5 Capacitance Answers to Exam practice questions

Pages 87–90 Exam practice questions

1 Answer B [Total 1 mark]

𝑄 1.3 × 10−6 C
2 C= = [1]
𝑉 60 V
–8
= 2.2 × 10 F or 22 pF [1]
[Total 2 marks]
3 Answer A [Total 1 mark]
4 Answer D [Total 1 mark]
2 2 2𝑊
5 a) From W = ½CV  V =
𝐶

2𝑊 2 × 4.0 J
V =� =� [1]
𝐶 220 × 10−3 F

= 6.0 V [1]
−3
b) From Q = CV  Q = ± (220 × 10 F) × 6.0 V [1]
= ± 1.3 C on each of the plates [1]
(This means that one plate will have a charge of + 1.3 C and the other plate will have a charge
of – 1.3 C) [Total 4 marks]
−6 3
6 a) V R = IR = (8.5 × 10 A) × (220 × 10 Ω) [1]
= 1.9 V [1]
b) V C = 6.0 V – V R = 6.0 V − 1.9 V [1]
= 4.1 V [1]
This assumes that the p.d. across the ammeter, V µA , is zero [1]
−6
c) Q = CV C = ± (470 × 10 F) × 4.1 V [1]
−3
= ± 1.9 × 10 C or ± 1900 μC [1]
[Total 7 marks]
7 The statement is telling you that W P = W Q and that C P = 2C Q
2
Using W = ½CV  Answer C [Total 1 mark]
−3
8 a) The charge Q = (22 × 10 F) × 10 V = 0.22 C [1]
The energy stored = ½QV = ½ × 0.22 C × 10 V [1]
= 1.1 J [1]
b) i) When the second capacitor is connected, the charge on each capacitor is 0.11 C [1]
1 𝑄2 1 (0.11 C)2
∴the energy stored in each capacitor = ×
2
= × 22 × 10−3 F [1]
𝐶 2
= 0.275 J [1]
For the two identical capacitors the total energy stored = 2 × 0.275 J = 0.55 J [1]
ii) Half the original energy, ½ × 1.1 J = 0.55 J, was dissipated as internal energy in the
leads conducting the charge from one capacitor to another, when the two capacitors
were connected. [1]
[Total 8 marks]
© Tim Akrill and Graham George 2015
5 Capacitance Answers to Exam practice questions

9 Answer B [Total 1 mark]

𝑘𝑘 𝑘𝑘
10 From C = d= [1]
𝑑 𝐶
2
�2 × 10−11 F m−1 � × �12 × 10−3 m�
= [2]
4.7 × 10−12 F
−4
= 6.1 × 10 m or about 0.6 mm [1]
[Total 4 marks]
11 a) For a spring: F ∝ x [1]
For a capacitor V ∝ Q [1]
b) Energy stored in a capacitor = ½VQ
∴ Energy stored in a spring = ½Fx [2]
[Total 4 marks]
Tip: When doing a question like this, it is worthwhile just checking the units for the proposed
formula. Does ½Fx have the units of energy, J?

12 Referring to the circuit diagram, Figure 5.17 on page 82, if R is doubled, the initial current in the
resistor and microammeter will be halved; in this case, it will be about 30 μA (half of 60 µA). [1]
But the total charge that must flow from the capacitor as it discharges is unchanged. [1]
This charge is represented by the area under the I–t graph, so in order to get the same area the
discharge must be slower and last longer. [1]
This is shown in the figure below.

[2]
[Total 5 marks]
13 The total energy of the discharge, power × time, is about
16 −9 7
(6 × 10 W) × (~1 × 10 s) ≈ 6 × 10 J [1]
2
The energy stored in a capacitor is ½CV so
2 7
½ × 0.26 F × V ≈ 6 × 10 J [2]
 V ≈ 20 000 V or 20 kV [1]
The answer is only an estimate as the time of discharge (‘about a nanosecond’) is not even given
to one proper significant figure. [1]
[Total 5 marks]
© Tim Akrill and Graham George 2015
5 Capacitance Answers to Exam practice questions

