STPM Physics Capacitors Review

Name: Class: Date:
SMK (L) Methodist Kuala Lumpur

STPM Physics Semester 2
13.0 CAPACITORS_1999 – 2021

STPM 2021 - Section A
3 A parallel plate capacitor of capacitance C is connected to a battery of e.m.f. of V. The capacitor is
charged to charge Q. A piece of insulator is then inserted into the capacitor while the battery is still
connected. Which statement is true about the capacitor after the insertion of the insulator?
A The charges in the capacitor is greater than Q.
B The capacitance of the capacitor is less than C.
C The total energy of the capacitor remains constant.
D The potential difference across the capacitor is less than V.
4 A flash-lamp of a camera gains energy from a capacitor of 150 μF which has been charged to 1000 V. If
all the energy stored is converted to light and the light is emitted for 0.040 s, what is the average power
of the light?
A 3.0 W B 75 W C 1.9 103 W D 3.8 103 W
STPM 2021 - Section B

17 A capacitor of capacitance 10 μF initially is charged by a battery of potential difference 500 V.
(a) Determine the charge in the capacitor. [2]
(b) The battery is then removed and the capacitor is connected to an uncharged capacitor of
capacitance 40 μF.
(i) Determine the potential difference across both capacitors [2]
(ii) Calculate the total energy of both capacitors. [2]
(c) The system of the capacitors is then connected to a resistor. Describe the change in the total
charge stored in the system with time. [2]
STPM 2020 – Section A

3 The capacitance of a parallel plate capacitor is
A independent of the dielectric in the capacitor
B inversely proportional to the area of the plates of the capacitor
C directly proportional to the distance between the plates of the capacitor
D independent of the potential difference across the plates of the capacitor
4 A parallel plate capacitor is constantly charged by a battery. After several minutes of charging, a slab of
dielectric material with dielectric constant,  r , is inserted in the space between the plates of the
capacitor. The battery remains connected. What is the ratio of the energy stored before the slab is
inserted to the energy stored after the slab is inserted?
A 1 : r B r : 1 C 1 : r2 D r2 : 1
1/23
3 A capacitor of capacitance 18 μF and a resistor of resistance 1.0 MΩ are connected to a battery of e.m.f.
200 V as shown in the circuit below.
Initially, the switch is connected to P to fully charged the capacitor. Then the switch is connected to
Q, to discharge the capacitor. What is the time taken for the charge in the capacitor to decrease to 37%
of the initial value?
A 18 s B 12 s C 8.3 s D 6.7 s
4 Which graph shows the variation of energy stored, U, in the capacitor with a charge, Q, during the
charging process?
STPM 2019 – Section C

19(a) Define capacitance of a capacitor. [1]
19(b) Describe the mechanism of charging a parallel plate capacitor. [4]
19(c) What is the effect on capacitance if an insulating material is inserted between the parallel plate
capacitor? Explain how the effect happens. [4]
19(d) A parallel plate capacitor of area 144 cm2 is charged by a battery of 6.0 V. The separation between the
plates is 10.0 mm and the space between the plates is filled by mica of dielectric constant 5.4.
(i) Determine the capacitance of the capacitor. [2]
(ii) Calculate the electric fields between the plates. [2]
(iii) Calculate the energy stored in the capacitor. [2]
STPM 2019 (U) – Section A

3 A capacitor consists of two parallel plates in which the distance between the plates can be adjusted. The
capacitor is charged by connecting the capacitor to a battery, which is then removed. The potential
difference between the plates of the isolated capacitor can be increased by
A touching the two plates
B bringing the two plates closer
C separating the two plates further apart
D allowing the potential difference increasing by itself
4 A capacitor of capacitance 20 μF is discharged through a resistor of resistance 4.0 MΩ. After 25 s, the
charge on the capacitor is 2.9  10-6 C. What is the time elapsed when the charge on the capacitor is
1.9  10-6 C?
A 59 s B 53 s C 40 s D 38 s
2/23
STPM 2019 (U) – Section C
18(a) Describe the effect of inserting a dielectric material between the plates of the parallel plate capacitor. [3]
18(b) Describe the process of charging a parallel plate capacitor through a resistor with the aid of suitable
circuit. [4]
18(c) Two capacitors of capacitance 10.0 μF and 50.0 μF are connected in parallel and charged by a supply of
120 V when the switch, S, is closed as shown in the circuit below.
(i) S is then opened and both capacitors are allowed to discharge through a resistor of resistance
500 kΩ. Determine the time taken for the potential difference across both capacitors to decrease
to 10.0 V. [4]
(ii) If both capacitors are connected in series, calculate the required potential difference across both
capacitors for the same amount of energy as stored in the parallel connection. [4]

