1
1. Conductors
A conductor is a material in
which the electrons at the
outer periphery of an atom
have no great affinity for
any particular individual
atom; they are not bounded
to individual atom. The
electrons can move freely in
the conductors. EeF
rr
?=
E
r
e
§ 18.1 Conductors in electric field
2
2. The conditions of electrostatic equilibrium
of a conductor
1Charge separation continues until such time
that the total electric field within the
conductor is zero.
Conductor is a
equipotential body.
2The free charge Q on a
conductor does not lie
within it but must reside
on its surface.
VE ??=
r
§ 18.1 Conductors in electric field
3. The magnitude of the electric field at the
surface of a conductor
1In electrostatics, the electric field vector at
the surface of a conductor must be
perpendicular to the surface.
The surface of the conductor is
an equipotential surface.
2The magnitude of the electric field at any
location on the surface of any conductor is
equal to to the magnitude of the local
surface charge density σ divided by ε
0
.
0
ε
σ
=E
∫
?=?
path any
drEV
r
r
?
§ 18.1 Conductors in electric field
3
0
0
SSS
0
S
d d d d
d
1
d
rightleftletera
ε
σ
ε
σ
ε
=
?
=?=?+?+?=?
=?
∫∫∫∫
∫∫
??
E
S
SESESESESE
QSE
S
Q
rrrrrrrr
rr
S
r
?
S
r
?
§ 18.1 Conductors in electric field
4.Point discharge—lightning rod
E
r
E
r
E
r
σ∝E
For differently shaped conductors , or for
all shapes of conductors in the presence of
other conductors or point charges the
surface charge density varies with position
on the conductor.
§ 18.1 Conductors in electric field
4
r
R
RQ
rq
E
E
R
r
Q
q
R
Q
E
r
q
E
R
Q
r
q
V
R
r
Rr
===
==
==
2
2
2
0
2
0
00
/
/
;
44
44
πεπε
πεπε
R
r
Q
q
For a conductor of arbitrary shape, the
electric field at its surface has the greatest
magnitude near those portions with the
smallest radius of curvature.
§ 18.1 Conductors in electric field
5. An isolated conductor with cavity
If there are no charges in the
cavity, then the all charges on
the conductor will reside on
the out surface of the
conductor. The electric field
inside the cavity is zero.
0
0d
1
d
S
0
in
=
==?
∫∫
σ
σ
ε
SSE
S
rr
§ 18.1 Conductors in electric field
5
s
+
?
Is this situation possible?
No, in this case, the
conductor is not a
equipotential body.
?
?
?
?
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
0=′+ EE
rr
6.Electrostatic shield
§ 18.1 Conductors in electric field
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
qq ?+
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
q
+
+
+
+ +
No charge on the
conductor cavity
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
qq ?+
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
qQ+
+
+
+
+ +
+
+
+
+
+
A charged conductor
cavity
§ 18.1 Conductors in electric field
6
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
qq ?+
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
q
+
+
+
+ +
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
qq ?+
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
§ 18.1 Conductors in electric field
Van De Graaff electrostatic generator
§ 18.1 Conductors in electric field
7
Exercise 1: Q
a
, Q
b
and S is
known, find the σ
1
,σ
2,
σ
3
,
and σ
4
.
+
4321
σσσσ
a
Q
a
b
S
b
Q
?
?
1
P
2
P
conductor
)2(
)1(
43
21
b
a
QSS
QSS
=+
=+
σσ
σσ
Charge conservation
)3(0
2222
0
4
0
3
0
2
0
1
1
=???=
ε
σ
ε
σ
ε
σ
ε
σ
P
E
)4(0
2222
0
4
0
3
0
2
0
1
2
=?++=
ε
σ
ε
σ
ε
σ
ε
σ
P
E
The electrostatic equilibrium
§ 18.1 Conductors in electric field
S
QQ
S
QQ
ba
ba
2
2
32
41
?
=?=
+
==
σσ
σσ
+
4321
σσσσ
a
Q
a
b
S
b
Q
?
?
