RE: [TCML] DIY Tank Capacitor - Plate configuration confusion

["Dan Elyea" <fsiyfr@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

I probably missed some special case that is being considered, but a
statement was made that the layers of foil in the middle are not doing
anything.  Not so.  Each layer of foil in a capacitor is connected to one
terminal or the other, and takes a very active part in the operation of the
capacitor.  The capacitance is determined by the area of the conductor
plates facing each other, the material of the dielectric, and the thickness
of the dielectric (the spacing between the plates).  If all other factors
remain the same and you increase the spacing between the conductors (foil or
whatever), you reduce the capacitance.  Multiple plates (properly connected
to the capacitor terminals) have the effect of increasing the total plate
area, and thus the resulting capacitance.  Look at the formula for
capacitance and you'll see how the several factors affect capacitance.
Increased plate area or higher dielectric  constant increase capacitance;
increased spacing between the plates decreases the capacitance.

You probably know that already, and are likely posing some theoretical setup
with floating plates.  But, just-in-case, I decided to chip in.  Sorry if I
totally missed the point being made.  In a real capacitor, all the "foil" is
connected to one terminal or the other.

Dan

> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: tesla-bounces@xxxxxxxxxx [mailto:tesla-bounces@xxxxxxxxxx] On
> > Behalf Of William Noble
> > Sent: Wednesday, September 24, 2008 6:15 PM
> > To: Tesla Coil Mailing List
> > Subject: RE: [TCML] DIY Tank Capacitor - Plate configuration confusion
> >
> >
> > without reviewing the diagrams, the following thought
> experiment might be helpful
> >
> > let's imagine a series stacked plate capacitor - where T
> indicateds the terminal, D
> > means Dielectric, and M neans a metal foil conductor.  It would
> look like this:
> >
> > t-m-d-m-d-m-d-m-d-m-t   right?
> >
> > ok, now think about the foil (m) layers in the middle - they
> don't actually do anything
> > - they aren't connected to anything - all they do is lie
> between two dielectric plates
> > (d).   So, when you think about htat capacitor, it really is
> the same as:
> >
> > t-m-dddd-m-t
> >
> > So, what you are doing by putting capacitors in series is
> really the same as what
> > you get by increasing the gap between the plates/thickening hte
> dielectric.  So, if
> > you were using 1/8 inch glass, for example, you couild go to 1
> inch glass, keeping
> > hte metal foil plates the same size, and you would get the same
> effect as putting 8
> > of the 1/8 glass capacitors in series.
> >
> > does this help a little?
> >
>



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