3 A capacitor with an air gap between the plates is connected to a battery. The battery is then removed
from the capacitor. A dielectric is then used to fill in the air gap between the plates. Which statement is
true about the capacitor with the dielectric?
A The energy stored in the capacitor increases.
B The charge stored in the capacitor decreases.
C The potential difference across the plates of the capacitor decreases.
D The electric field strength between the plates of the capacitor increases.
4 When a parallel plate capacitor is charged to a potential difference of 12.0 V, the charge on each plate is
2.16  10-4 C. If the potential difference across the capacitor is 30.0 V, what is the energy stored in the
capacitor?
A 3.24  10-3 J B 6.48  10-3 J C 8.10  10-3 J D 1.62  10-2 J

3 A capacitor of two parallel conducting plates which are separated by a piece of dielectric, is fully
charged by a battery as shown in the diagram below.
The capacitance of the capacitor will change if

A different dielectric is used
B the capacitor is not fully charged
C the battery of different voltage is used
D the conducting plates of different metals are used
3/23
4 A battery of e.m.f. of 12 V is connected in series with a capacitor and a resistor as shown in the circuit
below.
What is the charge in the capacitor 10 ms after S is closed?

A 330 μF B 210 μF C 76 μF D 44 μF

3 Two capacitors which have the same capacitance can be connected in series or parallel. Which statement
is true about the charge stored for the same d.c. voltage supply?
A The series connection stores an amount of charge twice that of the parallel connection.
B The parallel connection stores an amount of charge twice that of the series connection.
C The series connection stores an amount of charge four times that of the parallel connection.
D The parallel connection stores an amount of charge four times that of the series connection.
4 Two identical capacitors, X and Y, which are connected in parallel to a battery are shown in the diagram
below.
When switch S is opened, the potential difference across X is V, the charge stored is Q and Y is
uncharged. When switch S is closed, what is the potential difference across Y and the charge stored in Y?
Potential difference Charge stored
1
A V Q
2
1
B V 2Q
2
C V Q
D V 2Q

18(a) Describe the changes in electrostatic quantities of a parallel plate capacitor when a dielectric material is
inserted between the plates. [3]
18(b) Two identical air gapped parallel plate capacitors, A and B, each has a capacitance of 20.0 μF. A
material with dielectric constant 3.55 is inserted into the air gap of capacitor B. The two capacitors are
then connected in series to a battery of 12.0 V. Determine
(i) the effective capacitance of the circuit, [3]
(ii) the energy stored in each capacitor in the circuit. [4]
18(c) A capacitor of capacitance 47.0 μF is fully charged by a battery of 6.0 V. The capacitor is then
connected to a discharging circuit of a camera flash containing a resistance of 200 kΩ.
(i) Determine the time constant. [2]
(ii) Calculate the amount of charge remained in the capacitor after 10.0 s. [2]
(iii) State the effect on the power of the camera flash if a smaller value of resistance is used. [1]
4/23
3 A dielectric is inserted into an air-filled parallel plate capacitor of capacitance 20 μF so that only half of
the space between the plates is filled as shown in the diagram below.
If the dielectric constant is 5.0, what is the final capacitance of the capacitor?
A 8.3 μF B 30 μF C 60 μF D 100 μF
4 A parallel-plate capacitor is initially charged by a battery and the battery is then disconnected. When the
dielectric is removed from the charged capacitor,
A the charge stored in the capacitor increases
B the energy stored in the capacitor increases
C the potential difference between the plates decreases
D the electric field strength between the plates decreases