1
P
2
P
conductorThe results are
If
baba
QQQQ =<> ,0,0
σσσ
σσ
==?=
==
S
Q
a
32
41
0
There are no charges
on the outboard surface
of the conductors.
§ 18.1 Conductors in electric field
8
§ 18.2 The dielectric in the electric field
1. Dielectric
There is no freely mobile electron in dielectric,
all the electrons are bounded in individual
atoms.
2. Dielectric in an electric field
1polar dielectrics Ep
r
rr
×=τ
2nonpolar dielectrics
EqF
rr
=
???
?
?
0
E
r
+
+
+
+
+
-
-
-
-
-
+
E′
r
H
H
H
H
C
+
-
-
+
-
+
-
+
-
+
-
+
-
+
-
+
-
+
-
+
-
+
-
The result is emerge the surface charge on
the both sides of the dielectric slab.
EEE
′
+=
rrr
0
3. The electric field in the dielectric
§ 18.2 The dielectric in the electric field
9
For instance: put a dielectric
slab in the two conductor
planes with charge +Q and –Q,
respectively.
0
EE <
The electric field in the dielectric
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
+
+
+
+
+
?
?
?
?
?
0
E
r
E′
r
E
r
E′
r
Q+ Q?
We can prove that
0
0
0
ε
σ
κε
σ
=<= EE
0
κεε =
κ is called dielectric constant.
is called permittivity of dielectric.
§ 18.2 The dielectric in the electric field
§ 18.3 Capacitors and Capacitance
1. Capacitor
A capacitor is a device of storing the charges
and the electric energy.
Two conductors, isolated electrically from each
other and from their surroundings, form a
capacitor.
10
When the capacitor is
charged, the conductors,
or plates have equal but
opposite charges of
magnitude Q.
For an isolated , ideal,
charged capacitor, the
charge separation can
last indefinitely
§ 18.3 Capacitors and Capacitance
2. Capacitance
The capacitance of a capacitor is defined to be
the ratio of the absolute value of the charge on
either conductor to the absolute value of the
potential difference between them:
V
Q
C = (C/V)[farad(F)]
The capacitance of a capacitor is a measure of
its capacity for holding (storing )charge.
Note:
The value of the ratio is independent
of either Q or V.
§ 18.3 Capacitors and Capacitance
11
3. Calculating the capacitance
1Calculating the electric field;
2Calculating the potential difference;
3Assuming the absolute charge is Q on one
of the plates;
4Using the definition of the capacitance.
Example 1: A parallel—plate capacitor
EAQ
QSE
i
i
S
0
0
1
d
ε
ε
=
=?
∑
∫
rr
Q
Q
§ 18.3 Capacitors and Capacitance
EdrErEV
rEVVV
d
==?=
??=?=?
∫∫
∫
?
+
?
+
+?
0
dd
d0
r
r
r
r
d
A
d
A
Ed
Q
V
Q
C
0
0
)/(
ε
εσ
σ
====
Q
Q
§ 18.3 Capacitors and Capacitance
12
Example 2: A cylindrical capacitor
a
b
L
rL
Q
E
rLEQ
QSE
i
i
S
0
0
0
2
)2(
1
d
πε
πε
ε
=
=
=?
∑
∫
rr
r
§ 18.3 Capacitors and Capacitance
a
b
L
Q
r
r
L
Q
rEV
rEVVV
b
a
ln
2
d
2
d
d0
00
πεπε
==?=
??=?=?
∫∫
∫
?
+
?
+
+?
r
r
r
r
a
b
L
a
b
L
Q
Q
V
Q
C
ln
2
ln
2
0
0
πε
πε
===
§ 18.3 Capacitors and Capacitance
13
Example 3: A spherical capacitor
2
0
)(inside
0
4
1
d
r
Q
EQSE
S
i
S
πεε
==?
∑
∫
rr
)(
4
21
2
0
RrR
r
Q
E <<=
πε
)
11
(
4
d
4
d
210
2
0
2
1
RR
Q
r
r
Q
rEV
R
R
?==?=
∫∫
?
+
πεπε
r
r
12
21
0
4
RR
RR
V
Q
C
?
