Gauss’s Law, Conductors and

Capacitors, Shielding

P07 - 1
 Gauss’s Law
The first Maxwell Equation
A very useful computational technique
This is important!

P07 - 2
 Gauss’s Law – The Idea

The total “flux” of field lines penetrating any of

these surfaces is the same and depends only
on the amount of charge inside
P07 - 3
 Gauss’s Law – The Equation

  qin
F E   E  dA 
closed
0
surface S

Electric flux FE (the surface integral of E over

closed surface S) is proportional to charge
inside the volume enclosed by S
P07 - 4
Now the Details

P07 - 5
 Electric Flux FE
Case I: E is constant vector field
perpendicular to planar surface S of area A
 
F E   E  dA

F E   EA
Our Goal: Always reduce
problem to this
P07 - 6
 Electric Flux FE
Case II: E is constant vector field directed
at angle q to planar surface S of area A
 
n̂ F E   E  dA
dA  dA nˆ

F E  EA cos q
P07 - 7
PRS Question:
Flux Thru Sheet

P07 - 8
 PRS: Flux 15
The flux through the planar surface below
(positive unit normal to left):

+q n̂ -q

0% 1. is positive.
0% 2. is negative.
0% 3. is zero.
0% 4. I don’t know P07 - 9
 PRS Answer: Flux
Answer: 2. The flux is negative.

+q n̂ E -q

The field lines go from left to right,

opposite the assigned normal direction.
Hence the flux is negative.
P07 -10
 Gauss’s Law

  qin
F E   E  dA 
closed
0
surface S

Note: Integral must be over closed surface

P07 - 11
 Open and Closed Surfaces

A rectangle is an open surface — it does NOT contain a volume

A sphere is a closed surface — it DOES contain a volume
P07 -12
Area Element dA: Closed Surface
For closed surface, dA is normal to surface
and points outward
( from inside to outside)

FE > 0 if E points out

FE < 0 if E points in

P07 -13
 Electric Flux FE
Case III: E not constant, surface curved

dA
E dFE  E  dA
F E   dF E
S
In practice you’ll never do an integral,
although here’s an example of non-constant E P07 -14
 PRS Question:
Flux Thru Sphere

P07 -15
 PRS: Flux thru Sphere 15
The total flux through the below spherical
surface is

+q

0% 1. positive (net outward flux)

0% 2. negative (net inward flux)
0% 3. zero.
0% 4. I don’t know P07 -16
 PRS Answer: Flux thru Sphere
Answer: 3. The total flux is zero

+
q

We know this from Gauss’s Law:

qin
F E   E  dA 
closed
0
surface S

No enclosed charge  no net flux.

Flux in on left cancelled by flux out on right
P07 -17
 Electric Flux: Sphere
Point charge Q at center of sphere, radius r

E field at surface:
Q
E rˆ
4 0 r
2

Electric flux through sphere:

Q
FE   E  dA   4 r
S S 0
2
rˆ  dA rˆ

Q Q Q dA  dA rˆ
  dA  4 r  2

4 0 r 2
S
4 0 r 2
0
P07 -18
 Arbitrary Gaussian Surfaces

  Q
F E   E  dA 
closed
0
surface S

True for all surfaces such as S1, S2 or S3

Why? As A gets bigger E gets smaller
P07 -19
 Choosing Gaussian Surface
  Q
F E   E  dA 
closed
0
surface S

True for ALL surfaces

Useful (to calculate E)
for SOME surfaces
Desired E: Punch through surface & be constant.
Flux is EA or -EA.
Other E: Run along surface.
Flux is zero P07 -20
Symmetry & Gaussian Surfaces
Desired E: Punch through surface & be constant
So Gauss’s Law good to calculate E field from
highly symmetric sources

Symmetry Gaussian Surface

Spherical Concentric Sphere

Cylindrical Coaxial Cylinder

Planar Gaussian “Pillbox”

P07 -21
 Applying Gauss’s Law
1. Identify regions in which to calculate E field.
2. Choose Gaussian surfaces S: Symmetry
 
3. Calculate F E   E  dA
S
4. Calculate qin, charge enclosed by surface S
5. Apply Gauss’s Law to calculate E:
  qin
F E   E  dA 
closed
0
surface S P07 -22
 Examples:
Spherical Symmetry
Cylindrical Symmetry
Planar Symmetry

P07 -23
 Gauss: Spherical Symmetry
+Q uniformly distributed throughout non-conducting
solid sphere of radius a. Find E everywhere

P07 -24
 Gauss: Spherical Symmetry

Symmetry is Spherical

E  E rˆ
Use Gaussian Spheres

P07 -25
 Gauss: Spherical Symmetry
Region 1: r > a
Draw Gaussian Sphere in Region 1 (r > a)

Note: r is arbitrary
but is the radius for
which you will
calculate the E field!