3 The capacitance of a variable capacitor can be varied from 250 µF to 3750 µF. The capacitance of the
capacitor is set at 2000 µF, and is connected to a power source of 12 V. The power source is then
removed. What is the maximum potential difference achieved if the capacitance of the capacitor is
varied again?
A 6.4 V B 12 V C 23 V D 96 V
5 A parallel plate capacitor with separation of plates d which is fully charged by a battery to charge Q0 is
shown in the diagram below.
The battery is then disconnected from the capacitor and the distance between the plates x is increased
slowly. Which graph shows the variation of the charge Q with x?
A B
C D
5/23
STPM 2016 - Section C
19(b) Derive an expression for the equivalent capacitance of two capacitors connected in series. [2]
19(c) Capacitor C1 and capacitor C2 are connected in series with a battery as shown in the figure below.
(i) Determine the charge stored in each capacitor. [3]

(ii) Determine the energy stored in the capacitors. [2]
(iii) Calculate the total energy supplied by the battery. [2]
(iv) Comment your answer in (c)(ii) and (c)(iii). [2]
(v) Capacitor C1 is removed and discharged through a 250 Ω resistor. Determine the time taken for
the charges to decrease 60%. [3]

3 The plates of an isolated charged capacitor are pulled further apart. Which statement is not true of the
capacitor?
A The capacitance of the capacitor decreases.
B The energy stored in the capacitor increases.
C The charge on the capacitor remains constant.
D The potential difference across the capacitor remains constant.
4 The potential difference across a capacitor of 2200 µF decreases to 25% from its original value in time,
T, when the capacitor is discharged through a resistor of 25 kΩ. What is the value of T?
A 14 s B 16 s C 41 s D 76 s

19(a) Define capacitance. [1]
19(b) Two square conducting plates of sides 5.50 cm are separated by an air gap of 1.25 cm to form a parallel
plate capacitor. The plates are then connected to a supply of 120 V. Determine
(i) the capacitance of the capacitor, [3]
(ii) the charge stored in the capacitor. [2]
19(c) A parallel plate capacitor is separated by air space of distance 18.5 mm. An electric supply of 12.0 Vis
then connected to the capacitor and the charged stored in the capacitor is 2.46 µC. A dielectric with
dielectric constant of 3.06 is then inserted into the air space between the plates. Determine
(i) the electric field between the plates with air space, [2]
(ii) the capacitance of the plates after the dielectric is inserted, [3]
(iii) the increase in electric potential energy stored in the capacitor before and after the dielectric is
inserted. Explain the microscopic mechanism for the increase. [4]
6/23
3 A parallel plate capacitor with dielectric is shown in the diagram below.
The charges on the capacitor plates are +Q and –Q. Which statement is not true about the capacitor?
A The electric field within the dielectric is uniform.
B The electric field between the plates is dependent on the net surface charge density.
C The induced charges on the surface of the dielectric are equal in magnitude to the charges of the
capacitor plates.
D The electric field due to the induced charges is in the opposite direction to the electric field due to
the charges on the capacitor plates.
4 A capacitor is connected in series with a switch, a resistor of low resistance and a battery. Which graph
represents the variation of the current I with time t during the charging process?
STPM 2015 – Section B

16(a) A parallel plate capacitor of surface area 0.24 m2 has plate separation of 0.65 cm in tree space and
potential difference of 0.80 kV. Determine the charge stored in the capacitor. [3]
16(b) The charged capacitor in (a) is then discharged through a circuit connected to a resistor of 10 kΩ.
Determine
(i) the time taken for the charge in the capacitor to decrease to half of its initial value, [2]
(ii) current after 2.0 µs. [3]

3 A parallel plate capacitor is fully charged. When an insulator is inserted into the space between the
plates of the capacitor, the energy stored in the capacitor decreases by 73.0%. What is the value of the
dielectric constant of the insulator?
A 1.37 B 1.88 C 3.70 D 13.7
7/23
4 The variation of current I with time t when a capacitor is discharging through a resistor in a circuit is
shown in the graph below.
What is the time constant of the circuit?

