Capacitors

Energy in a Capacitor

Determining energy stored in parallel-plate capacitor with and without dielectric.

• 8.02X Physics II: Electricity and Magnetism with an Experimental Focus, Spring 2005
  Dr. Peter Dourmashkin, Prof. Gunther Roland

Course Material Related to This Topic:

• Complete exam problem 2
• Check solution to exam problem 2

Parallel Plate Capacitor

5-part problem; finding V, stored energy, work to move plates; inserting dielectric.

• 8.02X Physics II: Electricity and Magnetism with an Experimental Focus, Spring 2005
  Dr. Peter Dourmashkin, Prof. Gunther Roland

Course Material Related to This Topic:

• Complete practice problem 1
• Check solution to practice problem 1

Capacitors and Capacitance

Introduction to capacitance; spherical and parallel plate capacitors.

• 8.02 Physics II: Electricity and Magnetism, Spring 2007
  Prof. John Belcher, Dr. Peter Dourmashkin, Prof. Robert Redwine, Prof. Bruce Knuteson, Prof. Gunther Roland, Prof. Bolek Wyslouch, Dr. Brian Wecht, Prof. Eric Katsavounidis, Prof. Robert Simcoe, Prof. Joseph Formaggio, Andy Neely, Matthew Strafuss, Prof. Eric Hudson, Dr. Sen-Ben Liao

Course Material Related to This Topic:

• Read lecture notes, pages 18–29

Energy Stored in a Capacitor

Work done to build up charge on a capacitor and the energy stored in a capacitor; energy density of the electric field.

• 8.02 Physics II: Electricity and Magnetism, Spring 2007
  Prof. John Belcher, Dr. Peter Dourmashkin, Prof. Robert Redwine, Prof. Bruce Knuteson, Prof. Gunther Roland, Prof. Bolek Wyslouch, Dr. Brian Wecht, Prof. Eric Katsavounidis, Prof. Robert Simcoe, Prof. Joseph Formaggio, Andy Neely, Matthew Strafuss, Prof. Eric Hudson, Dr. Sen-Ben Liao

Course Material Related to This Topic:

• Read lecture notes, pages 32–8

Capacitors

Capacitance and units; definition of capacitor; capacitance of sphere, parallel-plate, spherical, cylindrical capacitors.

• 8.022 Electricity and Magnetism, Fall 2004
  Prof. Gabriella Sciolla

Course Material Related to This Topic:

• Read lecture notes, pages 4–8

Introduction of capacitance and examples of calculating capacitance for parallel plate, cylindrical and spherical capacitors.

• 8.02 Physics II: Electricity and Magnetism, Spring 2007
  Prof. John Belcher, Dr. Peter Dourmashkin, Prof. Robert Redwine, Prof. Bruce Knuteson, Prof. Gunther Roland, Prof. Bolek Wyslouch, Dr. Brian Wecht, Prof. Eric Katsavounidis, Prof. Robert Simcoe, Prof. Joseph Formaggio, Andy Neely, Matthew Strafuss, Prof. Eric Hudson, Dr. Sen-Ben Liao

Course Material Related to This Topic:

• Read chapter 5, pages 3–9 of online textbook

Applet simulating the behavior of the charges inside the plates of a parallel plate capacitor.

• 8.02T Physics (Electricity and Magnetism) Labs, Spring 2005
  Prof. John Belcher, Dr. Peter Dourmashkin, Prof. Michael Feld, Prof. Eric Hudson, Prof. John Joannopoulos, Prof. Bruce Knuteson, Dr. George Stephans

Course Material Related to This Topic:

• Interact with a Java Simulation

Leyden Jars and Capacitor Energy

Leyden jars and Wimshurst machine; dielectrics; energy stored by E-field in capacitor.

• 8.022 Electricity and Magnetism, Fall 2004
  Prof. Gabriella Sciolla

Course Material Related to This Topic:

• Read lecture notes, pages 2–3

Capacitor Banks

Capacitance in series and in parallel; applications and problems.

• 8.022 Electricity and Magnetism, Fall 2004
  Prof. Gabriella Sciolla

Course Material Related to This Topic:

• Read lecture notes, pages 4–5

Storing Energy in the Electric Field

Potential energy stored in a capacitor, and the energy density of the electric field.

