# Alternative derivation for the capacitor energy equation [closed]

I hope this is the right place for this kind of post.

A friend is trying to derive the equation for the energy stored in a capacitor by analysing the change in potential on one plate when the capacitor is shorted, however I don't think this valid. Could anyone explain why this is right or wrong?

He says that when the capacitor is shorted the potential at each plate changes by V/2 (from 0 to V/2 on one side and from V to V/2 on the other), so by substituting in V/2 into the equation he gets E = 1/2 QV, the capacitor energy equation.

• I have no idea what the line of reasoning actually is. There might be a good question here, but you need to provide more detail about what your friend is thinking. Oct 30, 2013 at 18:57
• It's not clear what the labels on each plate refer to. The voltage variable $V$ in the capacitor energy equation refers to the voltage across the capacitor. If one assigns a voltage variable to an individual plate, the first question one must ask is voltage relative to what?. Oct 30, 2013 at 19:06

Your friend's analysis is flawed for an obvious reason as well as a subtle reason.

First, an obvious flaw is labelling each plate with a voltage. How is this to be interpreted? For example, with respect to what does the right hand plate have voltage $V$?

In essence, your friend is treating each plate as a capacitor in its own right with an associated voltage and thus stored energy. That's OK as long as it is acknowledged as such. For example:

Clearly, in the above, we can define a voltage on either conductor, relative to the reference conductor (ground) as well as a voltage across.

But, crucially, there are 3 capacitors and associated capacitance, voltage, and stored energy to consider.

And this leads to the subtle flaw which is related to the two capacitor missing energy paradox.

I'll leave that as an exercise for your friend.

The factor of $1/2$ comes because you integrate need to integrate:

$$E=\int_0^V C V dV = \frac{1}{2} C V^2$$

• This is the standard derivation but he was trying to derive it without integrating. Oct 30, 2013 at 19:04
• Can you explain this derivation? Mar 25, 2017 at 3:30