P07 -26
 Gauss: Spherical Symmetry
Region 1: r > a
Total charge enclosed qin = +Q
FE   E  dA  E  dA  EA
 
S S
 E 4 r 2

qin Q
F E  4 r E  2

0 0

Q Q
E E rˆ
4 0 r 2
4 0 r 2

P07 -27
 Gauss: Spherical Symmetry
Region 2: r < a
Total charge enclosed:
4 3
 r   r 3

qin   3 Q   3 Q OR qin  V
 4 a 3  a 
 
3 
Gauss’s law:
 r Q
3
F E  E  4 r  
qin
2
 3 
0  a  0
Q r Q r
E E rˆ
4 0 a 3
4 0 a 3
P07 -28
 PRS Question:
Field Inside Spherical Shell

P07 -29
 PRS: Spherical Shell :15

We just saw that in a solid sphere

of charge the electric field grows
linearly with distance. Inside the a
charged spherical shell at left (r<a)
what does the electric field do? Q
0% 1. Constant and Zero
0% 2. Constant but Non-Zero
0% 3. Still grows linearly
0% 4. Some other functional form (use Gauss’ Law)
0% 5. Can’t determine with Gauss Law
P07 -30
 PRS Answer: Spherical Shell
Answer: 1. Constant and Zero
Q
a

Spherical symmetry
 Use Gauss’ Law with spherical surface.
Any surface inside shell contains no charge
 No flux
E = 0!
P07 -31
 Demonstration
Field Inside Spherical Shell
(Grass Seeds):

P07 -32
Gauss: Cylindrical Symmetry
Infinitely long rod with uniform charge density l
Find E outside the rod.

P07 -33
 Gauss: Cylindrical Symmetry
Symmetry is Cylindrical

E  E rˆ
Use Gaussian Cylinder

Note: r is arbitrary but is

the radius for which you
will calculate the E field!
 is arbitrary and should
divide out P07 -34
 Gauss: Cylindrical Symmetry
Total charge enclosed: qin  l

FE   E  dA  E  dA  EA
S S
qin l
 E  2 r   
0 0

l l
E E rˆ
2 0 r 2 0 r

P07 -35
 Gauss: Planar Symmetry
Infinite slab with uniform charge density s
Find E outside the plane

P07 -36
 Gauss: Planar Symmetry
Symmetry is Planar

E   E xˆ
Use Gaussian Pillbox
x̂
Note: A is arbitrary (its
size and shape) and
Gaussian
should divide out Pillbox

P07 -37
 Gauss: Planar Symmetry
Total charge enclosed: qin  sA
NOTE: No flux through side of cylinder, only endcaps

FE   E  dA  E  dA  EAEndcaps
S S
+
+
x
+
qin sA +
 E  2 A   +
0 0 +
+
A
E E

 
+
s s xˆ to right +
E E +
2 0 2 0 -xˆ to left +

s
+

P07 -38
PRS Question:
Slab of Charge

P07 -39
 PRS: Slab of Charge
15
A positively charged, semi-infinite (in x & y) flat slab
has thickness 2d.
z-axis is perp. to the sheet, with center at z = 0.
z
2d  z=0

At the plane’s center (z = 0), E

0% 1. points in the positive z-direction
0% 2. points in the negative z-direction
0% 3. is zero
0% 4. I don’t know P07 -40
 PRS Answer: Slab of Charge
Answer: 3. E(z=0) is zero
z
2d  z=0

Symmetry tell us this – the amount of charge

above and below the center of the plane is equal
hence the fields cancel.
Another way of thinking about this:
Since you can’t tell which way the field would
point it must be 0.
P07 -41
Group Problem: Charge Slab
Infinite slab with uniform charge density 
Thickness is 2d (from x=-d to x=d).
Find E for x > 0 (how many regions is that?)

