Republic of the Philippines

Department of Education
REGION VII – CENTRAL VISAYAS
Schools Division of Cebu Province
S. Y. 2020-2021
SELF LEARNING HOME TASK (SLHT)

Subject: General Physics 2 Grade Level: 12 Quarter: 3 Week: 4

MELCs CODE
Determine the total charge, the charge on, and the potential difference across
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each capacitor in the network given the capacitors connected in series/parallel.
Determine the potential energy stored inside the capacitor given the geometry
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and the potential difference across the capacitor.
Describe the effects of inserting dielectric materials on the capacitance,
STEM_GP12EMIIId-29
charge, and electric field of a capacitor.
Solve problems involving capacitors and dielectrics in contexts such as, but not
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limited to, charged plates, batteries, and camera flashlamps.

Name: __________________________________ Section: ______________ Date: ___________

A. Readings/Discussions:

The total capacitance in both series and parallel connections of capacitors were discussed in
the previous lesson. Each connection will be giving a total capacitance which we want to have
and use in various applications. In series connections, the reciprocal of the equivalent
capacitance equals the sum of the reciprocals of the individual capacitances and the equivalent
capacitance is always less than any individual capacitance. In parallel connections, the
equivalent capacitance equals the sum of the individual capacitances and the equivalent
capacitance is always greater than any individual capacitance.

The figure at the right illustrates a series combination of three

capacitors, arranged in a row within the circuit. As for any capacitor,
the capacitance of the combination is related to the charge and
voltage. When the series combination is connected to a battery with
voltage V, each of the capacitor acquires an identical charge Q. The
potential drop on one capacitor may be different from the potential
drop on another capacitor, because, generally, the capacitors may
have different capacitances.

In the principle of capacitors in series, all capacitors have the

same charge. This occurs due to the conservation of charge in the
circuit. Out of this, we can say that the voltage drop across each
capacitor will be different depending upon the values of the individual capacitances.

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In the previous lesson, it was stated that the total potential difference across the series
combination is given by
𝑉𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 = 𝑉1 + 𝑉2 + 𝑉3 + ⋯

We all know that the potential difference 𝑉 is given by

𝑄
𝑉=
𝐶
So,
𝑄 𝑄 𝑄
𝑉1 = , 𝑉2 = , 𝑉3 =
𝐶1 𝐶2 𝐶3

𝑄 𝑄
Since 𝑄 = 𝐶𝑉 and rearranging for 𝑉 = , substituting 𝐶 for each capacitor voltage, we have
𝐶
𝑄 𝑄 𝑄
𝑉𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 = + +
𝐶1 𝐶2 𝐶3

Out of this equation, we can derive the formula of the total charge Q of the capacitors in series.
1 1 1
𝑉𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 = 𝑄 ( + + )
𝐶1 𝐶2 𝐶3
1
𝑉𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 = 𝑄 ( )
𝐶𝑒𝑞
𝑄 = 𝑉𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 (𝐶𝑒𝑞 )
In parallel capacitors as shown below, the capacitors have the same potential difference
across the network. It was also presented in the previous lesson that the total or equivalent
capacitance of parallel capacitors is equal to the sum of all the individual capacitors added
together.

Out of the ideas stated above, we can infer that the total charge 𝑄 in the network will be equal
to
𝑄 = 𝑄1 + 𝑄2 + 𝑄3 + ⋯
We all know that the charge 𝑄 is given by
𝑄 = 𝐶𝑉
So,
𝑄1 = 𝐶1 𝑉, 𝑄2 = 𝐶2 𝑉, 𝑄3 = 𝐶3 𝑉
Applying these relationships, we can have
𝑄 = 𝐶1 𝑉 + 𝐶2 𝑉 + 𝐶3 𝑉
𝑄 = (𝐶1 + 𝐶2 + 𝐶3 )𝑉
Finally, the total charge in parallel capacitors can be obtained by
𝑄 = 𝐶𝑒𝑞 𝑉
Where 𝐶𝑒𝑞 is the equivalent capacitance of the network as presented in the previous lesson and
V is the total potential difference of the connection.

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Illustrative Example 1:
A 20μF, 30μF, and 8μF capacitors are connected in series with a 240V battery. Find (a) the
charge stored and (b) potential difference across each capacitor.