• 8.02 Physics II: Electricity and Magnetism, Spring 2007
  Prof. John Belcher, Dr. Peter Dourmashkin, Prof. Robert Redwine, Prof. Bruce Knuteson, Prof. Gunther Roland, Prof. Bolek Wyslouch, Dr. Brian Wecht, Prof. Eric Katsavounidis, Prof. Robert Simcoe, Prof. Joseph Formaggio, Andy Neely, Matthew Strafuss, Prof. Eric Hudson, Dr. Sen-Ben Liao

Course Material Related to This Topic:

• Read chapter 5, pages 13–4 of online textbook

Equivalent Capacitance in Series and Parallel

Capacitors in series and parallel circuits; calculating equivalent capacitance.

• 8.02 Physics II: Electricity and Magnetism, Spring 2007
  Prof. John Belcher, Dr. Peter Dourmashkin, Prof. Robert Redwine, Prof. Bruce Knuteson, Prof. Gunther Roland, Prof. Bolek Wyslouch, Dr. Brian Wecht, Prof. Eric Katsavounidis, Prof. Robert Simcoe, Prof. Joseph Formaggio, Andy Neely, Matthew Strafuss, Prof. Eric Hudson, Dr. Sen-Ben Liao

Course Material Related to This Topic:

• Read chapter 5, pages 9–12 of online textbook

Finding Equivalent Capacitance

Find the equivalent capacitance for a set of capacitors connected in parallel and in series. Solution is included after problem.

• 8.02 Physics II: Electricity and Magnetism, Spring 2007
  Prof. John Belcher, Dr. Peter Dourmashkin, Prof. Robert Redwine, Prof. Bruce Knuteson, Prof. Gunther Roland, Prof. Bolek Wyslouch, Dr. Brian Wecht, Prof. Eric Katsavounidis, Prof. Robert Simcoe, Prof. Joseph Formaggio, Andy Neely, Matthew Strafuss, Prof. Eric Hudson, Dr. Sen-Ben Liao

Course Material Related to This Topic:

• Complete practice problems on pages 39–40

Capacitor with Two Different Dielectrics

Find the capacitance of a parallel plate capacitor filled with two different dielectrics. Solution is included after problem.

• 8.02 Physics II: Electricity and Magnetism, Spring 2007
  Prof. John Belcher, Dr. Peter Dourmashkin, Prof. Robert Redwine, Prof. Bruce Knuteson, Prof. Gunther Roland, Prof. Bolek Wyslouch, Dr. Brian Wecht, Prof. Eric Katsavounidis, Prof. Robert Simcoe, Prof. Joseph Formaggio, Andy Neely, Matthew Strafuss, Prof. Eric Hudson, Dr. Sen-Ben Liao

Course Material Related to This Topic:

• Complete practice problems on page 40

Spherical Capacitor with Two Different Dielectrics

Find the capacitance of a spherical capacitor filled with two different dielectrics. Solution is included after problem.

• 8.02 Physics II: Electricity and Magnetism, Spring 2007
  Prof. John Belcher, Dr. Peter Dourmashkin, Prof. Robert Redwine, Prof. Bruce Knuteson, Prof. Gunther Roland, Prof. Bolek Wyslouch, Dr. Brian Wecht, Prof. Eric Katsavounidis, Prof. Robert Simcoe, Prof. Joseph Formaggio, Andy Neely, Matthew Strafuss, Prof. Eric Hudson, Dr. Sen-Ben Liao

Course Material Related to This Topic:

• Complete practice problems on pages 40–1

Capacitor Connected to a Spring

A spring is connected to one side of a parallel plate capacitor; find the amount that the spring is stretched when the capacitor is charged. Solution is included after problem.

• 8.02 Physics II: Electricity and Magnetism, Spring 2007
  Prof. John Belcher, Dr. Peter Dourmashkin, Prof. Robert Redwine, Prof. Bruce Knuteson, Prof. Gunther Roland, Prof. Bolek Wyslouch, Dr. Brian Wecht, Prof. Eric Katsavounidis, Prof. Robert Simcoe, Prof. Joseph Formaggio, Andy Neely, Matthew Strafuss, Prof. Eric Hudson, Dr. Sen-Ben Liao

Course Material Related to This Topic:

• Complete practice problems on page 42

Force on Plates of a Capacitor

Find the electrostatic force and pressure on the plates of a parallel plate capacitor.

• 8.02 Physics II: Electricity and Magnetism, Spring 2007
  Prof. John Belcher, Dr. Peter Dourmashkin, Prof. Robert Redwine, Prof. Bruce Knuteson, Prof. Gunther Roland, Prof. Bolek Wyslouch, Dr. Brian Wecht, Prof. Eric Katsavounidis, Prof. Robert Simcoe, Prof. Joseph Formaggio, Andy Neely, Matthew Strafuss, Prof. Eric Hudson, Dr. Sen-Ben Liao

Course Material Related to This Topic:

• Complete practice problems on pages 45–6

Combination of Capacitors

Find the equivalent capacitance and the charges on each capacitor for a combination of capacitors in different switch configurations.