x̂

P07 -42
Potential from E

P07 -43
Potential for Uniformly Charged
Non-Conducting Solid Sphere
From Gauss’s Law
 Q ˆ
 4 r 2 r, r  R

E
0

 Qr rˆ , r  R
 4 0 R 3
B
Use VB  VA    E  d s
A
Point Charge!
Region 1: r > a
Q 1 Q
VB  V      
r
dr 
 4 0 r 2
4 0 r
0 P07 -44
Potential for Uniformly Charged
Non-Conducting Solid Sphere
Region 2: r < a
VD  V      drE  r  R   R drE  r  R 
R r

0
R Q r Qr
   dr   dr
 4 0 r 2 R 4 0 R3


1 Q

1 Q 1 2
4 0 R 4 0 R 3 2
r  
R 2

1 Q r2 
  3 2 
8 0 R  R 
P07 -45
Potential for Uniformly Charged
Non-Conducting Solid Sphere

P07 -46
 Group Problem: Charge Slab
Infinite slab with uniform charge density 
Thickness is 2d (from x=-d to x=d).
If V=0 at x=0 (definition) then what is V(x) for x>0?

x̂

P07 -47
Conductors

P07 -48
 Conductors and Insulators
Conductor: Charges are free to move
Electrons weakly bound to atoms
Example: metals

Insulator: Charges are NOT free to move

Electrons strongly bound to atoms
Examples: plastic, paper, wood

P07 -49
 Conductors
Conductors have free charges
 E must be zero inside the conductor
 Conductors are equipotential objects

E
- +
- Neutral +
- +
- Conductor +
P07 -50
 Conductors in Equilibrium

Conductors are equipotential objects:

1) E = 0 inside
2) E perpendicular to surface
3) Net charge inside is 0

P07 -51
 Conductors in Equilibrium:
Free Charges Move To Surface
Put net charge inside conductor
It moves to get away from other charges

Java applet link

P07 -52
 Conductors in Equilibrium

Conductors are equipotential objects:

1) E = 0 inside
2) E perpendicular to surface
3) Net charge inside is 0
4) Excess charge on surface

E s
0
P07 -53
Start Charging

Capacitors and Capacitance

Our first of 3 standard electronics devices

(Capacitors, Resistors & Inductors)

P07 -54
 Capacitors: Store Electric Charge
Capacitor: Two isolated conductors
Equal and opposite charges ±Q
Potential difference DV between them.

Q
C
DV
Units: Coulombs/Volt or
Farads
C is Always Positive P07 -55
 Parallel Plate Capacitor

E 0

E ? d

Q  s A
E 0

P07 -56
 Parallel Plate Capacitor
Oppositely charged plates:
Charges move to inner surfaces to get close

Link to Capacitor Applet

P07 -57
 Calculating E (Gauss’s Law)

qin s AGauss s Q
 E  dA   E  AGauss   E 
S 0 0  0 A 0

Note: We only “consider” a single sheet!

Doesn’t the other sheet matter? P07 -58
 Alternate Calculation Method
s
E
2 0
Top Sheet: ++++++++++++++
s s
E E
2 0 2 0
Bottom Sheet: - - - - - - - -- - - - - -
s
E
2 0
s s s Q
E   
2 0 2 0  0 A 0

P07 -59
 Parallel Plate Capacitor

top

DV    E  dS  Ed 
Q Q 0 A
d C 
bottom
A 0 DV d

C depends only on geometric factors A and dP07 -60

Demonstration:
Big Capacitor

P07 -61
Group Problem: Spherical Shells
These two spherical
shells have equal
but opposite charge.

Find E everywhere

Find V everywhere
(assume V() = 0)

P07 -62
 Spherical Capacitor
Two concentric spherical shells of radii a and b

What is E?

Gauss’s Law  E ≠ 0 only for a < r < b,

where it looks like a point charge:
 Q
E ˆ
r
40 r 2
P07 -63
 Spherical Capacitor
outside
Qrˆ
b
Q 1 1
DV    E  dS    dr rˆ    
inside a
4 0 r 2
4 0  b a 
Is this positive or negative? Why?

