Problem Set 7: Capacitance Problems

Analytical Problems:
Q1: Two conductors of length L and width w are separated by a distance “d” as shown in the figure
below. The conductors are connected to a battery and charge +Q and –Q is released onto them.
The battery is then removed. Then you take another conductor which has a thickness of d/2 and
force it a distance “x” right in the middle of the charged conductors. This 3 rd conductor is initially
uncharged. You can neglect the fringing fields especially due to the inside edge of the third
conductor. Answer the following questions:
1. What is the capacitance of the system?
2. How much energy is stored in the electric field?

∈0 [𝐿+𝑥]𝑤 𝑄2
Answer: 𝐶 = ; Energy stored is 2𝐶 .
𝑑

Q2. A coaxial capacitor (concentric cylinders of length L) has a conductor with radius “a” and is
surrounded by another conductor of radius “b”. The space between the conductors in filled with a
dielectric whose permittivity varies as 𝜖𝑟 = 10𝑎/𝑟. Calculate the capacitance.
20𝜋𝜖0 𝑎𝐿
Answer: 𝐶 = 𝑏−𝑎

Q3. The figure shows a otherwise neutral solid conducting sphere with radius “a” (small
sphere). There is void in the region between r=a and r=b. Material with realitve permittivity
εr fills the space between space between r=b and r=c. The region between r= c and r= d is
coducting.
a) Find the capcitance of the arrangment, (igoring the space outside.)
b) The capacitor is fully charged across a battery of emf ℇ,
find the enrgy stored.
c) What potential difference accors the dielectric.
 d
c

4𝜋𝜖0 1
Answer: 𝐶 = 1 1 1 1 1 ; Energy stored is 2 𝐶𝜀 2 ; Potential across the dielectric is given by:
[ − ]+ −
𝜖𝑟 𝑏 𝑐 𝑎 𝑏

𝑄 1 1
[ − ] where Q is 𝐶𝜀
4𝜋𝜖0 𝜖𝑟 𝑏 𝑐

Q4. (previous exam). Two parallel plates of area A each are spearated by distance 5d to
form a parallel plate capacitor. The capacitor is fully charged across a battery of emf (ℇ), and
then the battery is disconnected. A two layered wafer made of a conductor of thickness 2d
and a dielectric of relative permittivity εr and thickness d is inserted between the plates so
the gaps are a thickness d each. Ignore any fringe fields.

a) Find the capacitance of the arrangement using first principles.

b) Find the potential difference across the thin part of the wafer.
c) Find the potential differecne across the thick part of the wafer.
d) How much work is done to insert the wafer? (after Tuesday’s class)
e) Find E and D everywhere between the plates.
f) By what factor does the field inside the conducting slab change if you now remove
the insulator?
𝐴𝜖0 𝑄𝑑 𝐴𝜖0 𝑄2 𝑄2
Answer: a) 𝐶 = 1 ; b) ∆𝑉 = 𝐴𝜖 where 𝑄 = 𝜀; c) 0; d) Work done = 2𝐶 − 2𝐶 , where
𝑑[2+ ] 0 𝜖𝑟 5𝑑 𝑖
𝜖𝑟
𝐴𝜖0
Q and C are defined in b and a above and 𝐶𝑖 = ; e) In air above and below the wafer, D=Q/A;
5𝑑
𝑄 𝑄
𝐸 = 𝐴𝜖 ; In conductor, D=E=0.; In dielectric wafer; D=Q/A; 𝐸 = 𝐴𝜖 . Q is defined in b
0 0 𝜖𝑟
Q5. A parallel plate capacitor of width w, length L, and separation d is partially with a dielectric
medium of permittivity  (shaded blue) as shown in the figure below.

