Numericals

Capacitor
1. A 300V battery is connected across capacitors of 3μF and in 6μF
parallel. Calculate the energy stored in each capacitor. C1
Solution,
Potential(V) = 300V C2

Capacitance of first capacitor (C1 ) = 3μF =3 ∗ 10−6 F

Capacitance of second capacitor (C2 ) = 6μF = 6 ∗ 10−6 F
V
C1V2 3∗10−6 ∗(300)2
Energy stored in first capacitor (E1 ) = = = 0.135J
2 2
C2 V2 6∗10−6 ∗(300)2
Energy stored in second capacitor (E2 ) = = = 0.27J
2 2
The energy stored in the first and second capacitor are 0.135J and 0.27J
respectively.
A parallel plate air capacitor of capacitance 245pF has a charge of
magnitude of 0.148μc on each plate . Find the potential difference and
electric field intensity between the plates if the distance between the
plates is 5mm?
c
Solution,
Capacitance of capacitor(c) = 245pF = 245 ∗ 10−12 F.
−6 d
Charge of a capacitor(q) = 0.148μc = 0.148 ∗ 10 C
Distance between the plates(d) = 5mm = 5 ∗ 10−3 m
Potential difference (V) = ?
Electric field intensity (E)=?
We know, q = cv
q 0.148∗10−6
v= = = 604.08V
c 245∗10−12
V 604.08
And E = = = 120816Vm−1
d 5∗10−3
3. Two capacitors of capacitances 5μF and 15μF respectively are connected
in series with a battery of 220V . Find the charge and potential across each
capacitor.
Solution C1 C2
Capacitance of first capacitor (C1 ) = 5μF =5 ∗ 10−6 F
Capacitance of first capacitor (C2 ) = 15μF = 15 ∗ 10−6 F V

Potential difference(V) = 220V

Since C1 and C2 are in series,
1 1 1
= +
C C1 C2
1 1 1
= +
C 5∗10−6 15∗10−6
C = 3.75 ∗ 10−6 F
Equivalent capacitance (C) = 3.75 ∗ 10−6 F
Charge, q = CV
= 3.75 ∗ 10−6 ∗ 220 C
= 8.25 ∗ 10−4 C
Charge on each capacitor (q) = q1 = q2 = 8.25 ∗ 10−4 C
q1 8.25 ∗10−4
Potential difference across capacitor C1 (V1 ) = = −6 = 165V
C1 5∗10
q2 8.25 ∗10−4
Potential difference across capacitor C2 (V2 ) = = = 55V
C2 15∗10−6
A parallel plate air capacitor has a capacitance of 10−9 F. What
potential difference is required for a charge of 5 ∗ 10−5 C ? What is the
total energy stored in it ?
Solution
Capacitance of capacitor(c) =10−9 F.
Charge of a capacitor(q) = 5 ∗ 10−5 C
Potential difference(V) = ?
Energy stored (E) =?
We know, q = cv
q 5 ∗10−5
v= = −9 = 5 ∗ 104 V
c 10
CV2 10−9 ∗(5 ∗104 )2
Also, E = = = 1.25J
2 2
3. Two capacitors of capacitances 4μF and 6μF respectively are connected in
series with a battery of emf of 60V . The connections are broken and like
terminals of the capacitor are joined. Find the final charge of each capacitor.
Solution C1 C2
Capacitance of first capacitor (C1 ) = 4μF =4 ∗ 10−6 F
Capacitance of first capacitor (C2 ) = 6μF = 6 ∗ 10−6 F V

Potential difference(V) = 60V

Since C1 and C2 are in series,
1 1 1
= +
C C1 C2
1 1 1
= +
C 4∗10−6 6∗10−6
C = 2.4 ∗ 10−6 F
Equivalent capacitance (C) = 2.4 ∗ 10−6 F
Charge, q = CV
=2.4 ∗ 10−6 ∗ 60
= 1.44 ∗ 10−4 C
Charge on each capacitor (q) = q1 = q2 = 1.44 ∗ 10−4 C
q1 1.44 ∗10−4
Potential difference across capacitor C1 (V1 ) = = −6 = 36V
C1 4∗10
q2 1.44 ∗10−4
Potential difference across capacitor C2 (V2 ) = = −6 = 24V
C2 6∗10
As the like terminals of a capacitor are connected together, let their
common potential be V. q1 ’
C1 V1 + C2 V2 C1
V=
C1 + C2 V
4∗10−6 ∗36+6∗10−6 ∗24
V= q2 ’
4∗10−6 +6∗10−6
C2
V = 28.8V
Charge on first capacitor, q1 ’ = C1 V
= 4 ∗ 10−6 ∗ 28.8
= 115.2μC
Charge on first capacitor, q2 ’ = C2 V
= 6 ∗ 10−6 ∗ 28.8
= 172.8μC
Home-work
1. Two capacitors of capacitances 4μF and 12μF respectively are connected
in series. The combination is then connected momentarily across a 200V.
Find the charge and potential difference across each capacitor
Eight drops of water of the same size are equally and similarly charged.
They combined together to form a bigger drop. Calculate the
capacitances of bigger drop with that of the smaller drop.
Solution,
Let v = volume of each small drop
V= volume of large drop
r = radius of each small drop
R = radius of large drop
c = capacitance of each small drop 8 droplets Single droplet
C = capacitance of large drop
 V = 8v
4 4
πR = 8 x πr 3
3
3 3
R3 = 8 r 3
R = 2r
Capacitance of large drop, Cb = 4π𝜖0 R
Capacitance of small drop, Cs = 4π𝜖0 r
Cb 4π𝜖0 R
=
Cs 4π𝜖0 r
R
=
r
2r
=
r
=2
Cb : Cs = 2 :1
Three capacitors of 1μF , 2μF and 3μF are connected in series. The
same capacitances are again connected in parallel. Compare their
equivalent capacitance. Which one of these combination give larger
value of capacitors.
Solution
C1 = 1μF = 1 ∗ 10−6 F , C2 = 2μF = 2 ∗ 10−6 F , C3 = 3μF = 3 ∗ 10−6 F
Since C1 , C2 and C3 are in series
1 1 1 1
= + +
Cs C1 C2 C3 C1 C2 C3
1 1 1 1
= + +
Cs 1∗10−6 2∗10−6 3∗10−6
6
Cs = μF
11
Now when they are connected in parallel, their equivalent capacitance
is given by Cp = C1 + C2 + C3
Cp = 1 ∗ 10−6 + 2 ∗ 10−6 + 3 ∗ 10−6 C1

Cp = 6 ∗ 10−6
C2
Cp = 6μF
Cp 6
= 6 =11
Cs C3
11
Cp = 11 Cs
Equivalent capacitance in parallel is 11 times greater than a series
combination.
In the given capacitors circuit, applied potential between ab is 220V.
What is the equivalent capacitance of the network between a and b?
C1 = C5 = 8.4μF and C2 = C3 = C4 = 4.2μF
C1 C3
a

C2
b
C5 C4
Since C3 and C4 are in series, equivalent capacitance (C’) is given by
1 1 1
= +
C’ C3 C4
C3 C4
C’ =
C3 +C4
4.2∗4.2
=
4.2+4.2
= 2.1μF

C1 C’
a

C2
b
C5

Since C’ and C2 are in parallel, total capacitance is given by

 C’’ = C’ + C2
= 2.1 + 4.2
= 6.3μF
C1
a

C’’
b
C5

Again C1 ,C’’ and C5 are in series, we get

1 1 1 1
= + +
C C1 C’’ C5

1 1 1 1
= + +
C 8.4 6.3 8.4

C = 2.52μF