The maximum energy is a function of dielectric volume, permittivity, and dielectric strength. Changing the plate area and the separation between the plates while maintaining the same volume causes no change of the maximum amount of energy that the capacitor can store, so long as the distance between plates remains much smaller than both the length and width of the plates. In addition, these equations assume that the electric field is entirely concentrated in the dielectric between the plates. In reality there are fringing fields outside the dielectric, for example between the sides of the capacitor plates, which will increase the effective capacitance of the capacitor. This is sometimes called parasitic capacitance. For some simple capacitor geometries this additional capacitance term can be calculated analytically. It becomes negligibly small when the ratios of plate width to separation and length to separation are large. COUNT 5
QSN1 What is a function of the amount of dielectric, the strength of dielectric and its permittivity? ANS1 The maximum energy QSN2 If the plate area and separation distance are altered while keeping the amount of dielectric the same, what effect is had on the maximum energy of the capacitor?  ANS2 no change of the maximum amount of energy QSN3 In a realistic model of a capacitor, where else besides between the dielectric between the conductors might an electric field be found? ANS3 fringing fields outside the dielectric QSN4 When an electric field exists between the sides of the plates as well as in within the dielectric, what effect is had on the effective capacitance of the capacitor? ANS4 will increase the effective capacitance QSN5 When the ratios of plate length and width to separation distance are large, what size is the parasitic capacitance? ANS5 negligibly small