A 6.0 s B 14 s C 20 s D 34 s

19(a) (i) Define capacitance of a capacitor. [1]
(ii) Derive the capacitance for parallel plate capacitor in terms of its physical properties. [3]
(iii) Explain microscopically how a charged capacitor can increase its capacitance when a dielectric
material is inserted between the plates. [3]
19(b) A d.c. supply of 24 V which is connected to three capacitors, a resistor and a switch S is shown in the
diagram below.
When switch S is closed, determine

(i) the time constant for the charging circuit, [4]
(ii) the initial charging current, [2]
(iii) the time taken for the charging current to drop to 1.6  10 −3 A . [2]

3 Three capacitors of equal capacitance C can be arranged so as to obtain the minimum capacitance or the
maximum capacitance. If the minimum capacitance is P and the maximum capacitance is Q, the ratio of
P
is
Q
1 1
A B 9 C 2 D C2
2 C
8/23
18(a) (i) Define the capacitance of a capacitor. [1]
(ii) A potential difference is applied across an air-filled parallel plate capacitor. State the physical
properties of the capacitor that determine the maximum charge stored. If a mica is inserted
between the plates, what happens to the capacitance of the capacitor? [3]
18(b) A circuit with two capacitors and a battery is shown in the diagram below.
Determine
(i) the total amount of charge that flows in the circuit, [3]
(ii) the potential difference across the 300 µF capacitor. [2]
18(c) A circuit consisting of a 6.0 V battery, a 3000 µF capacitor and a 1.0 k  resistor is shown in the
diagram below.
The switch S is closed at terminal P so that the capacitor is fully charged. Then, it is closed at terminal
Q.
(i) Calculate the time constant for the circuit. [2]
(ii) Estimate the energy dissipated through the resistor after 2.0 s. [4]

3 An air-filled parallel plate capacitor of capacitance C1 which is charged to a potential difference of V is
shown in the diagram below.
An isolated neutral metal sphere of capacitance C2 is brought into contact with the positive plate. What
is the charge gained by the metal sphere?
1 C1C 2 C12 C 22
A C1V B V C V D V
2 C1 + C 2 C1 + C 2 C1 + C 2
9/23
4 An uncharged capacitor C which is connected in series with a resistor R and a battery of e.m.f. E is
shown in the circuit below.
Which graph represents the variation of the potential difference V across the resistor with time t after the
switch S is closed?
STPM 2013 (U) – Section B

16(a) Derive an expression for the capacitance of a parallel plate capacitor in terms of the overlapping area A,
the separation distance d, the permittivity of vacuum   and the relative permittivity  r of the material
filling up the gap between the plates. [4]
16(b) Explain briefly, in microscopic view, how the presence of a dielectric material between a parallel plate
capacitor can increase its capacitance. [3]

3 Three capacitors C1, C2 and C3 are connected in series to a battery as shown in the diagram below.
The capacitances of each capacitor are 2 µF, 3 µF and 4 µF respectively. Which statement about the
circuit is true?
A The equivalent capacitance is 9 µF.
B The charge in capacitor C3 is the biggest.
C The potential difference across C1 is the biggest.
D The energy stored in capacitor C3 is greater than that of capacitor C2.
4 A parallel plate capacitor in a vacuum is charged, and it stores an energy U. If the capacitor is then filled
with a medium of relative permittivity  r and it is charged with the same potential, what is the energy
stored in the capacitor?
o r
A  rU B  r  oU C U D U
r o
10/23
3 Charges can be induced on a dielectric surface because
A charge carriers in dielectric are electron hole pairs
B electric field cannot pass through the dielectric
C molecules in the dielectric can be polarized
D charges in the dielectric can move freely

19(a) Define capacitance. [1]
19(b) A parallel-plate capacitor filled with plastic is charged by a 4.0 V battery as shown in the diagram below.
The area of one plate is 200 cm2. The thickness and dielectric constant of the plastic layer is 1.0 mm and
3.2 respectively.
(i) Calculate the capacitance of the capacitor. [2]
(ii) Determine the energy stored in the capacitor. [2]
(iii) Determine the work done by the battery while charging the capacitor. [2]
(iv) Explain the discrepancy between the answers in (ii) and (iii). [2]
19(c) The battery is removed, and the plastic layer is pulled out half from the plates as shown in the diagram
below.
(i) Determine the new capacitance of the capacitor. [3]