• 8.02 Physics II: Electricity and Magnetism, Spring 2007
  Prof. John Belcher, Dr. Peter Dourmashkin, Prof. Robert Redwine, Prof. Bruce Knuteson, Prof. Gunther Roland, Prof. Bolek Wyslouch, Dr. Brian Wecht, Prof. Eric Katsavounidis, Prof. Robert Simcoe, Prof. Joseph Formaggio, Andy Neely, Matthew Strafuss, Prof. Eric Hudson, Dr. Sen-Ben Liao

Course Material Related to This Topic:

• Complete practice problems on page 43

Separating Plate Capacitors

Identify qualitatively how the voltage, charge and stored energy of a parallel plate capacitor change when the plate separation is increased.

• 8.02 Physics II: Electricity and Magnetism, Spring 2007
  Prof. John Belcher, Dr. Peter Dourmashkin, Prof. Robert Redwine, Prof. Bruce Knuteson, Prof. Gunther Roland, Prof. Bolek Wyslouch, Dr. Brian Wecht, Prof. Eric Katsavounidis, Prof. Robert Simcoe, Prof. Joseph Formaggio, Andy Neely, Matthew Strafuss, Prof. Eric Hudson, Dr. Sen-Ben Liao

Course Material Related to This Topic:

• Complete practice problems on pages 2–4

Conceptual Biot-Savart Law Questions

How do potential difference and charge change when the distance between plates in a capacitor is increased, with and without a battery connected. How does the energy stored in the system change?

• 8.02 Physics II: Electricity and Magnetism, Spring 2007
  Prof. John Belcher, Dr. Peter Dourmashkin, Prof. Robert Redwine, Prof. Bruce Knuteson, Prof. Gunther Roland, Prof. Bolek Wyslouch, Dr. Brian Wecht, Prof. Eric Katsavounidis, Prof. Robert Simcoe, Prof. Joseph Formaggio, Andy Neely, Matthew Strafuss, Prof. Eric Hudson, Dr. Sen-Ben Liao

Course Material Related to This Topic:

• Complete practice problems on pages 6–7

Analysis of a Spherical Capacitor

Find the electric field, potential difference, capacitance, and charge distribution on a spherical capacitor. Solution is included after problem.

• 8.02 Physics II: Electricity and Magnetism, Spring 2007
  Prof. John Belcher, Dr. Peter Dourmashkin, Prof. Robert Redwine, Prof. Bruce Knuteson, Prof. Gunther Roland, Prof. Bolek Wyslouch, Dr. Brian Wecht, Prof. Eric Katsavounidis, Prof. Robert Simcoe, Prof. Joseph Formaggio, Andy Neely, Matthew Strafuss, Prof. Eric Hudson, Dr. Sen-Ben Liao

Course Material Related to This Topic:

• Complete practice problems on pages 24–6

Charged Capacitor

4-part problem; finding voltage, stored energy; explaining conservation of energy in different cases.

• 8.02X Physics II: Electricity and Magnetism with an Experimental Focus, Spring 2005
  Dr. Peter Dourmashkin, Prof. Gunther Roland

Course Material Related to This Topic:

• Complete exam problem 1
• Check solution to exam problem 1

Point Charge in a Capacitor

5-part problem; finding charge, potential energy, and electric potential.

• 8.02X Physics II: Electricity and Magnetism with an Experimental Focus, Spring 2005
  Dr. Peter Dourmashkin, Prof. Gunther Roland

Course Material Related to This Topic:

• Complete exam problem 4
• Check solution to exam problem 4

Particle in Capacitor and Magnetic Field

4-part problem; finding E-field, trajectories for particle; computing kinetic energy.

• 8.02X Physics II: Electricity and Magnetism with an Experimental Focus, Spring 2005
  Dr. Peter Dourmashkin, Prof. Gunther Roland

Course Material Related to This Topic:

• Complete exam problem 2

The Electrostatic Force Experiment

Applet simulating the behavior of a conducting sphere placed between the plates of a parallel plate capacitor as it is being charged.

• 8.02T Physics (Electricity and Magnetism) Labs, Spring 2005
  Prof. John Belcher, Dr. Peter Dourmashkin, Prof. Michael Feld, Prof. Eric Hudson, Prof. John Joannopoulos, Prof. Bruce Knuteson, Dr. George Stephans

Course Material Related to This Topic:

• Interact with a Java Simulation