Q 40
C  1 1
DV a  b 

For an isolated spherical conductor of radius a:

C  40 a
P07 -64
 Capacitance of Earth
For an isolated spherical conductor of radius a:
C  40 a
 0  8.85 10 12
Fm a  6.4 10 m 6

4
C  7 10 F  0.7mF
A Farad is REALLY BIG! We usually use pF (10-12) or nF (10-9)

P07 -65
 PRS Questions:
Changing C Dimensions

P07 -66
 :20
PRS: Changing Dimensions
A parallel-plate capacitor has plates with equal and
opposite charges ±Q, separated by a distance d, and
is not connected to a battery. The plates are pulled
apart to a distance D > d. What happens?
0% 1. V increases, Q increases
0% 2. V decreases, Q increases
0% 3. V is the same, Q increases
0% 4. V increases,Q is the same
0% 5. V decreases, Q is thesame
0% 6. V is the same, Q is the same
0% 7. V increases, Q decreases
0% 8. V decreases, Q decreases
0% 9. V is the same,Q decreases P07 -67
PRS Answer: Changing Dimensions
Answer: 4. V increases, Q is the same

With no battery connected to the plates the

charge on them has no possibility of
changing.
In this situation, the electric field doesn’t
change when you change the distance
between the plates, so:
V=Ed
As d increases, V increases.
P07 -68
 20 PRS: Changing Dimensions
A parallel-plate capacitor has plates with equal and
opposite charges ±Q, separated by a distance d, and
is connected to a battery. The plates are pulled apart
to a distance D > d. What happens?
1. V increases, Q increases
2. V decreases, Q increases
3. V is the same, Q increases
4. V increases, Q is the same
5. V decreases, Q is the same
6. V is the same, Q is the same
7. V increases, Q decreases
8. V decreases, Q decreases
9. V is the same, Q decreases
P07 -69
PRS Answer: Changing Dimensions
Answer: 9. V is the same, Q decreases

With a battery connected to the plates the

potential V between them is held constant
In this situation, since
V=Ed
As d increases, E must decrease.
Since the electric field is proportional to the
charge on the plates, Q must decrease as
well. P07 -70
 Demonstration:
Changing C Dimensions

P07 -71
Energy Stored in Capacitor

P07 -72
 Energy To Charge Capacitor
+q

-q

1. Capacitor starts uncharged.

2. Carry +dq from bottom to top.
Now top has charge q = +dq, bottom -dq
3. Repeat
4. Finish when top has charge q = +Q, bottom -Q
P07 -73
Work Done Charging Capacitor
At some point top plate has +q, bottom has –q
Potential difference is DV = q / C
Work done lifting another dq is dW = dq DV

+q

-q

P07 -74
Work Done Charging Capacitor
So work done to move dq is:
q 1
dW  dq DV  dq  q dq
C C
Total energy to charge to q = Q:
Q
1
W   dW   q dq +q
C0
2
1Q
 -q
C 2 P07 -75
Energy Stored in Capacitor
Q
Since C 
DV
2
Q 1 1
U  Q DV  C DV
2

2C 2 2
Where is the energy stored???

P07 -76
 Energy Stored in Capacitor
Energy stored in the E field!
o A
Parallel-plate capacitor: C and V  Ed
d
1 1 o A o E 2
 Ed   ( Ad )  u E  (volume)
2
U  CV 2  
2 2 d 2

oE 2
u E  E field energy density 
2
P07 -77
 PRS Question:
Changing C Dimensions
Energy Stored

P07 -78
 PRS: Changing Dimensions
A parallel-plate capacitor, disconnected from a
battery, has plates with equal and opposite
20
charges, separated by a distance d.
Suppose the plates are pulled apart until separated
by a distance D > d.
How does the final electrostatic energy stored in
the capacitor compare to the initial energy?
0% 1. The final stored energy is smaller
0% 2. The final stored energy is larger
0% 3. Stored energy does not change.
P07 -79
PRS Answer: Changing Dimensions

Answer: 2. The stored energy increases

As you pull apart the capacitor plates you

increase the amount of space in which the E
field is non-zero and hence increase the
stored energy. Where does the extra energy
come from? From the work you do pulling
the plates apart.

