CHAPTER 8 CAPACITORS AND CAPACITANCE

EXERCISE 51, Page 126

1. Find the charge on a 10 μF capacitor when the applied voltage is 250V

Charge, Q = C  V = = 2.5 mC

2. Determine the voltage across a 1000 pF capacitor to charge it with 2 C.

Q = CV hence voltage, V = = 2000 V or 2 kV

3. The charge on the plates of a capacitor is 6 mC when the potential between them is 2.4 kV. Determine the

capacitance of the capacitor.

Charge, Q = CV hence capacitance, C = F = 2.5 μF

4. For how long must a charging current of 2 A be fed to a 5 F capacitor to raise the p.d. between

its plates by 500 V.

Charge Q = I  t and Q=CV hence It=CV

from which, time, t = = 1.25 ms

5. A direct current of 10 A flows into a previously uncharged 5 μF capacitor for 1 ms. Determine the p.d.

between the plates.

Charge Q = I  t and Q=CV hence It=CV

from which, p.d., V = = 2 kV

© John Bird Published by Taylor and Francis 135

6. A 16 F capacitor is charged at a constant current of 4 A for 2 min. Calculate the final p.d.

across the capacitor and the corresponding charge in coulombs.

It=CV from which, voltage, V = = 30 V

Charge, Q = C  V = = 480 C

7. A steady current of 10 A flows into a previously uncharged capacitor for 1.5 ms when the p.d.

between the plates is 2 kV. Find the capacitance of the capacitor

It=CV from which, capacitance, C = = 7.5 F

© John Bird Published by Taylor and Francis 136

EXERCISE 52, Page 127

1. A capacitor uses a dielectric 0.04 mm thick and operates at 30 V. What is the electric field

strength across the dielectric at this voltage?

Electric field strength, E = 750 kV/m

2. A two-plate capacitor has a charge of 25 C. If the effective area of each plate is 5 cm2 find the electric flux

density of the electric field.

Electric flux density, D = = 50

3. A charge of 1.5 C is carried on two parallel rectangular plates each measuring 60 mm by

80 mm. Calculate the electric flux density. If the plates are spaced 10 mm apart and the voltage

between them is 0.5 kV determine the electric field strength.

Electric flux density, D = = 312.5

Electric field strength, E = = 50 kV/m

4. Two parallel plates are separated by a dielectric and charged with 10 μC. Given that the area of each plate is

50 cm2, calculate the electric flux density in the dielectric separating the plates.

Electric flux density, D = =2

5. The electric flux density between two plates separated by polystyrene of relative permittivity 2.5

is 5 . Find the voltage gradient between the plates.

© John Bird Published by Taylor and Francis 137

 from which, voltage gradient, E = = 226 kV/m

6. Two parallel plates having a p.d. of 250 V between them are spaced 1 mm apart. Determine the

electric field strength. Find also the electric flux density when the dielectric between the plates is

(a) air and (b) mica of relative permittivity 5.

Electric field strength, E = = 250 kV/m

(a) For air, = 1, hence from which,

electric flux density, D = E = 2.213

(b) from which, D = = 11.063

© John Bird Published by Taylor and Francis 138

EXERCISE 53, Page 129

1. A capacitor consists of two parallel plates each of area 0.01 m2, spaced 0.1 mm in air. Calculate the

capacitance in picofarads.

Capacitance, = 885 pF since = 1 for air

2. A waxed paper capacitor has two parallel plates, each of effective area 0.2 . If the capaci-

-tance is 4000 pF determine the effective thickness of the paper if its relative permittivity is 2.

hence, thickness of the paper, d =

= 0.885 mm

3. Calculate the capacitance of a parallel plate capacitor having 5 plates, each 30 mm by 20 mm and separated

by a dielectric 0.75 mm thick having a relative permittivity of 2.3

Capacitance, = 65.14 pF

4. How many plates has a parallel plate capacitor having a capacitance of 5 nF, if each plate is

40 mm by 40 mm and each dielectric is 0.102 mm thick with a relative permittivity of 6.

from which, n – 1 = =6

Hence, the number of plates, n = 6 + 1 = 7

5. A parallel plate capacitor is made from 25 plates, each 70 mm by 120 mm, interleaved with mica

of relative permittivity 5. If the capacitance of the capacitor is 3000 pF determine the thickness of

© John Bird Published by Taylor and Francis 139

 the mica.

from which,

dielectric thickness, d = = 0.00297 m

= 2.97 mm

6. A capacitor is constructed with parallel plates and has a value of 50 pF. What would be the capacitance of

the capacitor if the plate area is doubled and the plate spacing is halved?

