PHYS 142 Lecture Notes - Lecture 11: Farad, Nanosecond
29 Apr 2015
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Phys 142: electromagnetism and optics - lecture 11: capacitance and capacitors part 1. The figure shows two plates just after they. The figure shows a fully charged have been connected to a battery. Current will flow in this manner for a nanosecond or so until the plates reach the same potential as the battery terminals. capacitor. Now the system is in electrostatic equilibrium. To maintain the potential difference between the plates, there must be a buildup of charge on the plates. The plates are therefore acting as a device to store charge. Larger plates -> larger area with charges, more charge. Plates closer together -> stronger e-field, larger charge-per-area, more charge. Changes to the geometry change how well the plates can store charge. Let"s introduce a name for how well the plates can store charge capacitance. The ratio of the charge q to the potential difference vc is called the capacitance c (capacity to store charge):