P07 -80
Conductors as Shields

P07 -81
 PRS Question:
Point Charge Inside Conductor

P07 -82
 PRS: Point Charge in Conductor
A point charge +Q is placed
inside a neutral, hollow,
spherical conductor. As the
charge is moved around +Q
inside, the electric field
outside
0% 1. is zero and does not change
0% 2. is non-zero but does not change
0% 3. is zero when centered but changes
0% 4. is non-zero and changes
15
0% 5. I don’t know P07 -83
 PRS Answer: Q in Conductor
Answer: 2. is non-zero but
does not change

E = 0 in conductor  -Q on inner surface

Charge conserved  +Q on outer surface
E = 0 in conductor  No “communication”
between –Q & +Q  + Q uniformly distributed
P07 -84
 Hollow Conductors
Charge placed INSIDE induces
balancing charge ON INSIDE

+ +
- - +
+ -
-
- - +
+q
+ -- - - -
+ +
P07 -85
 Hollow Conductors
Charge placed OUTSIDE induces
charge separation ON OUTSIDE

+q -
- +
-
- E=0
+
+
P07 -86
 PRS Questions:
Point Charge
Inside Conductor

P07 -87
 PRS Setup
O2 What happens if we
I2 put Q in the center of
O1 these nested
I1 (concentric) spherical
conductors?

P07 -88
 15 PRS: Hollow Conductors
O2
A point charge +Q is placed I2
at the center of the O1
conductors. The induced I1

charges are:

0%
1. Q(I1) = Q(I2) = -Q; Q(O1) = Q(O2)= +Q
0% 2. Q(I1) = Q(I2) = +Q; Q(O1) = Q(O2)= -Q
0% 3. Q(I1) = -Q; Q(O1) = +Q; Q(I2) = Q(O2)= 0
0% 4. Q(I1) = -Q; Q(O2)= +Q; Q(O1) = Q(I2)= 0
P07 -89
 PRS Answer: Hollow Conductors
O2
Answer: 1. The inner faces I2
are negative, the outer faces O1
are positive. I1

Looking in from each conductor, the total

charge must be zero (this gives the inner
surfaces as –Q). But the conductors must
remain neutral (which makes the outer surfaces
have induced charge +Q).
P07 -90
 PRS: Hollow Conductors
O2
A point charge +Q is placed I2
at the center of the O1
conductors. The potential at I1

O1 is:

15

0% 1. Higher than at I1
0% 2. Lower than at I1
0% 3. The same as at I1
P07 -91
 PRS Answer: Hollow Conductors
O2
Answer: 3. O1 and I1 are at I2
the same potential O1
I1

A conductor is an equipotential surface. O1

and I1 are on the same conductor, hence at the
same potential

P07 -92
 PRS: Hollow Conductors
O2
A point charge +Q is placed I2
at the center of the O1 15
conductors. The potential at I1

O2 is:

0% 1. Higher than at I1
0% 2. Lower than at I1
0% 3. The same as at I1
P07 -93
 PRS Answer: Hollow Conductors
Answer: 2. O2 is lower than I1
O2
I2
V
O1
I1

r
As you move away from the positive point
charge at the center, the potential decreases.
P07 -94
 15
PRS: Hollow Conductors
O2
A point charge +Q is placed I2
at the center of the O1
conductors. If a wire is used I1

to connect the two

conductors, then current
(positive charge) will flow

0% 1. from the inner to the outer conductor

0% 2. from the outer to the inner conductor
0% 3. not at all
P07 -95
 PRS Answer: Hollow Conductors
O2
Answer: 1. Current flows outward I2
O1
I1

Positive charges always flow “downhill” – from

high to low potential. Since the inner conductor
is at a higher potential the charges will flow from
the inner to the outer conductor.
P07 -96
 PRS: Hollow Conductors
You connect the “charge O2
I2
sensor’s” red lead to the inner
O1
conductor and black lead to
I1
the outer conductor. What
does it actually measure? 15
0% 1. Charge on I1
0% 2. Charge on O1
0% 3. Charge on I2
0% 4. Charge on O2
0% 5. Charge on O1 – Charge on I2
0% 6. Average charge on inner – ave. on outer
0% 7. Potential difference between outer & inner
0% 8. I don’t know P07 -97
 PRS Answer: Hollow Conductors
O2
Answer: 7. “Charge Sensor” I2
measures potential difference O1
I1
between outer & inner conductor

