Chapter 26

Capacitance and Dieletrics

Multiple Choice

1. If C = 12 pF, determine the equivalent capacitance for the combination shown.

C C

2C

a. 48 pF
b. 12 pF
c. 24 pF
d. 6.0 pF
e. 59 pF

2. If C = 15 mF, determine the equivalent capacitance for the combination shown.

C 2C C

a. 20 mF
b. 16 mF
c. 12 mF
d. 24 mF
e. 75 mF

3. If C = 12 nF, determine the equivalent capacitance for the combination shown.

2C C

C 3C

a. 34 nF
b. 17 nF
c. 51 nF
d. 68 nF
e. 21 nF

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2 Chapter 26

4. If C = 45 µF, determine the equivalent capacitance for the combination shown.

C 2C

C 2C

a. 36 µF
b. 32 µF
c. 34 µF
d. 30 µF
e. 38 µF

5. If C = 50 nF, determine the equivalent capacitance for the combination shown.

2C

3C C

a. 29 nF
b. 0.19 µF
c. 34 nF
d. 0.23 µF
e. 75 nF

6. If C = 10 µF, what is the equivalent capacitance for the combination shown?

8.0 µF 6.0 µF

a. 7.5 µF
b. 6.5 µF
c. 7.0 µF
d. 5.8 µF
e. 13 µF

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 Chapter 26 3

7. What is the equivalent capacitance of the combination shown?

12 µF 24 µF

20 µF

12 µF

a. 29 µF
b. 10 µF
c. 40 µF
d. 25 µF
e. 6.0 µF

8. What is the equivalent capacitance of the combination shown?

20 µF 30 µF

10 µF 30 µF

a. 20 µF
b. 90 µF
c. 22 µF
d. 4.6 µF
e. 67 µF

9. If C = 45 µF, determine the equivalent capacitance for the combination shown.

2C 3C

6C

a. 28 µF
b. 36 µF
c. 52 µF
d. 44 µF
e. 23 µF

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4 Chapter 26

10. If C = 24 µF, determine the equivalent capacitance for the combination shown.

C 2C

2C 2C

2C

a. 20 µF
b. 36 µF
c. 16 µF
d. 45 µF
e. 27 µF

11. In the figure, if C1 = 15 µF, C2 = 10 µF, C3 = 20 µF, and V0 = 18 V, determine the energy
stored in C2.

C1

+
V0
− C2 C3

a. 0.72 mJ
b. 0.32 mJ
c. 0.50 mJ
d. 0.18 mJ
e. 1.60 mJ

12. In the figure, if C1 = 5.0 µF, C2 = 15 µF, C3 = 30 µF, V0 = 24 V, what is the total energy
stored in the three capacitors?

C1

C2 C3

+ −
V0

a. 4.3 mJ
b. 5.9 mJ
c. 7.7 mJ
d. 9.7 mJ
e. 1.3 mJ

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 Chapter 26 5

13. In the figure, if C1 = 10 µF, C2 = 12 µF, C3 = 15 µF, and V0 = 70 V, determine the energy
stored in C1.
C1 C2 C3

+ −
V0
a. 6.5 mJ
b. 5.1 mJ
c. 3.9 mJ
d. 8.0 mJ
e. 9.8 mJ

14. In the figure, if C1 = 20 µF, C2 = 10 µF, C3 = 14 µF, C4 = 30 µF, and V0 = 45 V, determine the
energy stored by C4.
C2

C3

C1 C4

+ −
V0
a. 3.8 mJ
b. 2.7 mJ
c. 3.2 mJ
d. 2.2 mJ
e. 8.1 mJ

15. In the figure, if C1 = 20 µF, C2 = 10 µF,C3 = 30 µF, and V0 = 18 V, determine the charge
stored by C1.
C2

C1

C3

+ −
V0
a. 0.37 mC
b. 0.24 mC
c. 0.32 mC
d. 0.40 mC
e. 0.50 mC

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6 Chapter 26

16. In the figure, if C1 = 50 µF, C2 = 30 µF, C3 = 36 µF, C4 = 12 µF, and V0 = 30 V, what is the
total energy stored by C3?