Given: C1 = 20μF = 20.0 x 10−6 F C2 = 30μF = 30.0 x 10−6 F C3 = 8μF = 8.0 x 10−6 F
V = 240 V

Solution:
(a) The three resistors in the above problem are in series connection. We can only find the
total charge if we will be able to solve the equivalent capacitance of the three resistors.
1 1 1 1
= + +
Ceq C1 C2 C2
1 1 1 1 1
= + + =
Ceq 20μF 30μF 8μF 58μF
Ceq = 4.8μF = 4.8 x 10−6 F

Solving for the amount of charge stored in the network, we have

Q = Vtotal (Ceq )
Q = (240 V)(4.8 x 10−6 F) = 1.15 x 10−3 C

(b) Let us solve the capacitor’s individual potential difference using the total charge in (a).
Q 1.15 x 10−3 C
V1 = = = 57.5 V
C1 20.0 x 10−6 F
Q 1.15 x 10−3 C
V2 = = = 38.33 V
C2 30.0 x 10−6 F
Q 1.15 x 10−3 C
V2 = = = 143.75 V
C2 8.0 x 10−6 F

Notice that the smallest capacitor has the largest potential difference across it since
potential difference and capacitance of a given capacitor are inversely proportional.

Thus, the charge stored along the network is 1.15 𝑥 10−3 𝐶 and the potential difference across
each capacitor are 57.5 𝑉, 38.3 𝑉, 143.75 𝑉, respectively.

Illustrative Example 2:
A 10μF, 20μF, and 30μF capacitors are connected in parallel with a 240V battery. Find (a) the
total charge stored in the circuit and (b) the charge stored on each capacitor.

Given: C1 = 10μF = 10.0 x 10−6 F C2 = 20μF = 20.0 x 10−6 F C3 = 30μF = 30.0 x 10−6 F
V = 240 V

Solution:
(a) In this example, the three capacitors are connected in parallel and we need to find the
total capacitance first before solving the total amount charge in the network.
Ceq = C1 + C2 + C3
Ceq = 10μF + 20μF + 30μF = 60 μF = 60 x 10−6 F

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 Solving for the total charge of the network, we have
Q = Ceq V = (60 x 10−6 F)(240 V) = 1.44 x 10−2 C

(b) We can now solve the individual charge stored in each capacitor using the total charge
of the network in (a)
Q1 = C1 V = (10 x 10−6 F)(240 V) = 2.40 x 10−3 C
Q2 = C2 V = (20 x 10−6 F)(240 V) = 4.80 x 10−3 C
Q3 = C3 V = (30 x 10−6 F)(240 V) = 7.20 x 10−3 C

Since the amount of charge in a capacitor is proportional to the capacitance, hence the
largest capacitance yields the largest amount of charge in coulomb.

Thus, the total charge stored in the parallel circuit is 1.44 𝑥 10−2 𝐶 and the charge stored on
each capacitor is 2.40 𝑥 10−3 𝐶, 4.80 𝑥 10−3 𝐶,and 7.20 𝑥 10−3 𝐶, respectively.

ENERGY STORAGE IN CAPACITORS AND ELECTRIC-FIELD ENERGY

Many of the most important applications of capacitors depend on their ability to store energy.
The electric potential energy stored in a charged capacitor is just equal to the amount of work
required to charge it – that is, to separate opposite charges and place them on different
conductors. When the capacitor is discharged, the stored energy is recovered as work done by
electric forces.

We can calculate the potential energy 𝑈 of a charged capacitor by calculating the work 𝑊
required to charge it. Suppose that when we are done charging the capacitor, the final charge
is 𝑄 and the final potential difference is 𝑉. From the previous lesson we have
𝑄
𝑉=
𝐶
Let 𝑞 and 𝑣 be the charge and potential difference, respectively, at an immediate stage during
𝑞
the charging process; then 𝑣 = 𝐶. At this stage the work W is required to transfer an additional
element of charge 𝑞 is
𝑞𝑞
𝑊 = 𝑣𝑞 =
𝐶
The total work 𝑊 needed to increase the capacitor charge 𝑞 from zero to a final value 𝑄 is
𝑄2
𝑊= (𝑤𝑜𝑟𝑘 𝑡𝑜 𝑐ℎ𝑎𝑟𝑔𝑒 𝑎 𝑐𝑎𝑝𝑎𝑐𝑖𝑡𝑜𝑟)
2𝐶
This is also equal to the work done by the electric field on the charge when the capacitor
discharges. Then 𝑞 decreases from an initial value 𝑄 to zero as the element of charge 𝑞 “fall”
through the potential difference 𝑣 that vary from 𝑉 down to zero.
If we define the potential energy of an uncharged capacitor to be zero, then 𝑊 in the previous
equation is equal to the potential energy 𝑈 of the charged capacitor. The final stored charge is
𝑄 = 𝐶𝑉, so we can express 𝑈 (which is equal to 𝑊) as
𝑄2 1 2 1
𝑈= = 𝐶𝑉 = 𝑄𝑉(𝑝𝑜𝑡𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑎𝑙 𝑒𝑛𝑒𝑟𝑔𝑦 𝑠𝑡𝑜𝑟𝑒𝑑 𝑖𝑛 𝑎 𝑐𝑎𝑝𝑎𝑐𝑖𝑡𝑜𝑟)
2𝐶 2 2
When 𝑄 is in coulomb’s, 𝐶 in farads (coulombs per volt), and 𝑉 in volts (joules per coulomb), 𝑈
is in joules.

