GENERAL PHYSICS 2 - GRADE 12

Name: ______________________________________ Date: ____________________

Grade: ______________________________________ Section: ___________________

Quarter: 3 Week: 4 SSLM No.

MELC(s):
1. Deduce the effects of simple capacitors (e.g., parallel-plate, spherical, cylindrical)
on the capacitance, charge, and potential difference when the size, potential
difference, or charge is changed. (STEM_GP12EM-IIId-23)
2. Calculate the equivalent capacitance of a network of capacitors connected in
series/parallel. (STEM_GP12EM-IIId-24)
3. Determine the total charge, the charge on, and the potential difference across
each capacitor in the network given the capacitors connected in series/parallel.
(STEM_GP12EM-IIID-25)
4. Determine the potential energy stored inside the capacitor given the geometry
and the potential difference across the capacitor. (STEM_GP12EM-IIID-26)
5. Describe the effects of inserting dielectric materials on the capacitance, charge,
and electric field of a capacitor. (STEM_GP12EM-IIID-29)
6. Solve problems involving capacitors and dielectrics in contexts such as, but not
limited to, charged plates, batteries, and camera flashlamps. (STEM_GP12EM-
IIID-30)
➢ Objectives:
1. Differentiate capacitor from capacitance;
2. Determine the factors affecting the amount of charge that a capacitor can store;
3. Relate capacitance with charge and potential difference; and
4. Solve problems involving potential difference, charge, and capacitance of
capacitors including dielectric materials.
➢ Title of Textbook/LM to Study: Modern Physics
➢ Chapter: 34 Pages: 601 -609
➢ Topic: Capacitor, Capacitance, Potential Difference, and Dielectrics

A device used in electrical circuits to store an electric energy is called capacitor. All
capacitors are made up of two (2) conductors wherein both have equal and opposite
charges, separated by an air or another insulator.
We have learned that as charge is added to an object, the potential between the object
and the Earth increases. Given an object and as its size and shape, the ratio of charge to
𝑸
potential difference is constant, called capacitance or described by the equation: C =
𝐕
(Equation 1) where: C – capacitance; Q – charge; V – potential difference

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 Charge, Q is measured in coulomb, and potential difference, V is in volt, hence, 1
coulomb per volt is equal to 1 farad, F. A farad is the capacitance of the capacitor which
acquires a potential difference of one 91) volt when it receives a charge of one (1) coulomb .

However, it really needs a large capacitor and a great proportion to have a capacitance
of one (1) farad, hence, the microfarad (µF) is regularly used.

Example 1: A capacitor having a capacitance of 6 µF is connected to a 24-V battery. What

charge will there be in the capacitor?
Solution:
From C = Q/V then, Q = CV
= (6 µF)(24 V)
Q = 144 µcoulombs

From V = Ed (Equation 2), where: V represents the potential difference; E

stands for the magnitude of the electric field strength; and d means the space/distance
between parallel plates, we can say that the magnitude electric field strength, E is directly
proportional to the potential difference, V.
Considering the units of measure, the product of the units of E and d is
(newton/coulomb) ۰meter (Nm/C), but newton۰meter is equal to joule, so that
(newton/coulomb) ۰meter is equivalent to joule/coulomb (J/C). Further, 1J/C is also equivalent
to 1 volt, thus, the unit measure of V is volt.
Moreover, Equation 1 shows that V is directly proportional to Q, so that E is directly
proportional to Q as well. This means that the greater the voltage we supplied to a capacitor,
the greater a charge it will store.
On the other hand from Equation 2, it tells us that the amount of charge, Q that can
be transferred and definitely be stored is increased by the closeness of the plates, thus, E is
inversely proportional to d.
In this case, the amount of charge, Q that a capacitor can store is relative to:
1. the voltage applied on the capacitor, and
2. the distance between the plates.
3. the area of the plates. (A α Q)
Note:
Since, A α Q please recall Equation 1 that C α Q,
therefore, C α A [capacitance is directly proportional to
the area of the plates]
Sample Problem 1. A voltmeter reads the potential difference between two parallel plates to
be 80.0 volts. The plates are 2.0 cm apart. What is the magnitude of the electric field between
them?
Solution: V = Ed, so E = V/d
= 80 v/0.02 m
= 60 J/c/m
E = 4.0 x 103 N/C