(ii) Determine the work needed to pull the plastic layer. [3]
11/23
STPM 1999 – Paper 1
31 In the circuit below, switch S is connected to position 1 at time t = 0. At the instant t = T, when the
voltmeter reading reaches Vo, the switch S is connected to the position 2.
Which of the following graphs shows the variation of the voltmeter reading V with time t?
32 A charged capacitor is connected in parallel to an identical capacitor which is uncharged. Which of the
following describes, if any, the potential difference, the resultant capacitance, and the total charge on the
capacitors?
Potential difference Resultant capacitance Total charge
A decreases increases unchanged
B decreases increases decreases
C increases decreases unchanged
D unchanged decreases decreases
E unchanged increases unchanged
33 A battery of e.m.f. E is connected across a capacitor arrangement consisting of two parallel-plate

capacitors connected in series. After the capacitors are fully charged, both the capacitors are
disconnected from the battery. The two capacitors are then connected in parallel so that plates of similar
charges are connected together. If the capacitances of the two capacitors are C1 and C2 respectively, the
potential difference across the capacitors in parallel can be expressed as
2(C1C 2 ) E (C1 + C 2 )2 E 2(C1 + C 2 ) E
2 2
2C1C 2 E
A 2C C E B C D E
1 2
(C1 + C 2 )2 (C1 + C 2 ) C1C 2 C1C 2
12/23
29 The equivalent capacitance of the capacitors arrangement in the figure above is
21 3 15 30 14
A F B F C F D F E F
20 2 7 7 3
30 A 5 µF capacitor which stores a charge of 15 µC is discharged through a 25 kΩ resistor. What is the

maximum current during discharging?
A 0.12 mA B 0.30 mA C 0.33 mA D 0.75 mA E 0.83 mA

4 The diagram below shows a capacitor network consisting of capacitors C1, C2 and C3.
Calculate
(a) the capacitance equivalent of the combination of the capacitors, [2]
(b) the potential difference across the capacitor C1. [3]

26 What happens at the instant of switching on a circuit consisting of a resistor and a capacitor that are
connected in series with a dry cell?
A Voltage across the resistor is zero.
B Capacitance of the capacitor is minimum.
C Current in the circuit is maximum.
D Power loss in the circuit is minimum.
27 Two capacitors C1 and C2 of capacitance 3 µF and 6 µF respectively are connected in series with a 12 V
battery. What is the potential difference across the capacitor C1 and C2?
Potential difference across C1 Potential difference across C2
A 12 V 12 V
B 8V 4V
C 6V 6V
D 4V 8V
13/23
12(b) Explain how a piece of dielectric inserted in between the plates of the capacitor will increase its
capacitance. [3]
12(c) The diagram below shows a circuit used to discharge a capacitor which is charged to a potential
difference of V0.
By considering the discharge current, show that the potential difference across the capacitor at time t
after the switch is closed is
t
−
V = V0 e CR
[5]
12(d) The diagram below shows a circuit designed by a student to determine the speed of a bullet fired from a
toy gun. A and B are thin metal foil strips which will snap when the bullet strikes them.
(i) Explain how the voltmeter reading varies from the instant the foil strip A snaps until the instant
the foil strip B snaps. [3]
(ii) If the initial reading of the voltmeter (before the foil strip A snaps is 24.0 V, the final voltmeter
reading (after the foil strip B snaps) is 15.6 V, and the distance between the foil strips A and B is
0.40 m, calculate the speed of the bullet. [3]

26 A capacitor with capacitance C that is initially not charged, a resistor with resistance R, a battery with
emf E, and a switch are connected in series in a circuit. The capacitor is charged when the switch is
turned on. The maximum current and the charge stored in the capacitor after one time constant is
Maximum current Charge after one time constant
E
A CEe −1
2R
E
B CEe −1
R
C
E
2R
(
CE 1 - e −1 )
D
E
R
(
CE 1 - e −1 )
14/23
27 The figure below shows two capacitors with capacitances C1 and C2 (C1 > C2) that are connected in
series with a resistor R and a cell with emf E.
If the voltage across C1 and the voltage across C2 are V1 and V2 respectively, which of the following is
true?
E
A V1 < V2 B V1 > V2 C V1 = V2 = E D V1 = V2 =
2