If the plate area is doubled then the capacitance will double, i.e. C = 50 pF × 2 = 100 pF

If also the plate spacing is halved, then the capacitance will again double, i.e. capacitance, C = 100 pF× 2

= 200 pF

7. The capacitance of a parallel plate capacitor is 1000 pF. It has 19 plates, each 50 mm by 30 mm

separated by a dielectric of thickness 0.40 mm. Determine the relative permittivity of the

dielectric.

hence,

relative permittivity, = 1.67

8. The charge on the square plates of a multiplate capacitor is 80 C when the potential between

them is 5 kV. If the capacitor has twenty five plates separated by a dielectric of thickness

0.102 mm and relative permittivity 4.8, determine the width of a plate.

from which,

© John Bird Published by Taylor and Francis 140

plate area, A = = 0.0016

Since the plates are square, the width of a plate = m = 40 mm

9. A capacitor is to be constructed so that its capacitance is 4250 pF and to operate at a p.d. of

100 V across its terminals. The dielectric is to be polythene ( ) which, after allowing a

safety factor, has a dielectric strength of 20 MV/m. Find (a) the thickness of the polythene

needed, and (b) the area of the plate.

(a) Dielectric strength, E = from which,

thickness of polythene, d = = 0.005 mm

(b) from which, cross-sectional area, A =

= 10.44

© John Bird Published by Taylor and Francis 141

EXERCISE 54, Page 132

1. Capacitors of 2 μF and 6 μF are connected (a) in parallel and (b) in series. Determine the equivalent

capacitance in each case.

(a) In parallel, equivalent capacitance, = 2 + 6 = 8 μF

(b) In series, from which, = = 1.5 μF

2. Find the capacitance to be connected in series with a 10 F capacitor for the equivalent

capacitance to be 6 F

For series connection,

i.e. from which,

and = = 15 F

3. What value of capacitance would be obtained if capacitors of 0.15 μF and 0.10 μF are connected (a) in series

and (b) in parallel

(a) In series, from which, = = 0.06 μF

(b) In parallel, equivalent capacitance, = 0.15 + 0.10 = 0.25 μF

© John Bird Published by Taylor and Francis 142

4. Two 6 F capacitors are connected in series with one having a capacitance of 12 F. Find the

total equivalent circuit capacitance. What capacitance must be added in series to obtain a

capacitance of 1.2 F?

Two 6 F capacitors in series has a total capacitance of = 3 F. (Two equal value capacitors in series

will have a total capacitance of half the value of one of the capacitors).

3 F in series with 12 F has a total capacitance of = 2.4 F = total circuit capacitance.

Let new capacitance be then if new total capacitance is to be 1.2 F then

from which

Hence, capacitance to be added, = = 2.4 F

5. Determine the equivalent capacitance when the following capacitors are connected (a) in parallel and (b) in

series: (i) 2 μF, 4 μF and 8 μF (ii) 0.02 μF, 0.05 μF and 0.10 μF

(iii) 50 pF and 450 pF (iv) 0.01 μF and 200 pF

(a)(i) = 2 + 4 + 8 = 14 μF

(ii) = 0.02 + 0.05 + 0.10 = 0.17 μF

(iii) = 50 + 450 = 500 pF

(iv) = = 10.2 nF or 0.0102 μF

(b)(i) from which, = = 1.143 μF

(ii) from which, = = 0.0125 μF

© John Bird Published by Taylor and Francis 143

 (iii) from which, = 45 pF

(iv) from which, = = 196.1 pF

6. For the arrangement shown below find (a) the equivalent circuit capacitance and (b) the voltage

across a 4.5 F capacitor.

(a) Three 4.5 F capacitors in series gives 1.5 F and two 1 F capacitors in series gives 0.5 F

1.5 F and 0.5 F capacitors in parallel gives 1.5 + 0.5 = 2 F

2 F in series with 3 F gives: = 1.2 F = equivalent circuit capacitance

(b) The equivalent circuit is shown below where = 300 V = voltage across three

4.5 F capacitors in series. Hence, voltage across each 4.5 F capacitor = 300/3 = 100 V.

(Alternatively, to find :

Since = 1.2 F then . This is the charge on each

capacitor of the circuit shown below. Hence, = 300 V)

© John Bird Published by Taylor and Francis 144
7. Three 12 F capacitors are connected in series across a 750 V supply. Calculate (a) the

equivalent capacitance, (b) the charge on each capacitor and (c) the p.d. across each capacitor.

(a) from which, equivalent capacitance, = 4 F

(Alternatively, the total capacitance of three capacitors each having the same value, will be one

third the value of one of the capacitors, i.e. = 4 F)

(b) Total charge, = 3 mC = the charge on each

capacitor since they are connected in series.

(c) P.d. across each capacitor = = 250 V since each capacitor has the same value.

8. If two capacitors having capacitances of 3 F and 5F respectively are connected in series across a 240 V

supply, determine (a) the p.d. across each capacitor and (b) the charge on each capacitor.

The circuit is shown below.