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Electric-Field Energy

We can charge capacitor by moving electrons directly form one plate to another. This requires
doing work against the electric field between the plates. Thus, we can think of the energy as
being stored in the field in the region between the plates. To develop this relationship, let’s find
the energy per unit volume in the space between the plates of a parallel-plate capacitor with
plate area 𝐴 and separation 𝑑. We call this the energy density, denoted by 𝑢. From the potential
1
energy stored in a capacitor equation, the total stored potential energy is 2 𝑄𝑉 and the volume
between the plates is just 𝐴𝑑; hence the energy density is

1
𝑄𝑉
𝑢 = 𝐸𝑛𝑒𝑟𝑔𝑦 𝑑𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑦 = 2
𝐴𝑑

𝐴
We all know that capacitance 𝐶 is given by 𝐶 = 𝜖0 𝑑. The potential difference 𝑉 is related to the
electric field magnitude 𝐸 by 𝑉 = 𝐸𝑑. If we use the energy density equation, the geometric
factors 𝐴 and 𝑑 cancel, and we find

1
𝑢= 𝜖 𝐸 2 (𝑒𝑙𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑟𝑖𝑐 𝑒𝑛𝑒𝑟𝑔𝑦 𝑖𝑛 𝑎 𝑣𝑎𝑐𝑢𝑢𝑚)
2 0

Illustrative Example 1:
For the three capacitors in the network shown at the right, find
(a) the total charge stored in the whole network, (b) potential
difference across each capacitor, (c) charge in the parallel
group of capacitors (d) total energy stored in the network, and
(e) energy stored in each capacitor.

Given: C1 = 5μF = 5.0 x 10−6 F C2 = 25μF = 25.0 x 10−6 F C3 = 20μF = 20.0 x 10−6 F
V = 240 V
Solution:
In the above network, 5 μF and 25 μF are in parallel connections and these capacitors are in
series with 20 μF. The whole network is connected to a potential difference of 240 V. Solving for
the total charge needs the total capacitance of the network.

(a) Finding the total capacitance of the entire network.

CTparallel = C1 + C2 = 5 μF + 25 μF = 30 μF
The result of 30 μF is in series with 20 μF, so
1 1 1
= +
Ceq C3 CTparallel
1 1 1
= + =
Ceq 20 μF 30 μF
Ceq = 12 μF = 12.0 x 10−6 F

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 Solving this time for the total charge of the network using the total capacitance.
Q = Vtotal (Ceq )
Q = (240 V)(12.0 x 10−6 F ) = 2.88 x 10−3 C

(b) Solving for the potential difference across the resulting series connection, the 30 μF
(equivalent capacitance of parallel group 5 μF and 25 μF) and 20 μF.

Q 2.88 x 10−3 C
V1 = = = 96.0 V → (parallel group 5 μF and 25 μF)
C1 30 x 10−6 F

Take note that 5 μF and 25 μF will have the same amount of potential difference since
they are parallel to each other.

Q 2.88 x 10−3 C
V2 = = = 144.0 V
C2 20 x 10−6 F

(c) At this point, let us find the amount of charge in the parallel group of resistors, the 5 μF
and 25 μF. We will be using this time the V1 above since this is the potential difference
that corresponds to the parallel group.

Q5 μF = C1 V1 = (5.0 x 10−6 F)(96.0 V) = 4.80 x 10−4 C

Q25 μF = C1 V1 = (25.0 x 10−6 F)(96.0 V) = 2.40 x 10−3 C

(d) Solving he total energy of the whole network, we have.

1 1
U = QV = (2.88 x 10−3 C)(240 V) = 0.3456 J = 345.6 mJ
2 2

(e) For the individual energy stored in each resistor.

