A2 PHYSICS CAPACITORS - Test SOLUTION

Q1. A charged capacitor of capacitance 50 F is connected across the terminals of a voltmeter

of resistance 200 k. When time t = 0, the reading on the voltmeter is 20.0 V.

Calculate

(a) the charge on the capacitor at t = 0,

C = Q/V (from data sheet)

Q = CV = 50 x 10-6 x 20 = 1.0 x 10-3 C = 1.0 mC

(1)

(b) the reading on the voltmeter at t = 20s,

Q = Q 0 e-t/RC (from data sheet)

but Q = CV so

CV = CV 0 e-t/RC

therefore V = V 0 e-t/RC

♥ Remember that the equation for the exponential decay of charge is interchangeable with
voltage or current.

V = V 0 e-t/RC

t/RC = 20/(200 x 103 x 50 x 10-6) = 2.0

V = 20.0 x e-2.0 (1 mark) = 2.7 V (1 mark)

(2)

(c) the time which must elapse, from t = 0, before 75% of the energy which was stored in
the capacitor at t = 0 has been dissipated.

♥ We need to use an 'energy stored' expression which contains C as this is constant!

Energy stored = ½ CV2

Energy stored is proportional to V2

Initial V is 20V so initial V2 is 400V2

We have to find V when 75% of the energy has gone - only a quarter left (1 mark) -

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 A2 PHYSICS CAPACITORS - Test SOLUTION
so V2 will be 100V and V = 10V

V = V 0 e-t/RC

10 = 20 e-t/RC

½ = e-t/RC (1 mark)

Taking logs:

ln ½ = -t/(RC)

t = -ln ½ x RC = ln 2 x 200 x 103 x 50 x 10-6 = 6.9 s (1 mark)

(This could be done with the ½ Q2/C too...)

Energy stored = ½ Q2/C

Energy stored is proportional to Q2

Initial Q is 1.0 x 10-3C so initial Q2 is 1.0 x 10-6 C2

We have to find Q when 75% of the energy has gone - only a quarter left -

so Q2 will be 0.25 x 10-6 C2 and Q = 5.0 x 10-4 C = 0.5 x 10-3C

Q = Q 0 e-t/RC

0.5 x 10-3 = 1.0 x 10-3 e-t/RC

½ = e-t/RC

Taking logs:

ln ½ = -t/(RC)

t = -ln ½ x RC = ln 2 x 200 x 103 x 50 x 10-6 = 6.9 s

(3)
(Total 6 marks)

Q2. A 10F capacitor is connected across the terminals of a 100V d.c. power supply and allowed to
charge fully.

(a) Calculate

(i) the charge on the capacitor,

C = Q/V (from data sheet)

Q = CV = 10 x 10-6 x 100 = 1.0 x 10-3 C = 1.0 mC

(ii) the energy stored by the capacitor.

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 A2 PHYSICS CAPACITORS - Test SOLUTION
We need to use an 'energy stored' expression which contains the given values rather than
one we worked out - just in case we made a mistake!

Energy stored = ½ CV2

= ½ 10 x 10-6 x 1002 = 5.0 x 10-2 J

= 0.050 J

(if you put it in this form don't forget the final zero... 2sf are needed here!)
(2)
(b) The fully-charged capacitor is disconnected from the power supply and connected via
two wires across the terminals of an uncharged 10F capacitor as shown.

10f 10f

The charge on the original 10F capacitor is shared equally between the capacitors in
the parallel combination.

(i) Calculate the potential difference across the terminals of each capacitor.

Q = CV; so the voltage is proportional to the charge - if that shares equally so does the
voltage - each gets 50V (1 mark)

(ii) Calculate the total energy stored by the two capacitors.

To do this we just find the energy stored on one and double it!

Energy stored on each capacitor = ½ CV2

= ½ 10 x 10-6 x 502 = 1.25 x 10-2 J

= 0.0125 J (1 mark)

Total energy stored = 2 x 0.0125 = 0.025J (1 mark)

(iii) Account for the difference between the energy stored by the two capacitors in
parallel and that stored by the original single 10F capacitor.

When the capacitors are connected together a current flows (1 mark) as the charge
redistributes itself. When a current flows energy is lost to the surroundings due to heat
dissipation from the wires (1 mark)
(4 max)
(Total 6 marks)

Q3. A camera flashgun uses the discharge of a capacitor to provide the energy to produce a
single flash. In a particular flashgun a 4700 F capacitor is initially charged from a 90V
supply.