== πε
R
2
1
R
§ 18.3 Capacitors and Capacitance
Example 4: an isolated sphere
The second conductor is
considered to be at infinity.
R
r
Q
R
Q
V
0
4πε
=
R
V
Q
C
0
4πε==
4. Capacitor with a dielectric
κκε
σ
0
0
E
E ==The electric field
§ 18.3 Capacitors and Capacitance
14
κ
0
V
V =
0
0
C
V
Q
V
Q
C κκ ===
d
A
d
A
CC
εε
κκ ===
0
0
)(ln
2
)(ln
2
0
0
ab
L
ab
L
CC
πεπε
κκ ===
12
21
12
21
00
44
RR
RR
RR
RR
CC
?
=
?
== πεπεκκ
§ 18.3 Capacitors and Capacitance
If the potential
difference between
the plates of a
capacitor is
maintained, the effect
of a dielectric is to
increase the charge
on the plates.
§ 18.3 Capacitors and Capacitance
15
If the charge on the
capacitor plates is
maintained, the effect
of a dielectric is to
reduce the potential
difference between
the plates.
§ 18.3 Capacitors and Capacitance
5. Series and parallel combinations of capacitors
1capacitors in parallel
VCqVCqVCq
332211
,, ===
VCqqqq
eq
=++=
321
321
CCCC
eq
++=
§ 18.3 Capacitors and Capacitance
16
2capacitors in series
3
3
2
2
1
1
,,
C
q
V
C
q
V
C
q
V ===
)
111
(
321
321
CCC
qVVVV ++=++=
321eq
1111
CCCq
V
C
++==
§ 18.3 Capacitors and Capacitance
Exercise 1: A parallel-plate capacitor of plate
area A is filled with two dielectrics as in Fig.
(a) What is the capacitance of the capacitor?
If the two dielectrics are filled as in Fig. (b)
What is the capacitance of the capacitor?
§ 18.3 Capacitors and Capacitance
17
Solution:
The capacitor can be viewed as two capacitors
C
1
and C
2
in parallel,
)
2
(
)2/()2/(
210
2010
21
κκε
κεκε
+
=
+=
+=
d
A
d
A
d
A
CCC
§ 18.3 Capacitors and Capacitance
The capacitor can be viewed as two capacitors
C
1
and C
2
in series,
Solution:
)(
2
2/2/
2/2/
21
210
2010
2010
21
21
κκ
κκε
κεκε
κεκε
+
=
+
=
+
=
d
A
d
A
d
A
d
A
d
A
CC
CC
C
§ 18.3 Capacitors and Capacitance
18
Exercise 2: What is the
capacitance of the
capacitor, of plate area
A, shown in Figure?
Solution:
)
2
(
4
)2/()2/(
)2/)(2/)(/(
4
32
32
1
0
32
3200
32
32
1
κκ
κκ
κ
ε
κκ
κκεε
+
+=
+
+=
+
+=
d
A
dA
d
A
CC
CC
CC
§ 18.3 Capacitors and Capacitance
§ 18.4 The energy stored in a capacitor
The charge on the plates:
The potential between the plates:
V
Q
→
→
0
0
1. The work done by external force
0
0
Q?
V
Q
qd
q+
q?
u
E
r
elec
F
r
+
+
exelec
FF
rr
?=
0)(dddd
exelectotal
==+= KEWWW
19
C
Q
q
C
q
WWPE
Q
2
dd
2
0
exex
====
∫∫
q
C
q
quPEWW dd)0()(ddd
elecex
=??==?=
QVCV
C
Q
W
2
1
2
1
2
2
2
===
2. Energy stored in an electric field
EdV =
d
S
C
0
ε
=
Foe a parallel-plate capacitor
§ 18.4 The energy stored in a capacitor
2
0
2
1
E
V
W
w
e
ε==
VEdE
d
S
CVW
2
0
22
0
2
2
1
2
1
2
1
ε
ε
===
3. The energy density
VEVEVwW
VVV
e
d
2
1
d
2
1
d
2
0
2
0
εε
∫∫∫
===
The energy stored in the electric field
§ 18.4 The energy stored in a capacitor