Hello, I was wondering if a capacitor with infinite capacitance existed how could one diagnose it to verify that it actually infact did have "infinite" capacitance?

 

Hello, I was wondering if a capacitor with infinite capacitance existed how could one diagnose it to verify that it actually infact did have "infinite" capacitance?

This would present an untenable paradox. We run across a similar situation when looking at the ionosphere when there's no propagation. Two exact opposite conditions can have the exact same result. No ionization= no ionosphere. Excessive ionization= total absorption. Same results...no radio propagation.

 

Hello, I was wondering if a capacitor with infinite capacitance existed how could one diagnose it to verify that it actually infact did have "infinite" capacitance?

Generally things that go to infinity are theoretical and cannot be made or measured.

 

I guess it would be indistinguishable from a zero Ohm resistor. You could keep putting current into (or through) either and it would never develop a voltage across it.

 

The ac impedance of the capacitor would be zero; how accurately you could measure zero impedance would determine how accurately you would determine the capacitance to be infinite.

 

First you would have to figure out where to get infinite electrons.

 

Proposed final exam at Hogwart’s School of Electronics.

You have 3 black boxes with two terminals each. They contain:

1. An infinite Farad capacitor.
2. A zero Ohm resistor.
3. A zero Henry inductor.

Determine which is which by any means you think might work.

 

Proposed final exam at Hogwart’s School of Electronics.

You have 3 black boxes with two terminals each. They contain:

1. An infinite Farad capacitor.
2. A zero Ohm resistor.
3. A zero Henry inductor.

Determine which is which by any means you think might work.

I would label all three as item "A" and then state that each item "A" is a perfect substitute for any other item "A".

 

The ac impedance of the capacitor would be zero; how accurately you could measure zero impedance would determine how accurately you would determine the capacitance to be infinite.

What would be the most accurate way to measure for infinite capacitance?

 

Easy. Just do anything you want, then say no, it is not infinite capacitance. This method is 100% accurate.

 

Well, maybe all capacitors have infinite capacitance...think about it.

First a capacitor must fill with half of the charge, then fill half of the remaining capacity, then fill half of that remaining capacity...

 

There's a genuine mixed bag here. I'm never averse to telling my students "Infinity is a number too." It just needs to be used appropriately.

 

Ideal capacitor.... infinitely large capacitance and Teravolt scale permitted Voltage.

 

Proposed final exam at Hogwart’s School of Electronics.

You have 3 black boxes with two terminals each. They contain:

1. An infinite Farad capacitor.
2. A zero Ohm resistor.
3. A zero Henry inductor.

Determine which is which by any means you think might work.

Assuming they contain what they are labelled, no testing is required.

For boxes 1, 2, and 3:

1. 1 is the capacitor, resistor, or inductor
2. 2 is the capacitor, resistor, or inductor
3. 3 is the capacitor, resistor, or inductor

The application of each is at the discretion of the user.

 

Hymie said:-

The ac impedance of the capacitor would be zero; how accurately you could measure zero impedance would determine how accurately you would determine the capacitance to be infinite.
What would be the most accurate way to measure for infinite capacitance?

The impedance (Z) of a capacitor (C) at a given frequency (f) is given by:-

Z = 1/(2 * π * f * C)

Therefore as C tends towards infinity, Z will tend towards zero; therefore the more accurately the ultra low value of Z can be determined, the greater the accuracy in determination of a very large capacitor value.

 

If the capacitor has plates of infinte area, and a connection made to the centre, what is the ESR?

 

Where would the center of plates of infinite area be located?

 

Where would the center of plates of infinite area be located?

Anywhere you like, because it in an infinite distance to the edge.

 

 

An infinite capacitor must have infinite plate area*, but it doesn't need infinite plate thickness, so the plates can have non-negligible resistance, which would also be infinite. Doesn't that turns it into some sort of lossy transmission line?

*I suppose it could have dielectric of infinitesimal thickness, but then it would have almost zero voltage rating.