C1 C2 C3 C4

+ −
V0
a. 6.3 mJ
b. 25 mJ
c. 57 mJ
d. 1.6 mJ
e. 14 mJ

17. In the figure, if Va – Vb = 22V, how much energy is stored in the 50-µF capacitor?

25 µF
a

50 µF
b
25 µF

a. 0.78 mJ
b. 0.58 mJ
c. 0.68 mJ
d. 0.48 mJ
e. 0.22 mJ

18. What is the total energy stored in the group of capacitors shown if the charge on the
30-µF capacitor is 0.90 mC?

30 µF

20 µF

15 µF

a. 29 mJ
b. 61 mJ
c. 21 mJ
d. 66 mJ
e. 32 mJ

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 Chapter 26 7

19. In the figure, if C1 = 5.0 µF, C2 = 15 µF, C3 = 30 µF, and V0 = 24 V, what is the potential
difference across C2?
C1

C2 C3

+ −
V0

a. 21 V
b. 19 V
c. 16 V
d. 24 V
e. 8.0 V

20. What total energy is stored in the group of capacitors shown if the potential difference
Vab is equal to 50 V?
50 µF

10 µF

20 µF

a. 48 mJ
b. 27 mJ
c. 37 mJ
d. 19 mJ
e. 10 mJ

21. Determine the energy stored in the 60-µF capacitor shown.

25 µF

+
50 V
− 40 µF 60 µF

a. 2.4 mJ
b. 3.0 mJ
c. 3.6 mJ
d. 4.3 mJ
e. 6.0 mJ

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8 Chapter 26

22. Determine the energy stored in the 40-µF capacitor shown.

25 µF

+
50 V
− 40 µF 60 µF

a. 2.4 mJ
b. 1.6 mJ
c. 2.0 mJ
d. 2.9 mJ
e. 4.0 mJ

23. If VA – VB = 50 V, how much energy is stored in the 36-µF capacitor shown?

36 µF

A B

72 µF

54 µF

a. 50 mJ
b. 28 mJ
c. 13 mJ
d. 8.9 mJ
e. 17 mJ

24. If VA – VB = 50 V, how much energy is stored in the 54-µF capacitor shown?

36 µF

A B

72 µF

54 µF

a. 50 mJ
b. 13 mJ
c. 28 mJ
d. 8.9 mJ
e. 17 mJ

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 Chapter 26 9

25. If a 3.0-µF capacitor charged to 40 V and a 5.0-µF capacitor charged to 18 V are connected
to each other, with the positive plate of each connected to the negative plate of the
other, what is the final charge on the 3.0-µF capacitor?

a. 11 µC
b. 15 µC
c. 19 µC
d. 26 µC
e. 79 µC

26. A 6.0-µF capacitor charged to 50 V and a 4.0-µF capacitor charged to 34 V are connected to
each other, with the two positive plates connected and the two negative plates
connected. What is the total energy stored in the 6.0-µF capacitor at equilibrium?

a. 6.1 mJ
b. 5.7 mJ
c. 6.6 mJ
d. 7.0 mJ
e. 3.8 mJ

27. A 25-µF capacitor charged to 50 V and a capacitor C charged to 20 V are connected to each
other, with the two positive plates connected and the two negative plates connected. The
final potential difference across the 25-µF capacitor is 36 V. What is the value of the
capacitance of C?

a. 43 µF
b. 29 µF
c. 22 µF
d. 58 µF
e. 63 µF

28. A 15-µF capacitor charged to 60 V and a 20-µF capacitor charged to 10 V are connected to
each other, with the positive plate of each connected to the negative plate of the other.
What fraction of the total energy initially stored in these two capacitors is lost as a
result of this connection?

a. 0.50
b. 0.75
c. 0.33
d. 0.25
e. 0

29. A 4.0-mF capacitor initially charged to 50 V and a 6.0-mF capacitor charged to 30 V are
connected to each other with the positive plate of each connected to the negative plate of
the other. What is the final charge on the 6.0-mF capacitor?