1 1
U20 μF = QV2 = (2.88 x 10−3 C)(144 V) = 0.20736 J = 207.36 mJ
2 2
1 1
U5 μF = QV1 = (4.80 x 10−4 C)(96.0 V) = 0.02304 J = 23.04 mJ
2 2
1 1
U25 μF = QV1 = (2.40 x 10−3 C)(96.0 V) = 0.1152 J = 115.20 mJ
2 2

Notice that if we add the individual energy of the three capacitors, the total would be the
energy of the whole network.

Thus, the total charge stored in the whole network is 2.88 𝑥 10−3 𝐶. The potential difference
across each resistor is 96.0 𝑉 and 144.0 𝑉, respectively. The charge in the parallel group of
resistors is 4.80 𝑥 10−4 𝐶 and 2.40 𝑥 10−3 𝐶. The total energy stored in the network is 345.6 𝑚𝐽.
The energy stored in each capacitor is 207.36 𝑚𝐽, 23.04 𝑚𝐽 and 115.20 𝑚𝐽, respectively.

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DIELECTRICS
Most capacitors have nonconducting material, or dielectric, between their conducting plates. A
common type of capacitor uses long strips of metal foil for the plates, separated by strip of plastic
sheet such as Mylar. A sandwich of these materials is rolled up, forming a unit that can provide
a capacitance of several microfarads in a compact package.

Placing a solid dielectric between the plates of a capacitor serves three functions. First, it solves
mechanical problem of maintaining two large metal sheets at a very small separation without
actual contact. Second, using dielectric increases the maximum possible potential difference
between the capacitor plates. Any insulating material, when subjected to a sufficiently large
electric field, experiences a partial ionization that permits conduction through it. This is called
dielectric breakdown. Many dielectric materials can tolerate stronger electric field without
breakdown than can air. Thus, using dielectric allows a capacitor to sustain a higher potential
difference V and so store greater amounts of charge and energy.

Third, the capacitance of a capacitor of given dimensions is greater

when there is a dielectric material between the plates than when there
is vacuum. We can demonstrate this effect with the aid of a sensitive
electrometer, a device that measures the potential difference between
two conductors without letting any appreciable charge flow from one
point to the other. Figure at the right shows an electrometer connected
across a charged capacitor, magnitude of charge 𝑄 on each plate and
potential difference 𝑉0. When we insert an uncharged sheet of
dielectric, such as glass, paraffin or polystyrene, between the plates,
experiment shows that the potential difference decreases to a smaller
value 𝑉. When we remove the dielectric, the potential difference returns
to its original 𝑉0, showing that the original charges on the plates have
not changed.

𝑄
The original capacitance 𝐶0 is given by 𝐶0 = 𝑉 , and the capacitance 𝐶
0
𝑄
with the dielectric present is 𝐶 = 𝑉 . The charge 𝑄 is the same in both cases, and 𝑉 is less than
𝑉0 , so we conclude that the capacitance 𝐶 with the dielectric present is greater than 𝐶0 . When
the space between the plates is completely filled by the dielectric, the ratio of 𝐶 to 𝐶0 (equal to
the ratio of 𝑉0 to 𝑉) is called the dielectric constant of the material, 𝐾:

𝐶
𝐾= (𝑑𝑒𝑓𝑖𝑛𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑜𝑓 𝑑𝑖𝑒𝑙𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑟𝑖𝑐 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑡)
𝐶0

𝐶 𝑉0
When the charge is constant, 𝑄 = 𝐶0 𝑉0 = 𝐶𝑉 and 𝐶 = . In this case, the dielectric constant can
0 𝑉
be written as
𝑉0
𝑉= (𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑛 𝑄 𝑖𝑠 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑡)
𝐾

With the dielectric present, the potential difference for a given charge 𝑄 is reduced by a factor
𝐾.
7|Page
The dielectric constant 𝐾 is a pure number. Because 𝐶 is always greater than 𝐶0 , 𝐾 is always
greater than unity. Some representative values of 𝐾 are given in the table below.

Table 1: Values of Dielectric Constant K at 20℃.

No real dielectric is a perfect insulator. Hence there is always some leakage current between
the charged plates of a capacitor with a dielectric.

Induced Charge and Polarization

When a dielectric material is inserted between the plates while the charge is kept constant, the
potential difference between the plates decreases by a factor of 𝐾. Therefore, the electric field
between the plates must decrease by the same factor. If 𝐸0 is the vacuum value and 𝐸 is the
value with the dielectric, then
𝐸0
𝐸= (𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑛 𝑄 𝑖𝑠 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑡)
𝐾
Since the electric field magnitude is smaller when the dielectric is
present, the surface charge density (which causes the field) must
be smaller as well. The surface charge on the conducting plates
does not change, but an induced charge of opposite sign appears
on each surface of the dielectric as shown at the right. The
dielectric was originally electrically neutral and is still neutral; the
induced surface charges arise as a result of redistribution of
positive and negative charge within the dielectric material, a
phenomenon called polarization.