24 A parallel plate capacitor is charged and then disconnected from the supply. The distance between the
plates of the capacitor is then reduced. Which of the following is correct about the potential difference
across the capacitor and the energy stored in the capacitor?
Potential difference Energy
A Increases Increases
B Increases Decreases
C Decreases Decreases
D Decreases Increases
25 A capacitor C is charged through a resistor R at time t = 0 and then discharged through the resistor R at
time t = t1. The graph below shows the variation of voltage V across the capacitor C with time t. This
1
process is repeated using a new set of capacitor and resistor of values C and 2R respectively.
2
Which of the following graphs represents the variation of potential difference V across the new capacitor
with time t?
15/23
5 In the circuit shown below, a 5 µF capacitor is charged through a resistor R using a 6.0 V battery. The
resistance of the microammeter is negligible, and the resistance of the voltmeter is high. Switch S is then
closed.
(a) (i) What is the current in the circuit when switch S is closed? [1]
(ii) Sketch a graph of microammter reading I against time t. [1]
(b) Sketch a graph of voltmeter reading V against time t, and indicate the maximum value of V. [2]
(c) What is the time constant of the charging circuit? [2]

26 Diagram (a) below shows three identical capacitors which are connected in series to the voltage supply
V. The three capacitors are then connected in parallel to the same dc source as shown in diagram (b).
What is the ratio of the total energy stored by the capacitor in (a) to the total energy stored by the
capacitor in (b)?
A 1:9 B 1:3 C 3:1 D 9:1
27 The space between the plates of a parallel-plate capacitor needs to be completely filled by a dielectric
material to increase its capacitance. Which of the following will give the highest capacitance?
Dielectric material Permittivity Thickness / mm
A Teflon 20 0.4
B Quartz 30 0.8
C Glass 40 1.0
D Mica 50 1.2
16/23
5 In the circuit shown below, the emf of cells E1 and E2 are 2.0 V and 3.0 V respectively. The capacitance
of the capacitor C is 10 µF. Initially switch S is open.
(a) What is the initial charge in capacitor C? [2]

(b) Explain qualitatively what will happen to the charge in capacitor C after switch S is closed. [2]

28 A 5 μF capacitor is charged until the potential difference is 12 V before it is disconnected from the
supply. The capacitor is then connected in parallel to an uncharged 10 μF capacitor. The common
potential difference of the two capacitors is
A 4.0 V B 6.0 V C 9.0 V D 12.0 V
29 In the circuit shown below, capacitor C can be fully charged and then fully discharged by using a two-
way switch.
Which of the following influences the time constant of the circuit when capacitor C is discharged?
A Voltage V B Resistance R1 C Resistance R2 D Resistance R3

12(a) State two functions of the dielectric in a capacitor. [2]
12(b) Two pure capacitors of capacitance C1 = 5.0 μF and C2 = 10.0 μF are connected in series to a 10.0 V
battery.
(i) Derive an expression for the effective capacitance CT of the circuit and calculate the value of CT.
[4]
(ii) Calculate the total energy stored in the circuit. [2]
12(c) The battery in (b) is replaced by an alternating current supply of maximum voltage 10 V and frequency
120 Hz.
(i) Calculate the reactance of the combined capacitor. [2]
(ii) Calculate the maximum current in the circuit. Comment on the phase of the current with
reference to the voltage supplied. [3]
(iii) Describe briefly the behaviour of the energy stored in the combined capacitor during a cycle of
the alternating current supply. [2]
17/23
22 The diagram below shows two capacitors of 300 μF and 500 μF connected in series to a 6.0 V battery.
The charge in the 300 μF capacitor is

