11.5 Capacitors and Capacitance

• A parallel-plate capacitor consists of two metal plates separated by an insulator.


  True
• What is capacitance defined as in terms of charge and voltage?

  $C =$$\frac{Q}{V}$
• The area of the plates of a capacitor is directly proportional to its capacitance.

  True
• A larger plate area of a capacitor increases its capacitance.

  True
• What is the formula for calculating the capacitance of a parallel-plate capacitor?

  $C =$$\frac{εA}{d}$
• What is a capacitor used for in circuits?

  Regulating voltage
• The dielectric in a capacitor prevents the charges from recombining
• Arrange the factors affecting capacitance in order of their importance:

  1️⃣ Area (A)

  2️⃣ Distance (d)

  3️⃣ Dielectric constant (ε)
• What effect does the dielectric constant of the insulating material have on capacitance?

  Increases it
• A higher dielectric constant of the insulating material between capacitor plates increases the capacitance
• The dielectric constant of the insulating material between the plates of a capacitor is represented by the symbol ε
• Capacitance is inversely proportional to the distance between the plates
• A capacitor consists of two conductive plates separated by an insulating material called a dielectric.

  True
• The unit of capacitance is the Farad
• What property of the insulating material between capacitor plates affects capacitance?

  Dielectric constant
• Order the factors affecting capacitance based on their effects, from strongest to weakest, assuming all else is constant.

  1️⃣ Dielectric constant

  2️⃣ Plate area

  3️⃣ Distance between plates
• In a series combination of capacitors, the charge on each capacitor is the same.

  True
• Match the combination type with its properties:

  Series ↔️ Same charge, varies voltage

  Parallel ↔️ Same voltage, varies charge
• The energy stored in a capacitor is stored in the electric field between its plates.


  True
• The formula for capacitance is $C =$$\frac{εA}{d}$, where $ε$ represents the dielectric constant.
• The energy stored in a capacitor is measured in joules.


  True
• In a parallel configuration of capacitors, the equivalent capacitance is the sum of the individual capacitances.


  True
• What material are the conductive plates of a capacitor typically made of?

  Metal
• What is the formula for calculating capacitance using charge and voltage?

  $C =$$\frac{Q}{V}$
• What happens to capacitance if the dielectric constant is increased?

  Increases
• Which property of the insulating material increases the capacitance of a parallel-plate capacitor?

  Dielectric constant
• Match the component with its unit of measurement:

  Capacitance ↔️ Farads (F)

  Voltage ↔️ Volts (V)

  Energy ↔️ Joules (J)

  Area ↔️ m²
• In a parallel combination of capacitors, the voltage across each capacitor is the same.


  True
• Order the steps to find the equivalent capacitance in a series combination:

  1️⃣ Find the reciprocal of each individual capacitance

  2️⃣ Sum the reciprocals

  3️⃣ Find the reciprocal of the sum
• What are the three factors that affect the energy stored in a capacitor?

  Area, distance, dielectric constant
• What is the insulating material in a capacitor called?

  Dielectric
• Conductive plates in a capacitor store electric charge.
• The distance between the plates of a capacitor is inversely proportional to its capacitance
• How does decreasing the distance between the plates of a capacitor affect its capacitance?

  Increases it
• Capacitance is measured in Farads.


  True
• Capacitance is directly proportional to both the plate area and the dielectric constant.


  True
• What is the primary function of a capacitor?

  Store electrical energy
• How is capacitance defined in terms of stored charge and voltage?

  $C =$$\frac{Q}{V}$
• The distance between the plates of a capacitor is directly proportional to its capacitance.

  False
• The capacitance of a parallel-plate capacitor depends on the material of the plates.

  False