The energy stored on a capacitor can be expressed in terms of the work done by the battery. Voltage represents energy per unit charge, so the work to move a charge element dq from the negative plate to the positive plate is equal to V dq, where V is the voltage on the capacitor.
When a capacitor is charged, one plate accumulates excess electrons while the other plate loses electrons, creating a voltage difference that signifies potential energy. The capacitance of a capacitor, measured in Farads, is influenced by the type of dielectric material used, affecting the amount of energy it can store.
The energy UC stored in a capacitor is electrostatic potential energy and is thus related to the charge Q and voltage V between the capacitor plates. A charged capacitor stores energy in the electrical field between its plates. As the capacitor is being charged, the electrical field builds up.
The capacitance of a capacitor, measured in Farads, is influenced by the type of dielectric material used, affecting the amount of energy it can store. How to calculate the energy stored in a capacitor?
The expression in Equation 8.4.2 for the energy stored in a parallel-plate capacitor is generally valid for all types of capacitors. To see this, consider any uncharged capacitor (not necessarily a parallel-plate type). At some instant, we connect it across a battery, giving it a potential difference V = q / C between its plates.
Figure 8.4.1: The capacitors on the circuit board for an electronic device follow a labeling convention that identifies each one with a code that begins with the letter “C.” The energy UC stored in a capacitor is electrostatic potential energy and is thus related to the charge Q and voltage V between the capacitor plates.