A 0.68 mC B 1.8 mC C 1.1 mC D 4.8 mC
23 A parallel plate capacitor is charged until a certain voltage. With the power supply still connected, the
plates of the capacitor are separated further until the distance between them is two times the original
distance. If the energy stored in the capacitor before and after the plates are separated are U1 and U2
U
respectively, the ratio 1 is
U2
1
A B 1 C 2 D 4
2

27 The circuit diagram shows a 10 kΩ resistor and a 40 kΩ resistor connected across a charged capacitor C.
After switch S is closed, the potential difference V across the capacitor varies with time t. The graph of
ln V against t is given as follows.
The capacitance of the capacitor is

A 1.25  10-5 F B 2.00  10-4 F C 1.25  10-3 F D 2.50  10-3 F
28 A parallel-plate capacitor is charged by a battery. The space between the plates is then completely filled
with a material of dielectric constant  r while the battery remains connected. What is the ratio of the
energy stored after the material is inserted to the energy stored before the material is inserted?
A 1 :  r2 B 1 : r C r : 1 D  r2 : 1
18/23
5 A 1.5 μF capacitor and a 2.0 μF capacitor are connected in series across a 24 V source.
(a) Calculate the equivalent capacitance across the source. [2]
(b) Calculate the charge stored on each capacitor. [2]
(c) If a dielectric is added to each capacitor, explain what happens to the charge stored in each
capacitor. [2]

26 A charged capacitor is connected in series to a switch and a resistor. A voltmeter of high resistance is
connected across the capacitor. The switch is closed, and a set of values for the voltage V and the time t
is obtained. Graph ln V against t plotted is as follows:
The time constant of the circuit is

A 0.1 s B 2s C 10 s D 20 s
27 Which arrangement of four identical capacitors produces the biggest capacitance between points X and
Y?

11(a) Two thin conducting plates have an area of 0.50 m2 each. They are placed parallel to each other and
25 mm apart. One plate is maintained at +75 V while the other at –75 V by a d.c. supply.
(i) Determine the amount of charge stored on each plate. [4]
(ii) Calculate the energy stored in the electric field between the plates. [2]
19/23
11(b) The figure shows a simple circuit of the photographic flash used in a camera.
The capacitance of the capacitor is 40.0 μF, and the resistance of the resistor is 45.0 kΩ.
(i) Explain the function of the capacitor in this application. [4]
(ii) Calculate the time required to charge the capacitor to 63% so that a good flash can be obtained.
[4]
(iii) Suggest a way to reduce the charging time of the capacitor. [1]

25 A battery, a resistor and a capacitor connected in series are shown in the circuit.
The charge stored in the capacitor is Q when the current through the circuit is I. The potential difference
V in the circuit is
Q Q Q
A IR + B IR C D IR −
C C C
26 The capacitance of a parallel-plate capacitor will increase by increasing

A the separation between the plates
B the amount of charge on the plates
C the potential difference between the plates
D the permittivity of a medium between the plates

27 Two parallel plate capacitors C1 and C2 are connected in series to a battery. A dielectric slab is then
inserted between the plates of capacitor C2. Which statement is true of this set up?
A The total energy in both capacitors decreases.
B The total energy stored in both capacitors decreases.
C The equivalent capacitance of both capacitors increases.
D The potential difference across both capacitors increases.
20/23
26 A capacitor C1 of capacitance 3 µF and a capacitor C2 of capacitance 2 µF which are arranged from
batteries of e.m.f. 12.0 V and 6.0 V respectively are shown in the diagram below.
After switch S is closed, what are the potential differences across C1 and C2?
Potential difference across C1 Potential difference across C2
A 9.0 V 9.0 V
B 9.6 V 9.6 V
C 12.0 V 6.0 V
D 18.0 V 18.0 V

