CAPACITORS:

1. An uncharged capacitor is connected to a battery. Which graph shows the variation of

charge with potential difference across the capacitor?

A B C D
Ans: A
2. Which of the following is the same unit as the farad?
AΩs
B Ω s–1
C Ω–1 s
D Ω–1 s–1
Ans:C
3.

Ans:
4. A capacitor was charged to a potential difference (p.d.) of 12.0 V and then discharged
through a 220 kΩ resistor. A data logger recorded the p.d. across the capacitor. The
graph shows how the p.d.
varied with time.
(a) Explain why using a data logger to record the p.d. and time is more appropriate than
a person using a voltmeter and stopwatch. (3)
(b) The time constant T of the circuit is given by the equation T = RC
(i) Show that T has units of seconds. (2)
(ii) Show that the time constant of the circuit is about 1 s. (3)
(iii) Calculate the capacitance C of the capacitor. (2)
(iv) Determine the time taken for the capacitor to transfer 50% of its initial stored
energy as it discharges. (3)
 5. A student is investigating how the potential difference across a capacitor varies with
time as the capacitor is charging.

(a) (i) Draw a diagram of the circuit he should use. (2)

(ii) Suggest why a voltage sensor connected to a data logger might be a suitable
instrument for measuring the potential difference across the capacitor in this investigation. (1)
(b) Calculate the maximum charge stored on the capacitor. (2)
(c) The graph shows how the potential difference across the capacitor varies with time as
the capacitor is charging.

(i) Estimate the average charging current over the first 10 ms. (2)
(ii) Use the graph to estimate the initial rate of increase of potential difference across the
capacitor and hence find the initial charging current. (3)
(iii) Use the value of the initial charging current to find the resistance of the resistor. (2)