4.1 Energy Storage Elements: The Capacitor
Energy is stored in the electric field existing between the plates
- Voltage V (in Volts) applied to the conceptual capacitor shown causes a charge Q in Coulombs to be deposited on the top plate
- The top plate’s charge pushes an equal amount of (displacement) charge off of the bottom plate, leaving a negative (absence of) charge -Q on the bottom plate
- The relationship between the applied voltage and charge is Q = CV (C is in Farads when V is in Volts and Q is in Coulombs; i.e., 1 F = 1 Coulomb per Volt)