob$ects, experience a mutual repulsive force, as do two negatively charged ob$ects. %ositively charged ob$ects and negatively charged ob$ects experience an attractive force.

Voltage
#he potential that separated opposite charges have for doing wor& if they are released to fly together is called voltage, measured in volts ('.) "lectrical force, li&e gravity, also depends inversely on the distance s(uared between the two bodies; short separation means big forces. #hus it ta&es an opposing force to &eep two charges of opposite sign apart, $ust li&e it ta&es force to &eep an apple from falling to earth. )t also ta&es wor& and the expenditure of energy to pull positive and negative charges apart, $ust li&e it ta&es wor& to raise a big mass against gravity, or to stretch a spring. #his stored or potential energy can be recovered and put to wor& to do some useful tas&. * falling mass can raise a buc&et of water; a retracting spring can pull a door shut or run a cloc&. )t re(uires some imagination to devise ways one might hoo& on to charges of opposite sign to get some useful wor& done, but it should be possible.

Capacitance
Definition: Capacitance (symbol C) is the ability of a capacitor to store energy in an electric field. where ( + magnitude of charge stored on each plate ' + voltage applied to the plates
C= q V

#he !) unit of capacitance is farad; , farad is , coulomb per volt. Capacitance is also a measure of the amount of electrical potential energy stored for a given electric potential. )t is a measure of a capacitor-s ability to store charge. * large capacitance means that more charge can be stored. Capacitance depends on four things; ,. #he area of the plates .. #he distance between the plates /. #he type of dielectric material 0. #emperature

Capacitor
* capacitor is a device which stores electric charge. Capacitors vary in shape and si1e, but the basic configuration is two conductors carrying e(ual but opposite charges. %hysically, a capacitor is two electrical conductors separated by a non-conducting (or very high resistance) medium between the two conductors. Capacitors are another element used to control the flow of charge in a circuit. #he name derives from their capacity to store charge, rather li&e a small battery. Capacitors consist of two conducting surfaces separated by an insulator; a wire lead is connected to each surface. )magine a capacitor as two large metal plates separated by air, although in reality they usually consist of thin metal foils or films separated by plastic film or another solid insulator, and rolled up in a compact pac&age

Capacitors in Parallel and in Series

Capacitors can be $oined in two basic ways2 parallel and series. #he physical construction of capacitors connecting together two of them results in bigger capacitance value. #he capacitance of a series connection is lower than any capacitor because for a given voltage across the entire group, there will be less charge on each plate. Parallel Connection )n parallel, means that each capacitor is placed in its own branch. #he presence of branch lines means that there are multiple pathways by which charge can traverse the external circuit.

3hen n

capacitors are connected in parallel, the total capacitance C t =C 1 +C 2 +C 3 + +C n

3hen there are two capacitor of the same capacitance connected in parallel, the total capacitance of the two capacitors is exactly doubled. Series Connection )n series means that the capacitors are connected in such a manner that there is only one pathway by which charge can traverse the circuit.

3hen n

capacitors are connected in series, the total capacitance , , , , , = + + ++ C t C, C. C/ Cn

3hen there are two capacitor of the same capacitance connected in series, the total capacitance of the two capacitors is exactly halved.