Capacitance Flashcards

Flashcards generated from Capacitance lecture notes.

What is a capacitor?

A device used to store electrical charge and electrical energy, consisting of at least two electrical conductors separated by a distance.

What is capacitance?

The amount of storage in a capacitor, defined as the ratio of the maximum charge that can be stored to the applied voltage.

What is the SI unit of capacitance?

The farad (F).

What determines the capacitance of a parallel-plate capacitor?

The geometry (surface area and distance between plates) and the material filling the space between the plates.

In a series combination of capacitors, what quantity is the same for all capacitors?

Charge (Q)

What formula calculates the total capacitance of capacitors in series?

1/Ceq = 1/C1 + 1/C2 + 1/C3

In a parallel combination of capacitors, what quantity is the same for all capacitors?

Voltage (V)

What formula calculates the total capacitance of capacitors in parallel?

Ceq = C1 + C2 + C3 + …

How do you find the net capacitance of a network with both series and parallel connections?

Identify parts containing only series or parallel connections, find equivalent capacitances for those parts, and simplify step by step.

What is the formula of the energy stored in a capacitor?

U_C = (1/2) * C * V^2 = (1/2) * Q * V = Q^2 / (2C)

Where is energy stored in a charged capacitor?

In the electrical field between its plates.