DET1013 - ELECTRICAL

TECHNOLOGY
Chapter 3:
Capacitors &
Capacitance
AUTHORS:
AMINAH BINTI OTHMAN
JAAFAR BIN SURADI
JUNAIDA BINTI SHAARI
ZULKURNAIN BIN ABDUL

COURSE LEARNING
OUTCOME
1. Apply the concept and principles of DC
electrical circuit using different method
and approach. (C3, PLO1)
2. Solve DC circuit problems using
appropriate DC electrical laws and
theorems. (C3, PLO2)
3. Conduct the laboratory activities of DC
electrical circuit using appropriate
electrical equipment. (P4, PLO5)
4. Demonstrate ability to work in team to
complete assigned task during practical
work sessions. (A3, PLO11)

TOPIC TITLE (RTA)

CHAPTE
R

1.0
2.0

3.0
4.0
5.0

TITLE

INTRODUCTION TO
ELECTRIC CIRCUIT
DC EQUIVALENT CIRCUIT
AND NETWORK
THEOREMS
CAPACITORS AND
CAPACITANCE
INDUCTORS AND
INDUCTANCE
MAGNETIC CIRCUIT,
ELECTROMAGNETISM
AND ELECTROMAGNETIC

RTA

08:12
08:10

05:00
05:04
04:04

LEARNING OUTCOME
(1 Hour)
3.1 Knows capacitors and
capacitance.
3.1.1 List the quantities associated with
capacitance.
3.1.2 Identify the types of capacitor:
a. fixed
b. variable

3.1.3 Describe the construction of

capacitor.

LEARNING OUTCOME (1
Hour)
3.2 Understand capacitance equivalent
circuits
for series and parallel connections.
3.2.1 Express the formulas for the total
capacitance in series and parallel
connections.
3.3 Apply the knowledge of capacitance
equivalent circuits for series and
parallel
connections.

Capacitor
Capacitor is an electrical
component that stores
electrical charge/energy.
It is constructed with 2
conductive plates facing
each other separately
by a dielectric such as
air, paper, mica ceramic
and others.

Types of capacitor : Practical types of

capacitor are characterized by the material
used for their dielectric. The main types
include: variable air, mica, paper ceramic,
plastic, titanium oxide and electrolytic.

Variable air
capacitors.
Mica capacitors.

Paper capacitors.

Types of
capacitor :
Ceramic
capacitors.

Plastic
capacitors.
Titanium oxide
capacitors
Electrolytic
capacitors

Similar to paper
capacitor

CAPACITOR
Schematic symbol
Nominal symbol
C
Unit
Farad(F)
Normally in pF, nF
& F
Types of capacitor 1. Fixed capacitor
(polarized & non
polarized)
2. Variable
capacitor

Capacitance
The property of a CAPACITOR to
store electricity is called its
CAPACITANCE
The quantities associated with
capacitance :
1. Amount of electric charge, Q
Charge
2. Potential difference between
Potential
difference
capacitor
plates, V
+
-

Capacitance
Let us consider a
cell is connected
with a capacitor

Ic

Where, Ic =

Initially, current
will flow and
reduce
exponentially
from maximum
value through C.
(Ic)

Capacitance
Q
+

Vc

Thus Capacitance,
C = ----

After C is fully charged,

there would be a potential
difference, Vc occur across
it and Ic becomes zero.
No current (I = 0A) is assumed
to flow now because charge, Q
is constant.

Hence, in capacitive
circuit, Q is assumed to
be flowing element
instead of I
Equ
.1

Capacitance
Example 3.1
Determine potential difference across
a 4 F capacitor when charged with 5
mC.