1. Find D, E and s in the conductors in each of the regions below

2. Find the distance x such that the electrostatic energy stored in each region is the same.

L
Answer: (a) 1 is on the left hand side, 2 is on the right hand side.
𝜖𝑄 𝜖 𝑄
𝜌1 = 𝜖𝑥𝑤+𝜖 ; 𝜌2 = 𝜖𝑥𝑤+𝜖 0(𝐿−𝑥)𝑤
0 (𝐿−𝑥)𝑤 0

𝜖𝑄 𝑄
On left side, 𝐷 = 𝜖𝑥𝑤+𝜖 ; 𝐸 = 𝜖𝑥𝑤+𝜖
0 (𝐿−𝑥)𝑤 0 (𝐿−𝑥)𝑤

𝜖 𝑄 𝑄
On right side, 𝐷 = 𝜖𝑥𝑤+𝜖 0(𝐿−𝑥)𝑤 ; 𝐸 = 𝜖𝑥𝑤+𝜖
0 0 (𝐿−𝑥)𝑤

𝜖
(b) 𝑥 = 𝜖+𝜖0 𝐿
0

Q6.
Answer: (a) Increass by a factor of 2.
𝑄2 𝑑
(b) Work done is 2𝐴𝜖
0

𝑙𝑛(2𝑏⁄𝑎 )
(c) For constant Q, energy increases by: ; energy comes from mechanical force used
𝑙𝑛(𝑏⁄𝑎 )
to increase the radius.
𝑙𝑛(𝑏⁄ )
For constant V, energy decreases by factor 𝑙𝑛(2𝑏⁄𝑎 ).
𝑎

Q7.

Answer: (a) Increased; (b) Did not change; (c) Increases by a factor of 4. We did positive
6𝜖0 2 𝜀
work; (d) 𝜌 = (𝜖
0 +𝜖)𝑑

Q8. Two parallel plates of area A each are separated by distance 3d to form a parallel plate capacitor.
The capacitor is fully charged across a battery of emf 𝑉. The batetry is then disconnected, and a wafer
made of a conducting slab of thickness d and two dielectrics (εr1 on the left and εr2 on the right) each
of thickness d and same cross-sectional area are inserted between the plates. The plates are large,
and you can ignore any fringe fields.
(a) Find the capacitance of the final arrangement.
(b) Find the potential difference across the left side dielectric in terms of ℇ.
(c) Find the charge density on the bottom surface of the conducting slab.

(d) Is the charge density on the top surface of the conducting slab uniform? If yes, what is the charge
density? If no, how is the charge distributed and what is the charge density in different sections of
the conductor?
(e) Find the magntude of E (the electric Field) and D (the electric displacement vector) everywhere
in the capacitor. Give the answer in terms of the parameters given.

𝜖1 𝜖2

𝐴𝜖 (𝜖 +𝜖 ) 2𝑉 𝜖 𝑉
Answer: a) 𝐶 = 𝑑(2+𝜖
0 𝑟1 𝑟2
; (b) 3𝑑(𝜖 ; (c) 3𝑑
0
; (d) No. Charge density of left hand side:
+𝜖 ) 𝑟1 𝑟2 𝑟1 +𝜖𝑟2 )
2𝜖0 𝜖𝑟1 2𝜖 𝜖
− 3𝑑(𝜖 𝑉 and the charge density on the right hand side is : − 3𝑑(𝜖 0 +𝜖
𝑟2
𝑉
𝑟1 +𝜖𝑟2 ) 𝑟1 𝑟2 )

Conceptual Problems:
Q1. For calculation of capacitance for parallel plate capacitor, we ignored the fringe fields. Which
physical law/laws we violated if any?
Q2. Two capacitors with the same capacitance C and the same charge Q are placed next to each
other as shown in the figure below. The two positive plates are then connected by a wire. Will
charge flow in the wire when the connection is made?

Q3. A parallel plate capacitor is initially charged to Q and then the battery is removed. The
separation between the two plated is then decreased from initial d to d/2. By what factor does the
potential energy change in the capacitor?
Q4. A parallel plate capacitor is connected to a battery with potential V. The separation between
the two plates is then decreased from initial d to d/2 with the battery still connected. By what factor
does the potential energy change in the capacitor?