Definition, including the effects of dielectrics on the electric field and potential of a parallel plate capacitor. The dielectric constant K is also defined.

Dielectric constants for various substances, including glass, plastic, water, and ice.

The effects of inserting a dielectric between the plates of a capacitor.

The effects of inserting a dielectric between the plates of a capacitor that is still connected to a power supply.

Definition and demonstration of a Leyden Jar.

Finding the change in electric field, potential difference, capacitance, and electrostatic potential energy of a parallel plate capacitor when the distance between the plates is increased or when a dielectric is inserted.

Demonstration of the Leyden Jar, with explanation of the physics behind the unexpected result.

Introduction of polar and nonpolar dielectrics; Gauss's Law for dielectrics; effect of introducing dielectrics within a capacitor at constant charge or constant voltage.

Definition, including the dielectric constant and explanation of the effects on the potential difference and electric field of a parallel plate capacitor. Gauss's law for dielectrics.

Leyden jars and Wimshurst machine; dielectrics; energy stored by E-field in capacitor.

Capacitance in series and in parallel; applications and problems.

Qualitative description of the effect of a dielectric on capacitance, with illustration of microscopic picture of dipole alignment.

Quantitative calculations of the change in capacitance when a dielectric is inserted at constant charge and at constant voltage; use of Gauss's Law in the presence of a dielectric.

Find the electric field, potential difference, and capacitance of a parallel plate capacitor, and recalculate the potential difference in the presence of a dielectric. Solution is included after problem.

Conceptual questions energy storage and dielectrics in capacitors.

Find the capacitance of a capacitor when it is filled with three dielectrics in two different configurations.

Find the electric field and induced charges in a cylindrical capacitor with dielectric, using Gauss's Law.

Identify how the charge, energy and forces in a capacitor change as a dielectric is introduced.

5-part problem; finding V, stored energy, work to move plates; inserting dielectric.

Solution (PDF)^#

4-part problem; finding charge and electric field for each capacitor in circuit.

Solution (PDF)

4-part problem; finding charge distribution, electric field, and potential for charged cylinder, then again with a dielectric.

Solution (PDF)

Determining energy stored in parallel-plate capacitor with and without dielectric.

Solution (PDF)^#

Stored energy and potential difference after inserting a dielectric.

Solution (PDF)^#