An Overview On The Parallel Plate Capacitor

A capacitor is a device that stores electricity in an electric field used by devices that need a large amount of energy to start. When two parallel plates are connected to a battery, they form a parallel plate capacitor that can store infinite electrical energy before the insulator or the insulating capacity breakdown of the plate. The parallel plate capacitor has various uses, but one of the parallel capacitor’s most prominent and day-to-day uses is in rechargeable batteries. These capacitors are meant to store a large amount of electricity that can be withdrawn for later use, which is the fundamental concept of rechargeable batteries. They are also used to convert direct current to alternate current. They tend to filter the current better and give better output through the ac ripple, thus increasing the conversion efficiency. 

Let us learn about the principle and working of these types of capacitors:

Principle of Parallel Plate Capacitors

To better understand the principle of the parallel capacitor, let us consider a metal plate that is given a significant amount of positive charge until it reaches its maximum potential. Let’s use another metal plate that stands parallel to the one positively charged. When the two plates are brought together, the phenomenon of induction takes place, due to which the parallel plate acquires a negative charge. 

Let us name the positive plate “x” and the other parallel plate “y”. When induction occurs, the y plate acquires a negative charge from its inner face, whereas the outer face of this y plate is positively charged. The negative charge on the inner surface of y tends to reduce the potential of the x plate, while its positive face tends to increase the potential. When the positive side of the y plate is earthed, all of its positive charges flow into the earth while the negative side of the y plate succeeds in decreasing the potential of the x plate. This, in turn, makes it easier for the power source to send in a more positive charge to the x plate as there is a decrease in potential. This is how a parallel plate capacitor can hold a large amount of electricity within the plates. This continues until the plate threshold is reached or there is a dielectric breakdown. 

A few critical points need to be looked upon while talking about parallel plate capacitors. Let us see what they are:

• The amount of capacitance in the capacitor can be altered. This can be done by bringing an uncharged earthed conductor near the capacitor. This will alter the amount of potential the x plate holds. Thus, this will increase or decrease the amount of positive charge that needs to be sent into the x plate.
•  A capacitor may also be defined as the arrangement of two conductors that are confirmed to have equal and opposite charges that are separated by a dielectric medium.
• The capacitors are made to store a large amount of charge and thus, it is meant to store a large amount of electrical energy in a small space.
• It is also called the ratio of the charge on the metal plates to the difference in potential between the two plates. 
• These capacitors have a large variety of uses, such as in oscillators, tuning of circuits, fans and different motors.
• Capacitors can be of various shapes.

 Let us know to see what happens when a few capacitors are placed in parallel:

Capacitors in Parallel Arrangement

• When a capacitor is placed in a parallel arrangement, the potential difference across the capacitors is always the same.
• The charges on each capacitor have different values and the charge is directly proportional to the capacitance.
• The total charge in an arrangement of parallel capacitors arranged in a parallel circuit is:

Q =  +  +

Q = V + v + v

Therefore,

 =  +  +

• The equivalent capacitance is also defined as the total capacitance in all the capacitors in the arrangement.
•  The equivalent capacitance obtained is always greater than the highest capacitance that any capacitor in the arrangement possesses. 
• The energy that a parallel plate capacitor holds is usually found between the parallel plates of capacitors.

• The amount of energy stored in the capacitor depends on the capacitance, its charge and the potential difference between the plates. This is in no way dependent on the shape of the capacitor.
• The energy source is usually dependent on individuals, but the external energy source is a battery most of the time.

Conclusion

Thus, in this article, we learned about the principle on which the working of the parallel plate capacitor is based. We also saw how the capacitance is affected and learned about the factors that affect the capacitor’s efficiency and the equation that would determine the charge in the circuit and the equivalent capacitors. We also saw about the energy usage of the capacitor and how it helps the starting of fans and heavy motors. They need a lot of electrical energy in their initial seconds.