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 A. Capacitance of Capacitors in Vacuum
The capacitance, C of a certain capacitor is simply the ratio of a given value of charge,
Q to the potential difference, V between the conducting materials.
In this context, the moment the plates are charged, there is a uniform induced electric
field between the plates, wherein the charges on the plates are uniformly distributed. Please
recall that the magnitude of the electric field in this type of capacitor can be determined by,
E = Q/ε◦A (Equation 3)
where:
E – magnitude of the electric field, Nm/coulomb
Q – total charge, in coulomb
ε◦ - permittivity of free space, in farad/meter (F/m)
A – area of the plate, in m2

But, V = Ed (Equation 2), and E = V/d. Since the electric field is uniform, the potential
difference (voltage) between plates is: Substitute this to E = Q/ε ◦A (Equation 3), hence,
V = Qd/ε◦A. Again, Q = E ε◦A (from Equation 3), and V = Ed (from Equation 2). Substitute
their corresponding values to C = Q/V = E ε◦A/Ed, cancelling E, and for this, the capacitance,
C of parallel-plate capacitor in vacuum is C = ε◦A/d (Equation 4) .

Let us check the units of measure involved: C = ε◦A/d --- F/m۰m2/m, cancelling m,
then, it is consistent that the unit measure of C is farad (F)

Sample Problem 2. A parallel-plate capacitor is made from the two square metals placed
1.0 mm apart. If the sides of the plates measure 5.0 cm, what is the capacitance if the
permittivity of free space is 8.85 x 10-12 F/m?
Solution:
C = ε◦A/d
= (8.85 x 10-12 F/m) (0.05 m)2 / 1 x 10-3 m
= (8.85 x 10-12 F/m) (2.5 x 10-3 m2) / 1 x 10-3 m
= 2.21 x 10-11 F considering 2 significant figures among the given
-5
C = 2.2 x 10 µF
Source: Celeste Joan Santisteban-Cook, Breaking Through General Physics 2 for Senior High School (Quezon City: C&E
Publishing Inc., 2018), 75.
Note: The capacitance, C of a capacitor in vacuum is always relative to the
shapes, dimensions, and separation of the two plates.
B. Capacitance of Capacitor with Dielectric material or Insulator
Using dielectric between the plates of a capacitor turns into advantages like:
1. it assures to keep space between plates without touching each other;
2. it rises to the maximum storing ability of potential difference, V, hence, V is
inversely proportional to the separation of two plates;
3. generally, it increases the capacitance of the capacitor

Since we are dealing with the insulator, kindly refer to the books or do the online
search of the Dielectric constants of common insulating materials. Recalling (Equation 4), C
= ε◦A/d, we can integrate the dielectric constant, K because there is already the presence of
insulator in the capacitor, which affects the total capacitance. With this, we could have
Equation 5, C = Kε◦A/d, by which K stands for the dielectric constant of the dielectric.

