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Parallel Plate Capacitance Formula:
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The parallel plate capacitance formula calculates the capacitance of a capacitor consisting of two parallel plates separated by a dielectric material. It provides the fundamental relationship between the physical dimensions of the capacitor and its ability to store electrical charge.
The calculator uses the parallel plate capacitance formula:
Where:
Explanation: The formula shows that capacitance is directly proportional to the plate area and the permittivity of the dielectric material, and inversely proportional to the distance between the plates.
Details: Accurate capacitance calculation is crucial for designing electronic circuits, selecting appropriate capacitors for specific applications, and understanding the behavior of capacitive elements in various electrical systems.
Tips: Enter the permittivity in F/m, plate area in m², and distance between plates in m. All values must be positive numbers greater than zero.
Q1: What is permittivity?
A: Permittivity is a measure of how easily a material can be polarized by an electric field. It's typically represented by the Greek letter ε (epsilon).
Q2: What are typical values for permittivity?
A: The permittivity of free space (vacuum) is approximately 8.854 × 10⁻¹² F/m. Other materials have higher values, with common dielectrics ranging from 2-10 times this value.
Q3: Why does capacitance increase with plate area?
A: Larger plate area allows more charge to be stored at the same voltage, thus increasing capacitance.
Q4: Why does capacitance decrease with distance?
A: As plates move farther apart, the electric field between them weakens, reducing the ability to store charge.
Q5: Is this formula accurate for all capacitor types?
A: This formula is specifically for parallel plate capacitors. Other capacitor types (cylindrical, spherical) have different formulas that account for their geometry.