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 A2 PHYSICS CAPACITORS - Test SOLUTION
(a) Calculate

(i) the charge stored by the capacitor when it is fully charged,

C = Q/V (from data sheet)

Q = CV = 4700 x 10-6 x 90 = 0.42(3) C (1 mark)

(ii) the energy stored by the fully-charged capacitor,

Energy stored = ½ CV2 (from data sheet)

= ½ 4700 x 10-6 x 902

= 19 J (1 mark)

(iii) the average current which flows if total discharge of the capacitor takes place
effectively in 30ms.
I = Q/t (from AS knowledge!)
= 0.423/(30 x 10-3) = 14 A (1 mark)
(3)

(b) During a partial discharge of the capacitor the potential difference between its
terminals falls from 90V to 80V. Calculate the energy discharged to the flashgun.

Energy stored = ½ CV2 (from data sheet)

Change in Energy stored = ½ CV2

= ½ x 4700 x 10-6 x (902 - 802) (1 mark)

= 4.0 J (1 mark)
(2)
(Total 5 marks)

Q4. (a) For a capacitor of capacitance C, sketch graphs of charge, Q, and energy stored, E,
against potential difference, V.

Q = CV so graph A is of the form Y = mx + c where c=0 and m is C - a straight line through the origin.

E = ½ CV2 so graph B relates a Y value to a squared value

What is represented by the slope of graph A? Capacitance (1 mark) (3)

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 A2 PHYSICS CAPACITORS - Test SOLUTION
(b) A capacitor of capacitance 0.68 F is charged to 6.0 V. Calculate

(i) the charge stored by the capacitor,

C = Q/V (from data sheet)

Q = CV = 0.68 x 6.0 = 4.1 C (1 mark)

(ii) the energy stored by the capacitor.

Energy stored = ½ CV2 (from data sheet)

E = ½ 0.68 x 6.02 = 0.34 x 36 = 12J (1 mark)

(2)
(Total 5 marks)
Q5. A student used a voltage sensor connected to a datalogger to plot the discharge curve for a
4.7F capacitor. She obtained the following graph.

Use data from the graph to calculate

(a) the initial charge stored,

C = Q/V (from data sheet)

Q = CV = 4.7 x 10-6 x 6.0 (From graph - 1 mark)

= 2.8 x 10-5 C = 28C (1 mark)

(2)

(b) the energy stored when the capacitor had been discharging for 35 ms,

t = 35s so read from the graph (as you are TOLD to do!) that V t = 2.0V (1 mark)

Energy stored = ½ CV2 (from data sheet)

E = ½ 4.7 x 10-6 x 2.02 (1 mark) = 9.4 x 10-6 J (1 mark)

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 A2 PHYSICS CAPACITORS - Test SOLUTION

It is a good idea to use a dotted line as I have done to show the examiner that you have used
the graph!
(3)

(c) the time constant for the circuit,

♥ You should KNOW that the time constant is CR and that the time constant is time taken
for Q to fall to Q 0 /e - making the value of the power of the exponential in the equation
Q = Q 0 e-t/RC = 1

Graphical (asked for) method

time constant is time taken for V to fall to V 0 /e = 6.0/2.72 = 2.2 V (1 mark)

V must fall to 2.2 V (1 mark)
time constant = 32 ms (from the graph) (1 mark)

Alternative way of tackling this - also got you full marks!:

Q = Q 0 e-t/RC (from data sheet)

but Q = CV so

CV = CV 0 e-t/RC

therefore V = V 0 e-t/RC (1 mark)

♥ Remember that the equation for the exponential decay of charge is interchangeable with
voltage or current.

V = V 0 e-t/RC

t = 35 ms = 0.035s (1 mark)

6.0 = 2.0 e-0.035/RC

3.0 = e-0.035/RC

Taking logs:

ln 3.0 = 0.035/CR

CR = 0.035/ln 3.0 = 0.035 s = 32ms (1 mark)

(3)

(d) the resistance of the circuit through which the capacitor was discharging.

time constant = RC (1 mark) so RC = time constant / C

R = 32 x 10-3 / 4.7 x 10-6 = 6800  (1)

(allow C.E. for value of time constant from (c))
(2)
(Total 10 marks)