CAPACITORS AND INDUCTORS
Capacitor:
In both digital and analog electronic circuits a capacitor is a fundamental element. It
enables the filtering of signals and it provides a fundamental memory element.
The capacitor is an element that stores energy in an electric field.
The circuit symbol and associated electrical variables for the capacitor is shown on
Figure 1.
The capacitor may be modeled as two conducting plates separated by a dielectric as
shown on Figure 2.
When a voltage v is applied across the plates, a charge +q accumulates on one plate and a
charge –q on the other.
Capacitance
The capacitance (C) of the capacitor is equal to the electric charge (Q) divided by the voltage (V):
C is the capacitance in farad (F)
Q is the electric charge in coulombs (C), that is stored on the capacitor
V is the voltage between the capacitor's plates in volts (V)
Capacitance of plates capacitor
The capacitance (C) of the plates capacitor is equal to the permittivity (ε) times the plate area (A) divided by the gap or distance between the plates (d):
C is the capacitance of the capacitor, in farad (F).
ε is the permittivity of the capacitor's dialectic material, in farad per meter (F/m).
A is the area of the capacitor's plate in square meters (m2].
d is the distance between the capacitor's plates, in meters (m).
Capacitors in series
The total capacitance of capacitors in series, C1,C2,C3,.. :
Capacitors in parallel
The total capacitance of capacitors in parallel, C1,C2,C3,.. :
CTotal = C1+C2+C3+...
Capacitor's current
The capacitor's momentary current ic(t) is equal to the capacitance of the capacitor,
times the derivative of the momentary capacitor's voltage vc(t):
Capacitor's voltage
The capacitor's momentary voltage vc(t) is equal to the initial voltage of the capacitor,
plus 1/C times the integral of the momentary capacitor's current ic(t) over time t: