A Level Physics CAPACITANCE The parallel plate capacitor and factors affecting its capacitance.

PARALLEL PLATE CAPACITOR
The parallel plate capacitor uses an electric field between two parralel plates to store charge. The capacitance of the capacitor depends on the Area of overlap of the plates A, the separation of the plates d and relative permativity Er of the material inbetween with respect to that for a vacum Eo. The exact relationship is

C = Er Eo A / d
Any material that increase the permativity is called a dielectric. On a molecular level a dielectric contains polar molecules that can line up with the field and hence increase its strength.

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Rob Coles 25 May 1996 13:32:21 1