Surface Charge Density Converter

Surface charge density (σ) measures electric charge distributed over a surface. Important for conducting plates, capacitors, and semiconductor junctions. Enter any value to convert instantly.

Common Surface Charge Density Conversions

FromTo
1 C/m²0.0001 C/cm²
1 C/cm²10,000 C/m²
1 µC/m²0.000001 C/m²
1 mC/m²0.001 C/m²
1 µC/cm²0.01 C/m²
1 nC/m²10⁻⁹ C/m²

Surface Charge Density Unit Definitions

C/m² (coulombs/m²)
SI unit of surface charge density.
C/cm²
10,000 C/m². Historical CGS unit.
µC/m² (microcoulombs/m²)
Typical for semiconductor surfaces.
mC/m² (millicoulombs/m²)
Used for moderately charged surfaces.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the charge density on a capacitor plate?

σ = Q/A, where Q is total charge and A is plate area. For a 10 µF capacitor at 10 V with 10 cm² plates: σ = 100 µC/cm².

What are typical surface charge density values?

Semiconductor surfaces: ~10⁻⁴ C/m². Glass rubbed with silk: ~1 µC/m². Electret films: up to 1 mC/m².

How does surface charge density relate to electric field?

For a conducting plane: E = σ/ε₀ just above the surface. For a parallel-plate capacitor: E = σ/ε₀ between plates.