a. 20 mC
b. 8.0 mC
c. 10 mC
d. 12 mC
e. 230 mC

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10 Chapter 26

30. A charge of 80 µC on a certain capacitor causes a potential difference of 16 V across its

plates. How much energy is stored in this capacitor when the potential difference across
its plates is 42 V?

a. 1.0 mJ
b. 4.4 mJ
c. 3.2 mJ
d. 1.4 mJ
e. 1.7 mJ

31. A 15-µF capacitor and a 30-µF capacitor are connected in series, and this combination is
charged to a potential difference of 50 V. What is the resulting charge on the 30-µF
capacitor?

a. 0.70 mC
b. 0.80 mC
c. 0.50 mC
d. 0.60 mC
e. 0.40 mC

32. A 15-µF capacitor and a 25-µF capacitor are connected in parallel, and this combination is
charged to a potential difference of 60 V. How much energy is then stored in this
capacitor combination?

a. 50 mJ
b. 18 mJ
c. 32 mJ
d. 72 mJ
e. 45 mJ

33. A 20-µF capacitor charged to 2.0 kV and a 40-µF capacitor charged to 3.0 kV are connected
to each other, with the positive plate of each connected to the negative plate of the
other. What is the final charge on the 20-µF capacitor after the two are so connected?

a. 53 mC
b. 27 mC
c. 40 mC
d. 80 mC
e. 39 mC

34. A 15-µF capacitor is charged to 40 V and then connected across an initially uncharged
25-µF capacitor. What is the final potential difference across the 25-µF capacitor?

a. 12 V
b. 18 V
c. 15 V
d. 21 V
e. 24 V

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 Chapter 26 11

35. A 30-µF capacitor is charged to 40 V and then connected across an initially uncharged
20-µF capacitor. What is the final potential difference across the 30-µF capacitor?

a. 15 V
b. 24 V
c. 18 V
d. 21 V
e. 40 V

36. A capacitor of unknown capacitance C is charged to 100 V and then connected across an
initially uncharged 60-µF capacitor. If the final potential difference across the 60-µF
capacitor is 40 V, determine C.

a. 49 µF
b. 32 µF
c. 40 µF
d. 90 µF
e. 16 µF

37. A 30-µF capacitor is charged to 80 V and then connected across an initially uncharged
capacitor of unknown capacitance C. If the final potential difference across the 30-µF
capacitor is 20 V, determine C.

a. 60 µF
b. 75 µF
c. 45 µF
d. 90 µF
e. 24 µF

38. A 30-µF capacitor is charged to an unknown potential V0 and then connected across an
initially uncharged 10-µF capacitor. If the final potential difference across the 10-µF
capacitor is 20 V, determine V0.

a. 13 V
b. 27 V
c. 20 V
d. 29 V
e. 60 V

Conceptual Problems

39. Is it feasible to construct a parallel-plate capacitor that has its two plates separated by
0.10 mm and has a capacitance of 1.0 F?

40. Regarding the Earth and a cloud layer 800 m above the Earth as the "plates" of a
capacitor, calculate the capacitance if the cloud layer has an area of 1.0 km . If an
electric field of 2.0 × 106 N/C makes the air break down and conduct electricity
(lightning), what is the maximum charge the cloud can hold?

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12 Chapter 26

41. An electron is released from rest at the negative plate of a parallel plate capacitor. If
the distance between the plates is 5 mm and the potential difference across the plates is
5 V, with what velocity does the electron hit the positive plate? (m e = 9.1 × 10–31 kg,
qe = 1.6 × 10–19 C).