So what is the “charge axis?” From the

capacitance and potential difference it can
calculate Q = CDV which is charge on O1 and
negative charge on I2

P07 -98
 Demonstration:
Conductive Shielding

P07 -99
 Visualization:
Inductive Charging

P07100
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 Experiment 2:
Faraday Ice Pail

P07101
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Last Time:
Capacitors

P07102
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Capacitors: Store Electric Energy

Q
C
DV

Parallel Plate Capacitor:

To calculate:
0 A
1) Put on arbitrary ±Q
2) Calculate E
C
d
3) Calculate DV P07103
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Capacitors in Series & Parallel
 In series, V adds:
1 1 1
 
Ceq C1 C2

In parallel, Q adds: 
Ceq  C1  C2
P07104
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 Demonstration:
Dissectible Capacitor

P07105
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 Flow of Charge

New Topics: Current, Current Density,

Resistance, Ohm’s Law

P07106
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 Current: Flow Of Charge
Average current Iav: Charge DQ DQ
flowing across area A in time Dt
I av 
Dt

Instantaneous current:
differential limit of Iav

dQ
I
dt
Units of Current: Coulomb/second = Ampere
P07107
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 How Big is an Ampere?
• Household Electronics ~1 A
• Battery Powered ~100 mA (1-10 A-Hr)
• Household Service 100 A
• Lightning Bolt 10 to 100 kA

• To hurt you 40 (5) mA DC(AC)

• To throw you 60 (15) mA DC(AC)
• To kill you 0.5 (0.1) A DC(AC)

• Fuse/Circuit Breaker 15-30 A

P07108
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 Direction of The Current
Direction of current is direction of flow of pos. charge

or, opposite direction of flow of negative charge

P07109
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 Current Density J
J: current/unit area
 I
J  Iˆ
A
Î points in direction of current

I   J  nˆ dA   J  d A
S S
P07110
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PRS Question:
Current Density

P07111
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 PRS: Current Density :15
A current I = 200 mA flows in the above wire. What is
the magnitude of the current density J?

5
cm 10
20 cm cm
0% 1. J = 40 mA/cm
0% 2. J = 20 mA/cm
0% 3. J = 10 mA/cm
0% 4. J = 1 mA/cm2
0% 5. J = 2 mA/cm2
0% 6. J = 4 mA/cm2
0% 7. I don’t know P07112
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 PRS Answer: Current Density
Answer: 6. J = 4 mA/cm2

5 cm
10 cm
20 cm
The area that matters is the cross-sectional
area that the current is punching through –
the 50 cm2 area shaded grey.
So:
J = I/A = 200 mA/50 cm2 = 4 mA/cm2
P07113
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 Why Does Current Flow?
If an electric field is set up in a conductor, charge
will move (making a current in direction of E)

Note that when current is flowing, the conductor is

not an equipotential surface (and Einside ≠ 0)!
P07114
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 Microscopic Picture

Drift speed is velocity forced by applied electric field

in the presence of collisions.
It is typically 4x10-5 m/sec, or 0.04 mm/second!
To go one meter at this speed takes about 10 hours!
How Can This Be? P07115
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Conductivity and Resistivity
Ability of current to
flow depends on
density of charges &
rate of scattering

Two quantities summarize this:

s: conductivity
: resistivity
P07116
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 Microscopic Ohm’s Law

E  J or J sE

1

s
 and s depend only on the microscopic properties
of the material, not on its shape

P07117
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 Demonstrations:
Water
Temperature Effects on 

P07118
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PRS Question:
Resistance?

P07119
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 PRS: Resistance
When a current flows in a wire of length L and cross
sectional area A, the resistance of the wire is

15

1. Proportional to A; inversely proportional to L.

20% 2. Proportional to both A and L.
20% 3. Proportional to L; inversely proportional to A.
4. Inversely proportional to both L and A
20% 5. Do Not Know
P07120
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 PRS Answer: Resistance
3. Proportional to L; inversely proportional to A.

The longer the wire the higher the resistance.