(a) Similar to question 5(b), = 150 V

and = 90 V

(b) Charge, = 450 C or 0.45 mC

and = 450 C or 0.45 mC

© John Bird Published by Taylor and Francis 145

 (Note that in a series circuit the charge is the same on each capacitor).

9. In the circuit below, capacitors P, Q and R are identical and the total equivalent capacitance of

the circuit is 3 F. Determine the values of P, Q and R.

3.5 F and 4.5 F in parallel gives an equivalent capacitance of 3.5 + 4.5 = 8 F

2 F in series with 8 F gives = 1.6 F

Let the equivalent capacitance of P, Q and R in series be

Then 1.6 + = 3 from which, = 3 – 1.6 = 1.4 F

Thus, (since )

i.e. = 4.2 F =

10. Capacitance’s of 4 μF, 8 μF and 16 μF are connected in parallel across a 200 V supply. Determine (a) the

equivalent capacitance, (b) the total charge and (c) the charge on each capacitor.

(a) Equivalent capacitance, = 4 + 8 + 16 = 28 μF

(b) Total charge, Q = CV = = 5.6 mC

(c) = 0.8 mC

= 1.6 mC

= 3.2 mC

© John Bird Published by Taylor and Francis 146

11. A circuit consists of two capacitors P and Q in parallel, connected in series with another

capacitor R. The capacitances of P, Q and R are 4 F, 12 F and 8 F respectively. When the

circuit is connected across a 300 V d.c. supply find (a) the total capacitance of the circuit,

(b) the p.d. across each capacitor and (c) the charge on each capacitor

The circuit is shown below in diagram (a).

(a) 4 F in parallel with 12 F gives: 4 + 12 = 16 F as shown in the equivalent circuit below in

diagram (b).

The total capacitance, = 5.33 F

(b) Total charge on circuit, = the charge on each

capacitor in diagram (b).

Hence, voltage and

Hence, the voltage across P = 100 V, the voltage across Q = 100 V and the voltage across

R = 200 V

(c) Charge on P, = 400 C or 0.4 mC

© John Bird Published by Taylor and Francis 147
 Charge on Q, = 1200 C or 1.2 mC

Charge on R, = 1600 C or 1.6 mC

12. For the circuit shown below, determine (a) the total circuit capacitance, (b) the total energy in

the circuit, and (c) the charges in the capacitors shown as and

(a) 2 F in series with 2 F gives 1 F

Hence, 1 F, 2 F, 2 F and 1 F in parallel gives: 1 + 2 + 2 + 1 = 6 F

The circuit is now as shown below in (i).

(i)

Total capacitance, , is obtained from:

and = = 0.857 F

© John Bird Published by Taylor and Francis 148

(b) Total energy stored, W = = 1.071 mJ

(c) Total charge, = 42.85 C

This is the charge on each of the capacitors in circuit (i) above.

Hence, charges on capacitors and = 42.85 C on each

EXERCISE 55, Page 134

1. When a capacitor is connected across a 200 V supply the charge is 4 C. Find (a) the

capacitance and (b) the energy stored.

(a) Q = CV from which, capacitance, C = = 20 nF or 0.02 F

(b) Energy stored, W = = 400 J or 0.4 mJ

2. Find the energy stored in a 10 μF capacitor when charged to 2 kV

Energy stored, W = = 20 J

3. A 3300 pF capacitor is required to store 0.5 mJ of energy. Find the p.d. to which the capacitor

must be charged.

Energy, W = from which, p.d., V = = 550 V

4. A capacitor is charged with 8 mC. If the energy stored is 0.4 J find (a) the voltage and (b) the

capacitance.

© John Bird Published by Taylor and Francis 149

(a) Energy, W =

Hence, voltage, V = = 100 V

(b) Capacitance, C = = 80 F

5. A capacitor, consisting of two metal plates each of area 50 and spaced 0.2 mm apart in air,

is connected across a 120 V supply. Calculate (a) the energy stored, (b) the electric flux density

and (c) the potential gradient.

(a) Energy stored, W =

and capacitance, C =

Hence, energy stored, W = = 1.593 J

(b) Electric flux density, D = = 5.31

(c) Potential gradient or electric field strength, E = = 600 kV/m

6. A bakelite capacitor is to be constructed to have a capacitance of 0.04 F and to have a steady

working potential of 1 kV maximum. Allowing a safe value of field stress of 25 MV/m find (a)

the thickness of bakelite required, (b) the area of plate required if the relative permittivity of

bakelite is 5, (c) the maximum energy stored by the capacitor and (d) the average power

developed if this energy is dissipated in a time of 20 s.

© John Bird Published by Taylor and Francis 150

(a) Field stress, E = from which,

thickness of dielectric, d = = 0.04 mm

(b) Capacitance, C = from which,

cross-sectional area, A = = 361.6

(c) Maximum energy, = = 0.02 J

(d) Energy = power  time, hence, power, P = = 1000 W or 1 kW

© John Bird Published by Taylor and Francis 151