PHYS 142 Chapter Notes - Chapter 26: Wax Paper, Electrolytic Capacitor, Dielectric
8 May 2012
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A combination of two conductors is called a capacitor. If the conductors carry charges of equal magnitude and opposite sign, a potential difference exists between them: capacitance. The capacitance c of a capacitor is defined as the ratio of the magnitude of the charge on either conductor to the magnitude of the potential difference between the conductors. To understand capacitance, think of similar notions that use a similar word. The capacitance of a capacitor is the amount of charge the capacitor can store per unit of potential difference. 26. 2: calculating capacitance: capacitance of an isolated charged sphere, parallel plate capacitors. As a capacitor is being charged by a battery, electrons flow into the negative plate and out of the positive plate. Consider the situation before any charges have had a chance to move in response to this change. Because no charges have moved, the electric field between the plates has the same value but extends over a shorter distance.
