Summary notes on topic 6.1 Capacitors covering capacitors in series and parallel, charge stored by capacitors, work done by capacitors, charging capacitors, discharging capacitors and uses of capacitors. Notes feature definitions, highlighted key terms, explanations, diagrams and equation break dow...
, Capacitors
Electrical component in which
charge is stored A .
capacitor consists of
two charged plates separated from each other
equally by an insulator
(dielectric) such as air ,
paper ,
ceramic or mica .
+
_
> >
direction of
^ v flow of
+ Q -
Q
electrons
-
+
-
+
' <
± =
A B
•
when the capacitor is connected to the cell , electrons flow from the cell for a short period
of time .
•
Electrons cannot travel between the plates because of the insulation The current .
causes
electrons to be removed from plate A.
making it
positively charged . Plate B gains
electrons , aqui ring a negative charge .
•
The two plates have
charge that is equal in
magnitude but opposite in charge as
the circuit 's current must be equal in all places and charge must be conserved .
Therefore there is potential difference across the plates
•
a .
•
When the p d.
-
across the plates is equal to the e.m.fi of the cell the current , falls
to zero
the capacitance of a capacitor is defined as the charge stored per unit potential
difference across the capacitor :
C = Q Q = VC
capacitance C , ,
in farads ,
F
charge stored ,
Q in coulombs C
, ,
potential difference V. ,
in volts V ,
charge on the capacitor a
potential difference across the capacitor
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