Energy in Capacitors
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Phys 4, Section 2                                                                    Feb 1, 2002 

Energy Storage in Capacitors

V = Q/C and dW = v dq = q dq/C. So the work W to charge a capacitor C to Q is


Electric Field Energy

If the work done in charging the capacitor is viewed as producing energy, this energy can be seen as stored in the capacitor (U = CV2/2) or in the electric field. If the energy U is divided by the volume Ad of space between the capacitor plates, then the space can be considered to have an energy density u given by

 

Last modified on February 05, 2002