25 Four identical capacitors each having a capacitance of 10.0 µF are connected in a circuit. Which
arrangement of capacitors in the circuit produces an equivalence capacitance of 10.0 µF?
26 A parallel plate capacitor is charged by using a battery. The battery is then removed and a piece of
dielectric is inserted between the plates of the capacitor. What happens to the capacitance and energy
stored in the capacitor?
Capacitance Energy
A Decreases Decreases
B Decreases Increases
C Increases Decreases
D Increases Increases
21/23
5 Four capacitors of capacitance 100 µF, 200 µF, 300 µF and 400 µF which are connected to a battery
between points P and Q are shown in the diagram below.
(a) If the 100 µF capacitor has a charge of 350 µC, determine the quantity of the charge stored in
(i) the 200 µF capacitor, [1]
(ii) the 400 µF capacitor. [2]
(b) Calculate the potential difference across points P and Q. [2]

24 Two capacitors C1 and C 2 which are connected to a switch S are shown in the diagram below.
The capacitor C1 is charged while the capacitor C 2 is uncharged. When the switch S is closed, what
happens to the total charge in the capacitors C1 and C 2 , the potential difference across the capacitor C1
and the total energy in the capacitors C1 and C 2 ?
Total charge in the capacitors Potential difference across Total energy in the
C1 and C 2 the capacitor C1 capacitors C1 and C 2
A No change Decreases No change
B No change Decreases Decreases
C Decreases No change Decreases
D Decreases No change No change
22/23
25 A piece of dielectric which is placed between two plates of a charged parallel-plate capacitor is shown in
the diagram below.
The distance between the plates is d. Which graph shows the variation of electric field strength E with
distance x?
23/23
Chapter 13 Capacitors Past Year’s Questions 2016-2020 (Answer Scheme)

3. A 4. C

17(a) Q = CV = 10 (500) = 5.0 10−3 C

3. D 4. A
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2/19
3/19
4/19
5/19
STPM 2015 – Section B
6/19
7/19

3. C
8/19
9/19
STPM 2013 (U) – Section B
10/19
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15/19
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25. C 26. C
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24. B 25. C
19/19

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SMK (L) Methodist Kuala Lumpur

13.0 CAPACITORS_1999 – 2021

STPM 2021 - Section B

STPM 2020 – Section A

STPM 2019 – Section C

STPM 2019 (U) – Section A

STPM 2018 – Section A

STPM 2018 (U) – Section A

The capacitance of the capacitor will change if

What is the charge in the capacitor 10 ms after S is closed?

STPM 2017 – Section A

STPM 2017 – Section C

STPM 2016 – Section A

(i) Determine the charge stored in each capacitor. [3]

STPM 2016 (U) – Section A

STPM 2016 (U) – Section C

STPM 2015 – Section B

STPM 2015 (U) – Section A

What is the time constant of the circuit?

STPM 2015 (U) – Section C

When switch S is closed, determine

STPM 2013 – Section A

STPM 2013 (U) – Section A

STPM 2013 (U) – Section B

STPM 2014 – Section A

STPM 2014 (U) – Section C

(i) Determine the new capacitance of the capacitor. [3]

33 A battery of e.m.f. E is connected across a capacitor arrangement consisting of two parallel-plate

30 A 5 µF capacitor which stores a charge of 15 µC is discharged through a 25 kΩ resistor. What is the

STPM 2000 – Paper 2

STPM 2001 – Paper 1

STPM 2002 – Paper 1

STPM 2003 – Paper 1

STPM 2004 – Paper 1

(a) What is the initial charge in capacitor C? [2]

STPM 2005 – Paper 1

STPM 2005 – Paper 2

The charge in the 300 μF capacitor is

STPM 2007 – Paper 1

The capacitance of the capacitor is

STPM 2008 – Paper 1

The time constant of the circuit is

STPM 2008 – Paper 2

STPM 2009 – Paper 1

26 The capacitance of a parallel-plate capacitor will increase by increasing

STPM 2010 – Paper 1

STPM 2011 – Paper 1

STPM 2012 – Paper 1

STPM 2020 – Section A

STPM 2020 – Section A

STPM 2020 – Section A

STPM 2019 – Section A

STPM 2019 – Section C

STPM 2019 (U) – Section C

STPM 2018 (U) – Section A

STPM 2017 – Section A

STPM 2017 (U) – Section A

STPM 2016 – Section A

STPM 2016 (U) – Section A

STPM 2015 – Section A

STPM 2015 – Section B

STPM 2015 (U) – Section C