We can derive a relationship between this induced surface charge and the charge on the plates.
Let’s denote the magnitude of the charge per unit area induced on the surfaces of the dielectric
(the induced surface charge density) by 𝜎𝑖 . The magnitude of the surface charge density on the
capacitor plates is 𝜎, as usual. Then the net surface charge on each side of the capacitor has
magnitude (𝜎 − 𝜎𝑖 ) and the field between the plates is related to the net surface charge density
𝜎
by 𝐸 = 𝜖𝑛𝑒𝑡 . Without and with the dielectric, respectively, we have
0
𝜎 𝜎 − 𝜎𝑖
𝐸0 = → 𝐸 =
𝜖0 𝜖0

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Using the equation of 𝐸 when 𝑄 is constant and rearranging the result, we find

1
𝜎𝑖 = 𝜎 (1 − ) (𝑖𝑛𝑑𝑢𝑐𝑒𝑑 𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑓𝑎𝑐𝑒 𝑐ℎ𝑎𝑟𝑔𝑒 𝑑𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑦)
𝐾

This equation shows that when 𝐾 is very large, 𝜎𝑖 is nearly as large as 𝜎. In this case, 𝜎𝑖 nearly
cancels 𝜎, and the field and potential difference are much smaller than their values in vacuum.
The product 𝐾𝜖0 is called the permittivity of the dielectric, denoted by 𝜖:

𝜖 = 𝐾𝜖0 (𝑑𝑒𝑓𝑖𝑛𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑜𝑓 𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑚𝑖𝑡𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑖𝑡𝑦)

In terms of 𝜖 we can express the electric field with the dielectric as

𝜎
𝐸=
𝜖

The capacitance when the dielectric is present is given by

𝐴 𝐴
𝐶 = 𝐾𝐶0 = 𝐾𝜖0 = 𝜖 (𝑝𝑎𝑟𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑒𝑙 − 𝑝𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑒 𝑐𝑎𝑝𝑎𝑐𝑖𝑡𝑜𝑟, 𝑑𝑖𝑒𝑙𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑟𝑖𝑐 𝑏𝑒𝑡𝑤𝑒𝑒𝑛 𝑝𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑠)
𝑑 𝑑

We can repeat the derivation of electric energy density in vacuum for the energy density 𝑢 in an
electric field for the case in which a dielectric is present. The result is

1 1
𝑢 = 𝐾𝜖0 𝐸 2 = 𝜖𝐸 2 (𝑒𝑙𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑟𝑖𝑐 𝑒𝑛𝑒𝑟𝑔𝑦 𝑑𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝑖𝑛 𝑎 𝑑𝑖𝑒𝑙𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑟𝑖𝑐)
2 2

Illustrative Example 1:
A typical flash for a point-and-shoot camera uses a capacitor of about 200μF. (a) If the potential
difference between the capacitor plates is 100 V – that is, 100 V is placed “across the capacitor,”
how much energy is stored in the capacitor? (b) If the dielectric used in the capacitor were a
0.010-mm-thick sheet of nylon where K is 3.40, what would be the surface area of the capacitor
plates?

Given: C = 200μF = 200 x 10−6 F V = 100 V d = 0.010 mm = 1.00 x 10−5 m

Solution:
(a) The energy stored in the capacitor is
1 1
U = CV 2 = (200 x 10−6 F)(100 V)2 = 1.00 J
2 2
(b) The area of the capacitor where the dielectric constant is 3.40 is
A
C = Kϵ0
d
Cd (200 x 10−6 F)(1.00 x 10−5 m)
A= = = 66.47 m2
Kϵ0 (3.40)(8.85 x 10−12 F/m)

Thus, the energy is stored in the capacitor is 1.00 𝐽 and the surface area of the capacitor plates
is 66.47 𝑚2 .

