BIUST

College of Engineering
Electrical, Computer and Telecommunications Department

Covers material on chapter 05

Question 1.

Using figure 1.0, drive the equation for capacitors in parallel?

Figure 1.0 Capacitors in parallel

Answer:

Q1 = C1V and Q2 = C2V

Charge is split because current is split. Voltage remains the same. If we were to replace C 1 and C2 by a
single capacitor of such capacitance C farads that the same total charge of (Q1 + Q2) coulombs would
be produced by the same p.d., then

Q1 + Q2 = CV.

Substituting for Q1 and Q2, we have

C1V + C2V = CV
C = C1 + C2 farads

Hence the resultant capacitance of capacitors in parallel is the arithmetic sum of their respective
capacitances.

Question 2.

Using figure 2.0, drive the equation for capacitors in series?

 Figure 2.0 Capacitors in parallel

Answer:

If V1 and V2 are the corresponding p.d.s across C1 and C2 respectively, then from equation [5.2]:
Q = C1V1 = C2V2
so that

If we were to replace C1 and C2 by a single capacitor of capacitance C farads such that it would have
the same charge Q coulombs with the same p.d. of V volts, then:

Question 3.

A 9 μF capacitor is connected in series with two capacitors, 4 μF and 2 μF respectively, which are
connected in parallel. Determine the capacitance of the combination. If a p.d. of 20 V is maintained
across the combination, determine the charge on the 9 μF capacitor and the energy stored in the 4 μF
capacitor.

Answer:
Cp  4  2  6 F

Q  CV  3.6  106  20  72 C
= C9V9
 
 V4  12 V

Question 4.

A capacitor consists of two metal plates, each having an area of 900 cm2, spaced 3.0 mm apart. The
whole of the space between the plates is filled with a dielectric having a relative permittivity of 6. A
p.d. of 500 V is maintained between the two plates. Calculate:
(a) the capacitance;
(b) the charge;
(c) the electric field strength;
(d) the electric flux density.

Answer:

(a)
 1594 pF
(b) Q  CV  1594  1012  500  0.797 C

(c)

(d)

Question 5.

A capacitor is made with seven metal plates connected as in Fig. 5.0 and separated by sheets of mica
having a thickness of 0.3 mm and a relative permittivity of 6. The area of one side of each plate is
500 cm2. Calculate the capacitance in microfarads.

Figure 5.0

Answer:
Question 6.

A p.d. of 400 V is maintained across the terminals of the capacitor of Example 5.4. Calculate
(a) the charge;
(b) the electric field strength or potential gradient;
(c) the electric flux density in the dielectric.
(a) Charge

Q=CV =0.0531[μ F ]×400 [ V ]=21.2 μ C

(b) Electric field strength or potential gradient

E ¿ V /d=400[ V ]/0.0003[ m]=1333000 V /m

¿ ¿

(c) Electric flux density

D ¿Q / A=21.24 [μ C ]/( 0.05 ×6) [ m ]

2

¿ ¿

Question 7.

A 50 μ F capacitor is charged from a 200 V supply. After being disconnected it is immediately

connected in parallel with a 30 μ F capacitor which is initially uncharged. Find:
(a) the p.d. across the combination;
(b) the electrostatic energies before and after the capacitors are connected in parallel.
(a) From equation [5.2]

Q ¿CV
¿ ( 50 ×10 ) [F ]×200 [ V ]=0.01C
−6
Charge

When the capacitors are connected in parallel, the total capacitance is 80 μ F , and the charge of
0.01 C is divided between the two capacitors:

Q=CV 0.01[C]=( 80 ×10−6 ) [ F ]× p.d. ¿ ∴ ¿ p.d. across capacitors =125 V ¿

¿
(b) From equation [5.35] it follows that when the 50 μ F capacitor is charged to a p.d. of 200 V :

1 2
W ¿ CV
2
Electrostatic energy ¿

With the capacitors in parallel:

 1 −6
Total electrostatic energy = × 80× 10 ׿
2

It is of interest to note that there is a reduction in the energy stored in the capacitors. This loss appears
as heat in the resistance of the circuit by the

Question 8.

For the network shown below , the switch is closed on to position 1 when t = 0 and then moved to
position 2 when t = 20 ms. Determine the voltage across the capacitor when T = 30 ms.

In order to analyse the transient effect, it is necessary to simplify the supply network to the capacitor
by means of Thévenin's theorem. The supply voltage is shown in Fig below.

The equivalent resistance is given by

100 ×100
Rc =100+ =150 kΩ
100+100
100
V o / c =6 × =3 V
100+100

The network hence can be replaced as shown in Fig below

During charging

( ) ( )
−t −t
v c =V 1−e C ⋅R =3 1−e T

where

−6 3
T =CR=0.2×10 ×150 ×10 ≡30 ms

hence

v =3 ( 1−e )
−t
30× 10−3
c

For t=20 ms,

v =3 ( 1−e )=1.46 V
−20
30
c

During discharge with switch in position 2

−t −t
v c =V e CR =1.46 e T

where

−6 3
T =CR=0.2×10 ×200 ×10 ≡ 40 ms

But the time of t=30 ms is 10 ms after the second switching action, hence

−10
40
v c =1.46 ×e =1.14 V

The waveform of the voltage across the capacitor is shown in Fig below