  The 'elastic capacitor' (EC) model was first introduced in studies of lipid
bilayers (the major components of biological membranes). This electro-elastic
model accounted for the compression of a membrane under applied voltage and
allowed obtaining information about the membrane's elastic properties from the
measurements of its capacitance. Later on, ECs were used to analyze the
electrical breakdown of biological membranes. The EC model was also helpful in
studies of electric double layers in various electrified interfaces (of which
the electrode/ electrolyte interface is the most common example). This
comparatively simple model, which analysis requires only high-school physics,
has a close relationship to some real-life problems in physics, chemistry and
biology. I hope that both teachers and students will find its discussion
interesting, challenging and instructive.