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Illustrative Example 2:
Suppose two parallel plates each have an area of 2000 cm2 (2.00 x 10−1 m2 ) and are
1.00 cm (1.00 x 10−2 m) apart. We connect the capacitor to a power supply, charge it to a
potential difference V0 = 3.00 kV, and disconnect the power supply. We then insert a sheet of
insulating plastic material between the plates, completely filling the space between them. We
find that the potential difference decreases to 1.00 kV while the charge on each capacitor plate
remains constant. Find (a) the original capacitance C0 ; (b) the magnitude of charge Q on each
plate; (c) the capacitance C after the dielectric is inserted; (d) the dielectric constant K of the
dielectric; (e) the permittivity ϵ of the dielectric; (f) the magnitude of the induced charge Qi on
each face of the dielectric; (g) the original electric field E0 between the plates; and (h) the electric
field E after the dielectric is inserted.

Solution:
This problem uses most of the relationships we have discussed for capacitors and dielectrics.
Most of the target variables can be obtained in several ways. The methods used below are a
sample; we encourage you to think of others and compare your results.

A
(a) With vacuum between the plates, we use the formula C0 = ϵ0 d with K = 1.
A −12
2.00 x 10−1 m2
C0 = ϵ0 = (8.85 x 10 F/m) ( )
d 1.00 x 10−2 m
C0 = 1.77 x 10−10 F = 177 pF

(b) From the definition of capacitance, we have

Q = C0 V0 = (1.77 x 10−10 F)(3.00 x 103 V)
Q = 5.31 x 10−7 C = 0.531 μC

(c) When the dielectric is inserted, Q is unchanged but the potential difference decreases to
V = 1.00 kV. Hence the new capacitance is
Q 5.31 x 10−7 C
C= = = 5.31 x 10−10 F = 531 pF
V 1.00 x 103 V

(d) From the definition of dielectric constant, the dielectric constant is

C 5.31 x 10−10 F
K= = = 3.00
C0 1.77 x 10−10 F
Alternatively, from the equation of the potential when Q is constant.
V0 V0
V= →K=
K V
V0 3.00 x 103 V
K= = = 3.00
V 1.00 x 103 V

(e) Using K from part (d) and substitute it to the equation permittivity.
ϵ = Kϵ0 = (3.00)(8.85 x 10−12 C2 /N ∙ m2 )
ϵ = 2.66 x 10−11 C2 /N ∙ m2

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 1
(f) Multiplying both sides of the equation σi = σ (1 − K) by the plate area A gives the induced
charge Qi = σi A in terms of the charge Q = σA on each plate:
1 1
Qi = Q (1 − ) = (5.31 x 10−7 C) (1 − )
K 3.00
Qi = 3.54 x 10−7 C

(g) Since the electric field between the plates is uniform, its magnitude is the potential
difference divided by the plate separation:
V0 3000 V
E0 = = = 3.00 x 105 V/m
d 1.00 x 10−2 m

(h) After the dielectric is inserted,

V 1.00 x 103 V
E= = = 1.00 x 105 V/m
d 1.00 x 10−2 m
σ
or, from the equation E = ϵ , we have
σ Q 5.31 x 10−7 C
E= = =
ϵ ϵA (2.66 x 10−11 C2 /N ∙ m2 )(2.00 x 10−1 m2 )
E = 1.00 x 105 V/m
σ−σ
or, from the equation E = ϵ i , we have
0
σ − σi Q − Qi
E= =
ϵ0 ϵ0 A
5.31 x 10−7 C − 3.54 x 10−7 C
E= = 1.00 x 105 V/m
(8.85 x 10−12 C2 /N ∙ m2 )(2.00 x 10−1 m2 )
E0
or, from the equation E = , we have
K
E0 3.00 x 105 V/m
E= = = 1.00 x 105 V/m
K 3.00

Thus, the original capacitance is 177 𝑝𝐹, the magnitude of charge Q on each plate is 0.531 𝜇𝐶,
the capacitance C after the dielectric is inserted is 531 𝑝𝐹, the dielectric constant K is 3.00, the
permittivity 𝜖 of the dielectric is 2.66 𝑥 10−11 𝐶 2 /𝑁 ∙ 𝑚2 , the magnitude of the induced charge is
3.54 𝑥 10−7 𝐶, the original electric field is 3.00 𝑥 105 𝑉/𝑚, the electric field E after the dielectric
is inserted is 1.00 𝑥 105 𝑉/𝑚.

Illustrative Example 3:
Find the energy stored in the electric field of the capacitor in illustrative example 2 and the
energy density, both before and after the dielectric sheet is inserted.

Solution:
We now consider the idea of energy stored in a capacitor and of electric-field energy density.
We use the equation of the potential energy stored in a capacitor in finding the stored energy
and the equation of electric energy density in a dielectric in finding the energy density.

