ppCap(area, thickness, Er)

Calculates Parallel Plate Capacitance

Syntax

ppCap(a,b)

area: scalar Real - area in mm^2

thickness: scalar Real - thickness in mm

Er: scalar Real - relative dielectric constant (unitless)

return: Real - capacitance in Farads

Usage

Given an area and thickness plus the dielectric constant, basic physics provides the equivalent DC capacitance for two parallel conductors separated by a fixed amount.

Location

menu: veeos ==> Engineering Calculations ==> ppCap

library: eeLib

Example

A 1mm square pad on 10 mil high density alumina has an equivalent capacitance of ppCap(1, 0.25, 9.9) = 0.35 pF

Notes

This function calculates C given the formula C=EoErA/d, which determines the classic DC parallel plate capacitance without taking into account any fringing effects. For capacitors whose electrical aspect ratio is small (very wide compared to thickness) this is a good approximation since fringing is minimal. For other capacitors one should start looking at EM techniques for a better answer.

Reference

• One source is GSU Physics Department, although any beginning electrical field text will have this also.

Supported On

VEE 7.0+, All platforms.

See Also