V = = = 1.25 kV

Capacitance Equivalent
Circuit
Series Connection
a

b
C1

C2

C3

Cn

Capacitance Equivalent
Circuit
Parallel Connection
a

C1

C2

C3

Cn

= = C1 + C2 + C3 + + Cn

Capacitance Equivalent
Circuit
Example 3.2
Calculate the equivalent capacitance
of two capacitors of 6 F and 4 F
connected
(a)in parallel and
(b)in series

Capacitance Equivalent
Circuit

Solution

Exercises
1. Determine the equivalent capacitance
when the following capacitors are
connected
(a) in parallel and
(b) in series
(i) 2 F, 4 F and 8 F
(ii) 0.02 F, 0.05 F and 0.10 F
(iii) 50 pF and 450 pF
(iv) 0.01 F and 200 pF

Answer :
(a) (i) 14 F (ii) 0.17 F (iii) 500 pF (iv) 0.0102 F(b)
(i) 117F (ii) 0.0125 F (iii) 45 pF (iv) 196.1 pF

LEARNING OUTCOME (2
Hours)

3.4 Understand circuits with

capacitive load.

3.4.1 Describe that current is the time

rate of change of charge, i = dQ/dt.
3.4.2 Describe the following:
a. electric flux
b. electric flux density
c. electric field strength
d. dielectric
e. absolute permittivity

3.4.3 Explain the factors affecting

capacitance based on related

Current & Charge Relationship

Current: - motion of charge
- depends on the rate of flow of
charge
- electric fluid
- unit of current is ampere (A)
Equation:
dq = changing of charge
I = dt = changing of time
I = current (ampere)
For steady state condition:
Q = charge (coulomb)
I = , thus Q = It t = time (second)

Capacitive Circuit (some definitions)

ELECTRIC FLUX
()
- Known as the
total of electric
lines of force that
moves out from
positive charge
in electric field
= Charge, Q
- electric flux, is
measured in

Capacitive Circuit (some definitions)

A

ELECTRIC FLUX
DENSITY (D)
- Electric flux density
is the ratio between
the charge of the
capacitor and the
surface area of the
capacitor plates and
can be expressed as

D=

Capacitive Circuit (some definitions)

ELECTRIC FIELD
STRENGTH (E)
the ratio between
the potential
difference (V) or
voltage and the
thickness of the
dielectric (d), it can
be expressed as

E=

Capacitive Circuit (some definitions)

DIELECTRIC
- insulating
material that is
sandwiched
between the two
conducting plates.
- Examples : air,
mica, ceramic,
paper

Capacitive Circuit (some definitions)

ABSOLUTE
PERMITTIVITY ()
- The ratio of electric
flux density (D) to
the electric field
strength (E) is
called absolute
permittivity () of a
dielectric and can
be expressed as

= (Unit : )

Equ.
1

Capacitive Circuit (some definitions)

ABSOLUTE

PERMITTIVITY ()
- The absolute permittivity of
free space or vacuum also
called the dielectric
constant ()
- Where = 8.854x 10-12F/m
- The relative permittivity
()of dielectric is different
between materials
- The relative permittivity of
free space or vacuum is 1.
(= 1)

= (Unit : )

Equ.
2

Capacitive Circuit
Example 3.3:
Two parallel rectangular plates
measuring 20
cm by 40 cm carry an electric
charge of 0.2
C. Calculate the electric flux
density. If the
plates are spaced 5 mm apart and
the voltage
between them is 0.25 kV determine

Capacitive Circuit
Solutions

Influent Factors of
Capacitance
A capacitor value depends on these three
factors:
1. Conductive surface area, ALarger area gives greater capacitance
2.
Distance between the plate, d
Closer distance gives greater capacitance
3. Type of dielectric (dielectric constant )
Greater permittivity gives greater
capacitance
Absolute permittivity, = r * 0

Influent Factors of
Capacitance
Thus, the capacitance of a capacitor
also could be obtained from:
-------

Equ
.2

Where r= relative permittivity

0= permittivity of free space / dielectric (F/m)
constant
A = surface area of plate ()
d = distance between the plate (m)

Influent Factors of
Capacitance
Example

3.4:
A waxed paper capacitor has two
parallel plates, each of effective area
800 . If the capacitance of the
capacitor is 4425 pF determine the
effective thickness of the paper if its
relative permittivity is 2.5.

