Given a 7.4 pF air-filled capacitor, you are asked to convert it to a capacitor that can store up to 7.4 μJ with a maximum potential difference of 652 V. Which dielectric in Table 25-1 should you use to fill the gap in the capacitor if you do not allow for a margin of error?
Table 25-1 Some Properties of Dielectrics^a | ||
Material | Dielectric Constant \kappa | Dielectric Strength (kV/mm) |
Air (1 atm) | 1.00054 | 3 |
Polystyrene | 2.6 | 24 |
Paper | 3.5 | 16 |
Transformer oil | 4.5 | |
Pyrex | 4.7 | 14 |
Ruby mica | 5.4 | |
Porcelain | 6.5 | |
Silicon | 12 | |
Germanium | 16 | |
Ethanol | 25 | |
Water (20°C) | 80.4 | |
Water (25°C) | 78.5 | |
Titania ceramic | 130 | |
Strontium titanate | 310 | 8 |
For a vacuum, \kappa = unity. | ||
^aMeasured at room temperature, except for the water. |
The capacitance with the dielectric in place is given by C=\kappa C_0 , where C_0 is the capacitance before the dielectric is inserted. The energy stored is given by U=\frac{1}{2} C V^2=\frac{1}{2} \kappa C_0 V^2 , so
\kappa=\frac{2 U}{C_0 V^2}=\frac{2\left(7.4 \times 10^{-6} \,J \right)}{\left(7.4 \times 10^{-12} \,F \right)(652 \,V )^2}=4.7 .
According to Table 25-1, you should use Pyrex.