From the equation of energy density, the stored energies 𝑈0 and 𝑈 without and with the dielectric
in plate are

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 1 1
U0 = C0 V02 = (1.77 x 10−10 F)(3000 V)2 = 7.97 x 10−4 J
2 2

1 1
U = CV 2 = (5.31 x 10−10 F)(1000 V) = 2.66 x 10−4 J
2 2

The final energy is one third of the original energy.

From the equation of the electric energy density in a dielectric gives the energy densities without
and with the dielectric:

1 1
u0 = ϵ0 E02 = ((8.85 x 10−12 C2 /N ∙ m2 ))(3.00 x 105 N/C)2 = 0.398 J/m3
2 2

1 2 1
u0 = ϵE = ((2.66 x 10−11 C2 /N ∙ m2 ))(1.00 x 105 N/C)2 = 0.133 J/m3
2 2

The energy density with the dielectric is one-third of the original energy density.

Thus, energy stored in the electric field of the capacitor before and after dielectric sheet is
inserted is 7.97 𝑥 10−4 𝐽 and 2.66 𝑥 10−4 𝐽. The energy density of the capacitor before and after
dielectric sheet is 0.398 𝐽/𝑚3 and 0.133 𝐽/𝑚3 .

B. Exercises:
Directions: Read and solve the following problems. Scoring rubrics is given below as
your basis.
1. In figure at the right, each capacitor has C = 4.00 μF and
Vab = 28.0 V. Calculate (a) the charge on each capacitor; (b)
potential difference in each capacitor; (c) the potential
difference between points a and d.

2. For the four capacitors shown at the right, find (a) the total
charge stored in the whole network, (b) potential
difference across each capacitor, (c) charge on each
capacitor (d) total energy stored in the network, and (e)
energy stored on each capacitor.

3. An air capacitor is made from two flat parallel plates 1.50 mm apart. The magnitude of
charge on each plate is 0.0180 μC when the potential difference is 200 V. (a) What is the
capacitance? (b) What is the area in each plate? (c) What is the maximum voltage can
be applied without dielectric breakdown? (Dielectric breakdown for air occurs at an
electric field strength of 3.0 x 106 V/m.) (d) When the charge is . 0180 μC, what total
energy is stored?

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 4. A capacitor has parallel plates of area 12 cm2 separated by 2. .0 mm. The space between
the plates is filled with polystyrene (see Table 1 on page 8). (a) find the permittivity of
polystyrene. (b) Find the maximum permissible voltage across the capacitor to avoid
dielectric breakdown. (c) When the voltage equals the value found in part (b), find the
surface charge density on each plate and the induced surface charge density on the
surface of the dielectric.

Criteria 3 2 1
Applies Appropriate Applies completely Applies some Applies inappropriate
Procedures appropriate procedures appropriate procedures procedures
Uses a representation Uses a representation
Uses a representation
Uses that gives some that gives little or no
that clearly depicts the
Representations important information significant information
problem
about the problem about the problem
Copying error,
computational error,
partial answer for No answer or wrong
Answers the
Correct solution problem with multiple answer based upon an
Problem answers, no answer inappropriate plan
statement, answer
labeled incorrectly

C. Assessment/Application/Outputs

I. Directions: Read the following statements and justify your answers by giving your own
explanation. Scoring rubrics is given below as your basis.

1. Two parallel-plate capacitors, identical except that one has twice the plate separation of
the other, are charged by the same voltage source. Which capacitor has a stronger
electric field between the plates? Which capacitor has a greater charge? Which has a
greater energy density? Explain your reasoning.

2. As shown in table 1 on page 8, water has very large dielectric constant K = 80.4. Why do
you think water is not commonly used as a dielectric in capacitors?

Reasoning Rubrics
Score Description
Response addresses all parts of the questions clearly and correctly.
5 points
Response is supported with more than two details from the concepts learned.
Response addresses the question.
4 points
Response is supported with two details from the concepts learned.
Response does not address all parts of the question.
3 points OR
Response is supported with one detail from the concepts learned.
Response is supported with no details from the concepts.
2 points OR
Response is off logic.
1 point No response.

13 | P a g e
II. Directions: Read and solve the following problems. Scoring rubrics is given below as
your basis.

1. For the system of capacitors shown below, a potential difference of 25 V is maintained

across ab. (a) What is the equivalent capacitance of the system between a and b? (b)
How much charge is stored by this system? (c) How much charge does the 6.5-nF
capacitor store? (d) What is the potential difference across the 7.5-nF capacitor?