14 a) The p.d. across each lamp at the start of the capacitor discharge in each circuit is 3.0 V. [1]
Hence the initial brightness and the length of the flash is the same for each lamp in circuit 1
and circuit 2. [1]
b) With a 9.0 V supply the discharge of the capacitor should be through three parallel sets of
three lamps in series, i.e. nine lamps in all, each lamp being exactly like those in the first two
circuits. [3]
[Total 5 marks]
15 The concept of half-life is the same for charging as for discharging a capacitor. [1]
∴ Using t ½ = RC × ln2 [1]
3
34 s = (22 × 10 Ω) × C × 0.693 [1]
−3
 C = 2.2(3) × 10 F or 2200 μF [1]
[Total 4 marks]
16 a) The potential difference across each of the capacitors is 12 V because they are connected in
parallel. [2]
b) From Q = CV the charge on the capacitors will be:
22 μF × 12 V = 264 μF on the 22 μF capacitor
47 μF × 12 V = 564 μF on the 47 μF capacitor [2]
c) So a single capacitor of capacitance C is needed, where
𝑄 (264 + 564) µF 828 µF
C= = = = 69 μF [1]
𝑉 12 V 12 V

This is the sum of the two capacitors because, for two capacitors in parallel:
C = C 1 + C 2 = 22 μF + 47 μF = 69 μF [1]
[Total 6 marks]
17 The following table shows successive readings at 5 hour intervals:
t/h 5 10 15 20 25 [2]
N/103 1.6 3.0 5.7 10.5 18.8

The ratios of successive values of N are:

1.6 3.0 5.7 10.5
[2]
3.0 5.7 10.5 19.0
These ratios: 0.53, 0.52, 0.54 and 0.55 are close enough to mean that the curve is showing
exponential growth. [2]
(This is much easier than trying to draw a log-lin graph.) [Total 6 marks]

© Tim Akrill and Graham George 2015

5 Capacitance Answers to Exam practice questions

d𝑄
18 The current I = , so I is the gradient of the graph, i.e. a tangent to the graph. [1]
d𝑡
Using a large triangle at t ½ = 28 s: [1]
108 μC
Gradient = − = −1.6(4) μA [1]
66 s
Using a large triangle at 2t ½ = 56 s: [1]
78 μC
Gradient = − = − 0.81(3) μA [1]
96 s
(The negative sign means that this is the discharge current.)
d𝑄
The current, , at 2t ½ is about half that at t ½ , which is what we might expect because the p.d.
d𝑡

across the plates at 2t ½ will be half that at t ½. [2]

[Total 7 marks]
19 Each 1-cm square is equivalent to a charge of 0.50 μA × 5 s, = 2.5 µC. [1]
Therefore each 1-cm square is equivalent to a charge of 2.5 µC flowing off the capacitor. [1]
There are approximately 9 such squares (adding bits together), giving [1]
total charge ≈ 9.0 × 2.5 μC = 22.5 µC [1]
So the initial charge on the capacitor must have been between 22 and 23 µC. [1]
[Total 5 marks]

Stretch and challenge

20 A capacitor C can be connected to the 12 V car battery through a resistor R. [1]
Opening the car door disconnects the battery and discharges the capacitor. [1]
This sends a diminishing current through the lamp. [1]
The circuit is shown in the figure below. [2]

Values for R and C of R ≈ 220 kΩ and C ≈ 22 µF would give a half-life of just under five seconds, as
RC = 4.8 s with the above values. [2]
[Total 7 marks]
(This is not the whole story, as the car owner can sometimes vary the time constant, and there
may be problems about resetting the switch to its original position.)

© Tim Akrill and Graham George 2015

5 Capacitance Answers to Exam practice questions

21 a) Q = Q 0 e−t/RC so, from t = 0 to t = RC, the charge diminishes from Q 0 to Q 0 /e. [1]
As e = 2.718 to 4 s.f., 1/e = 0.3679 to 4 s.f. = 0.37 to 2 s.f. [1]
b) Every half-life diminishes the initial charge by a factor of e = 2.718. [1]
To reduce charge to 1% or 1/100 of its initial value takes N half-lives, where
1
< 0.01 [1]
(2.718)N


N > 4.60 i.e. 5 half-lives must elapse. [1]
1/y
Tip: You might use the x facility on your calculator to get this result.

1
c) From the above, for to equal 0.01 means that N = 4.60 (almost exactly). [1]
(2.718)N

The time constant RC = 22 kΩ × 470 μF = 10.34 s. [1]

Time to discharge to 1 % of initial charge = 4.60 × 10.34 s = 47.6 s [1]
[Total 8 marks]
22 a) Your graph should look the same as the figure below.

[3]
−t/RC d𝑄
b) As Q = Q 0 e , the gradient or slope of the graph is given by
d𝑡
d𝑄 1 −t/RC
=− Q0 e [1]
d𝑡 𝑅𝑅
−t/RC
At t = 0, e =1 [1]
d𝑄 𝑄0
 =− [1]
d𝑡 𝑅𝑅
Looking at the triangle in the figure above, the gradient is its height Q 0 divided by the length
of its base. Thus the base must be of length RC. [1]
[Total 7 marks]

© Tim Akrill and Graham George 2015