Influent Factors of
Capacitance
Solutions

LEARNING OUTCOME
(1 Hour)
3.5 Understand the process of
charging and
discharging in a capacitor.
3.5.1 Explain the process of charging
and discharging based on the voltage
and current curves.
3.5.2 Express the instantaneous
voltage/current equation.

Charging Process of
Capacitor

t=0

Capacitor is said to be in charging

mode whenever it is connected to a
voltage supply. (switch, SW at point
a)

Charging Process of
Capacitor
SW at point
a:

Time constant, = CR (unit: s)

Max. voltage of capacitance,
Vmax = E (unit: V)

Max. current of capacitance, Imax = (unit: A)

Charging Process of
Capacitor
SW at point
a:

Charging voltage of capacitor,

vc = Vmax (1 e t/)
Charging current of capacitor,
ic = Imax (e t/)
Time for charging to maximum,
tmax = 5 (unit: s)

Energy stored in capacitor,

Ec= *C*V2
(unit: J)

Discharging Process of
Capacitor
t=0

Capacitor is said to be in discharging

mode whenever it is disconnected
from a voltage supply that initially
connected to it. (switch, SW at point
b)

Discharging Process of
Capacitor
SW at point
b:

Time constant, = CR (unit:

s)
Max. voltage of capacitance,
Vmax = E (unit: V)

Max. current of capacitance, Imax = (unit: A)

Discharging Process of
Capacitor
SW at point
b:

Discharging voltage of
capacitor, vc = Vmax (e t/)
Discharging current of
capacitor, ic = - Imax (e t/)
Time for discharging to zero,
t0 = 5 (unit: s)

LEARNING OUTCOME
(1 Hour)
3.6 Apply the understanding of
charging and
discharging process in a
capacitor.
3.6.1 Calculate the time constant,
3.6.2 Calculate the energy stored in a
capacitor.
3.6.3 Solve problems on capacitors
charging and discharging process.

Example 3.5
1. Figure below shows a schematic
diagram that consists of resistive and
capacitive load. If the switch SW is
switched to node a at t= 0s.

Example 3.5
a) EXPLAIN why the capacitor, C is said to be in
charging mode. [CLO 1]
b) COMPUTE the time constant, [CLO 1]
c) PREDICT the maximum voltage of the capacitor.
[CLO 1]
d) CALCULATE the instantaneous value of current
when t = 2ms. [CLO 2]
e) CALCULATE the time taken to make the
instantaneous value of charging voltage equals
to 12V.
f) CALCULATE the maximum energy stored by the
capacitor

Example 3.5 (Solutions)

a) The capacitor is in charging mode because it is
connecting to a voltage source that causes
potential voltage to be exponentially rising
inside the capacitor.
b) Time constant, = RC = 100 x 10 = 1 ms
c) VC(max) = E = 24V
d)

Example 3.5 (Solutions)

e)

f)

Self Exercise
1. Figure below shows a schematic
diagram that consists of resistive and
capacitive load. If the switch SW is
switched to node a at t= 0s.

Self-Exercise
a) COMPUTE the time constant,
b) PREDICT the maximum voltage of the capacitor.
c) CALCULATE the instantaneous value of current
when t = 0.25ms.
d) CALCULATE the time taken to make the
instantaneous value of charging voltage equals
to 15V.
e) CALCULATE the maximum energy stored by the
capacitor
Answer :
f) = 250ms, b) vc = 100V, c) t = 155.76 mA, d) t
= 0.1625 ms

RECAP

Capacitor is a device that stores electric

charge/energy.
Capacitance is the property of a capacitor
which delays and change of voltage across
it.
For Parallel Capacitance, = + +
For Series Capacitance, =
During charging process, voltage is rising
exponentially while current is reducing
exponentially at same time
For discharging process, voltage and
current reduce exponentially at the same
time.