2. For the capacitor network shown below, the potential difference across ab is 36 V. Find
(a) the total charge stored in this network; (b) the charge on each capacitor; (c) the total
energy stored in the network; (d) the energy stored in each capacitor; (e) the potential
difference across each capacitor.

3. For the capacitor network shown below, the potential difference across ab is 220 V. Find
(a) the total charge stored in this network; (b) the charge on each capacitor; (c) the total
energy stored in the network; (d) the energy stored in each capacitor; (e) the potential
difference across each capacitor.

4. A 12.5-μF capacitor is connected to a power supply that keeps a constant potential

difference of 24.0 V across the plates. A piece of material having a dielectric constant of
3.75 is placed between the plates, completely filling the space between them. (a) How
much energy is stored in the capacitor before and after the dielectric? (b) By how much
did the energy change during the insertion? Did it increase or decrease?

5. When a 360-nF air capacitor (1 nF = 1.0 x 10−9 F) is connected to a power supply, the
energy stored in the capacitor is 1.85 x 10−5 J. While the capacitor is kept connected to
the power supply, a slab of dielectric is inserted that completely fills the space between
the plates. This increases the stored energy by 2.32 x 10−5 J. (a) What is the potential
difference between the capacitor plates? (b) What is the dielectric constant of the slab?
14 | P a g e
 Criteria 3 2 1
Applies Appropriate Applies completely Applies some Applies inappropriate
Procedures appropriate procedures appropriate procedures procedures
Uses a representation Uses a representation
Uses a representation
Uses that gives some that gives little or no
that clearly depicts the
Representations important information significant information
problem
about the problem about the problem
Copying error,
computational error,
partial answer for No answer or wrong
Answers the
Correct solution problem with multiple answer based upon an
Problem answers, no answer inappropriate plan
statement, answer
labeled incorrectly

D. Suggested Enrichment/Reinforcement Activity

Directions: Read and solve the following problem. Scoring rubrics is given below as your
basis.

1. For the capacitor network shown below, the potential difference across ab is 12.0 V. Find
(a) the total charge stored in this network; (b) the charge on each capacitor; (c) the total
energy stored in the network; (d) the energy stored in each capacitor; (e) the potential
difference across each capacitor.

Criteria 3 2 1
Applies Appropriate Applies completely Applies some Applies inappropriate
Procedures appropriate procedures appropriate procedures procedures
Uses a representation Uses a representation
Uses a representation
Uses that gives some that gives little or no
that clearly depicts the
Representations important information significant information
problem
about the problem about the problem
Copying error,
computational error,
partial answer for No answer or wrong
Answers the
Correct solution problem with multiple answer based upon an
Problem answers, no answer inappropriate plan
statement, answer
labeled incorrectly

15 | P a g e
References:

Hugh D. Young, et al. University Physics with Modern Physics, pages 796 – 816.

https://www.electronics-tutorials.ws/capacitor/cap_6.html

https://courses.lumenlearning.com/physics/chapter/19-6-capacitors-in-series-and-parallel/

http://www.insula.com.au/physics/1279/L4.html#:~:text=When%20capacitors%20are%20connecte
d%20in%20parallel%20they%20have%20the%20same,divides%20proportionally%20with%20the
%20capacitance.&text=Find%20the%20total%20charge%20stored,charge%20stored%20on%20e
ach%20capacitor.

http://www.insula.com.au/physics/1279/L4.html#:~:text=When%20capacitors%20are%20connecte
d%20in%20parallel%20they%20have%20the%20same,divides%20proportionally%20with%20the
%20capacitance.&text=Find%20the%20total%20charge%20stored,charge%20stored%20on%20e
ach%20capacitor.

https://www.clutchprep.com/physics/practice-problems/51284/what-is-the-equivalent-capacitance-
of-the-combination-shown-a-30-956-f-b-10-956--1

Prepared by: Edited by:

ELENITO B. GASCON IMELDA V. CANOY, Ed. D.

SHS, Teacher II Principal IV

Reviewed by:

CLAVEL D. SALINAS, Ed. D.

Division SHS Coordinator

For the Teacher:

Advice the learners to stay focus and read thoroughly this SLHT from the beginning until the end.

For the Learner:

This Self Learning Home Task (SLHT) is made for you to learn on the different concepts of
capacitors in series and parallel, energy stored and electric-field energy in capacitors and dielectrics.
If you have clarifications or questions regarding the said topics, do not hesitate to do so. You may
ask directly through our GC.

For the Parent/Home Tutor:

Reading and understanding the topics in this SLHT is very important. Your child can attain that if
you are there to help. If you have queries about the topics above, feel free to communicate me.

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