The bigger the cross-sectional area of the wire,
the more ways that current can flow through it,
so the lower the resistance.
L
So, if resistivity is , then R
A P07121
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 Why Does Current Flow?
Instead of thinking of Electric Field, think of potential
difference across the conductor

P07122
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 Ohm’s Law
What is relationship between DV and current?
b
DV  Vb  Va   E  d s  E
a

E DV / 
J  
   
  DV  I    IR
I   A 
J
A  P07123
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 Ohm’s Law

DV  IR R

A
R has units of Ohms (W) = Volts/Amp
P07124
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 How Big is an Ohm?
• Short Copper Wire milliohms (mW)
• Notebook paper (thru) ~1 GW
• Typical resistors W to 100 MW

• You (when dry) 100 kW

• You (when wet) 1 kW
• Internally (hand to foot) 500 W
Stick your wet fingers in an electrical socket:
I  V / R 120 V /1kΩ 0.1A You’re dead!
P07125
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Appendix:
Dielectrics

P07126
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 Demonstration:
Dielectric in Capacitor

P07127
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 Dielectrics
A dielectric is a non-conductor or insulator
Examples: rubber, glass, waxed paper

When placed in a charged capacitor, the

dielectric reduces the potential difference
between the two plates

HOW???
P07128
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 Molecular View of Dielectrics
Polar Dielectrics :
Dielectrics with permanent electric dipole moments
Example: Water

P07129
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 Molecular View of Dielectrics
Non-Polar Dielectrics
Dielectrics with induced electric dipole moments
Example: CH4

P07130
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 Dielectric in Capacitor

Potential difference decreases because

dielectric polarization decreases Electric Field!
P07131
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 Dielectric Constant k
Dielectric weakens original field by a factor k

E0
  k 0 E
Dielectric Constant
k
Dielectric constants
Vacuum 1.0
Paper 3.7
Pyrex Glass 5.6
Water 80 P07132
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 Dielectric in a Capacitor
Q0= constant after battery is disconnected

V0
Upon inserting a dielectric: V 
k
Q Q0 Q0
C  k  k C0
V V0 / k V0
P07133
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 Dielectric in a Capacitor
V0 = constant when battery remains connected

Q  CV  k C0V0
Upon inserting a dielectric: Q  k Q0
P07134
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 PRS Questions:
Dielectric in a Capacitor

P07135
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 PRS: Dielectric
A parallel plate capacitor is charged to a total charge Q
and the battery removed. A slab of material with
dielectric constant k in inserted between the plates.
The charge stored in the capacitor
+ + + + + + + +

15 Seconds
k
Remaining
- - - - - - - -
0% 1. Increases
0% 2. Decreases
0% 3. Stays the Same P07136
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 PRS Answer: Dielectric
Answer: 3. Charge stays the same
+ + + + + + + +

k
- - - - - - - -

Since the capacitor is disconnected from a

battery there is no way for the amount of
charge on it to change.

P07137
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 PRS: Dielectric :15

A parallel plate capacitor is charged to a total charge Q

and the battery removed. A slab of material with
dielectric constant k in inserted between the plates.
The energy stored in the capacitor
+ + + + + + + +

k
- - - - - - - -
0% 1. Increases
0% 2. Decreases
0% 3. Stays the Same P07138
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 PRS Answer: Dielectric
Answer: 2. Energy stored decreases

The dielectric reduces the electric field and

hence reduces the amount of energy stored
in the field.
The easiest way to think about this is that the
capacitance is increased while the charge
remains the same so U = Q2/2C
Also from energy density:
2
1 1 E
uE ,0   0 E  k 0     uE ,0
2

2 2 k 
P07139
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 PRS: Dielectric
A parallel plate capacitor is charged to a total charge Q
and the battery removed. A slab of material with
dielectric constant k in inserted between the plates.
The force on the dielectric
+ + + + + + + +

k 15
- - - - - - - -

0% 1. pulls in the dielectric

0% 2. pushes out the dielectric
0% 3. is zero P07140
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 PRS Answer: Dielectric
Answer: 1. The dielectric is pulled in

We just saw that the energy is reduced by the

introduction of a dielectric. Since systems
want to reduce their energy, the dielectric will
be sucked into the capacitor.
Alternatively, since opposing charges are
induced on the dielectric surfaces close to the
plates, the attraction between these will lead
to the attractive force.

P07141
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Group: Partially Filled Capacitor

What is the capacitance of this capacitor?

P07142
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Gauss’s Law with Dielectrics

qfree,in

S
k E  dA 
0

P07143
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