42. A 200-volt battery is connected to a 0.5-microfarad parallel-plate, air-filled capacitor.

Now the battery is disconnected, with care taken not to discharge the plates. Some Pyrex
glass is then inserted between the plates, completely filling up the space. What is the
final potential difference between the plates? (the dielectric constant for Pyrex is k = 5.6)

43. A parallel plate capacitor of capacitance C o has plates of area A with separation d
between them. When it is connected to a battery of voltage Vo, it has charge of magnitude
Qo on its plates. It is then disconnected from the battery and the plates are pulled apart
to a separation 2d without discharging them. After the plates are 2d apart, the
magnitude of the charge on the plates and the potential difference betwen them are:

1 1
a. Q, V
2 o 2 o
1
b. Qo, Vo
2
c. Q o, V o
d. Q o, 2V o
e. 2Qo, 2Vo

44. A parallel plate capacitor of capacitance C o has plates of area A with separation d
between them. When it is connected to a battery of voltage Vo, it has charge of magnitude
Qo on its plates. It is then disconnected from the battery and the plates are pulled apart
to a separation 2d without discharging them. After the plates are 2d apart, the new
capacitance and the potential difference betwen the plates are:

1 1
a. C, V
2 o 2 o
1
b. C ,V
2 o o
c. C o, V o
d. C o, 2V o
e. 2Co, 2Vo

45. A parallel plate capacitor of capacitance C o has plates of area A with separation d
between them. When it is connected to a battery of voltage Vo, it has charge of magnitude
Q oon its plates. The plates are pulled apart to a separation 2d while the capacitor
remains connected to the battery. After the plates are 2d apart, the magnitude of the
charge on the plates and the potential difference betwen them are:

1 1
a. Q, V
2 o 2 o
1
b. Q ,V
2 o o
c. Q o, V o
d. 2Q o, V o
e. 2Qo, 2Vo

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 Chapter 26 13

46. A parallel plate capacitor of capacitance C o has plates of area A with separation d
between them. When it is connected to a battery of voltage Vo, it has charge of magnitude
Q o on its plates. The plates are pulled apart to a separation 2d while the capcitor
remains connected to the battery. After the plates are 2d apart, the capacitance of the
capacitor and the magnitude of the charge on the plates are:

1 1
a. C, Q
2 o 2 o
1
b. C ,Q
2 o o
c. Co, Qo
d. 2Co, Qo
e. 2Co, 2Qo

47. A parallel plate capacitor of capacitance C o has plates of area A with separation d
between them. When it is connected to a battery of voltage Vo, it has charge of magnitude
Q oon its plates. While it is connected to the battery the space between the plates is filled
with a material of dielectric constant 3. After the dielectric is added, the magnitude of
the charge on the plates and the potential difference betwen them are:

1 1
a. Q, V
3 o 3 o
1
b. Qo, Vo
3
c. Q o, V o
d. 3Q o, V o
e. 3Qo, 3Vo

48. A parallel plate capacitor of capacitance C o has plates of area A with separation d
between them. When it is connected to a battery of voltage Vo, it has charge of magnitude
Q o on its plates. While it is connected to the battery, the space between the plates is
filled with a material of dielectric constant 3. After the dielectric is added, the
magnitude of the charge on the plates and the new capacitance are:

1 1
a. Q, C
3 o 3 o
1
b. Qo, Co
3
c. Qo, Co
d. 3Qo, Co
e. 3Qo, 3Co

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14 Chapter 26

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 Chapter 26 1

Chapter 26

Capacitance and Dielectrics

1. Answer: d

2. Answer: c

3. Answer: b

4. Answer: d

5. Answer: a

6. Answer: d

7. Answer: b

8. Answer: a

9. Answer: b

10. Answer: c

11. Answer: d

12. Answer: a

13. Answer: c

14. Answer: d

15. Answer: b

16. Answer: a

17. Answer: d

18. Answer: d

19. Answer: c

20. Answer: d

21. Answer: b

22. Answer: c

23. Answer: d

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2 Chapter 26

24. Answer: b

25. Answer: a

26. Answer: b

27. Answer: c

28. Answer: b

29. Answer: d

30. Answer: b

31. Answer: c

32. Answer: d

33. Answer: b

34. Answer: c

35. Answer: b

36. Answer: c

37. Answer: d

38. Answer: b

39. Answer: No. Each plate would have an area of 1.1 × 107 m2

40. Answer: 11.1 nF, 17.8 C

41. Answer: 1.33 × 106 m/s

42. Answer: 36 V

43. Answer: d

44. Answer: b

45. Answer: b

46. Answer: a

47. Answer: d

48. Answer: e

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