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Sample Problem 3. A parallel-plate capacitor has two plates, each with area of 250.00 cm2
and separated by a 0.300-cm gap.
a. What is its capacitance?
b. If a dielectric of constant K = 400.00 is inserted between the plates, what is its
new capacitance?
Solution:
a. C = ε◦A/d
= (8.85 x 10 -12 F/m)(250 cm2) / 0.300 cm
= (8.85 x 10 -12 F/m)(0.025 m2) / 0.003 m
= 7.38 x 10 -11 F
C = 7.38 x 10 -5 µF

b. C = Kε◦A/d
C = (400)(8.85 x 10 -12 F/m)(250 cm2) / 0.300 cm
= (400) (8.85 x 10 -12 F/m)(0.025 m2) / 0.003 m
= 2.95 x 10-8 F
C = 2.95 x 10 -2 µF

Note: Obviously, the capacitance of the capacitor is greater when dielectric material is
used compared to the capacitor of free space
C. Capacitance of Spherical Capacitor
A spherical capacitor is another set of conductors that consists of two concentric
conducting spherical shells of radii R1(inner shell) and R2 (outer shell). The shells are given
equal and opposite charges +Q and -Q, respectively.

The capacitance of an isolated sphere is determined by an Equation 6: C = Q/V. Thus,

the capacitance, C of the spherical capacitor is determined by using
Equation 6. C = 4πε◦R1 R2 / R2-R1 where: R1 is the radius of the isolated inner shell and R2
for the outer shell
Sample Problem 4. Two spherical conducting shells are separated bt vacuum. The inner
and outer shells’ radii are measured 7.00 cm and 14.0 cm, respectively. Find the
capacitance of this spherical capacitor.
Solution: C = 4πε◦R1 R2 / R2-R1
= 4π(8.85 x 10-12 F/m)(7 cm)(14 cm) / (14 cm – 7 cm)
= 4π(8.85 x 10-12 F/m)(0.07 m)(0.14 m) / (0.07 m)
= 1.56 x 10-11 F
C = 1.56 x 10-5 µF
Source: Hugh D. Young Roger A. Freedman, Sears and Zemansky’s University Physics with Modern Physics Technology 13th
Edition, www.pearsoned.co.uk

D. Capacitance of Cylindrical Capacitor

The capacitance, C of the cylindrical capacitor is directly proportional to the
area of the conducting plates and the potential difference, V across the capacitor is
directly proportional to the distance between the conducting plates. It is made up of
two concentric conducting cylinders – the inner and outer. These two correspond to
the plates and the dielectric is placed between these two cylinders.
Its capacitance can be determined by using Equation 7. C = 2π ε◦L / ln(b/a)
where:
C – capacitance

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 ε◦ - permittivity of free space; a – the radius of the inner cylinder
L – the length of the cylinder; b – the radius of the outer cylinder
Sample Problem 5. A capacitor in a cylindrical shape with a length of 8.00 cm is made of
two concentric rings with an inner radius as 3.00 cm and outer radius as 6.00 cm. Find the
capacitance of the capacitor.
Solution:
C = 2π ε◦L / ln(b/a)
= 2π (8.85 x 10-12 F/m)[(8 cm) / ln(6 cm/3 cm)]
= 2π (8.85 x 10-12 F/m)[(0.08 m) / ln(0.06 m)/(0.03 m)]
= 2π (8.85 x 10-12 F/m)[(0.08 m) / 0.6931471
= 2π (8.85 x 10-12 F/m)[0.11541561]
= 6.4178 x 10-12 F
C = 6.42 x 10-6 µF
Source: Cylindrical Capacitor Formula, last modified 2021. https://byjus.com/cylindrical-capacitor-formula/

E. The Equivalent Capacitance of Capacitors Connected in Series

The reciprocal of the equivalent capacitance, C eq of a series combination
equals the sum of the reciprocals of the individual capacitances, hence, m
1/Ceq = 1/C1 + 1/C2 + 1/C3… Please consider that in series connection, the equivalent
capacitance is always less than any individual capacitance.

F. The Equivalent Capacitance of Capacitors Connected in Parallel

The equivalent capacitance of a parallel combination equals the sum of the
individual capacitances. Unlike in series connection, whenever capacitors are
connected in parallel, the equivalent capacitance is always greater than any individual
capacitances. Thus,
Ceq = C1 + C2 + C3…
Sample Problem 6: There are two capacitors, C1 = 6.0 µF and C2 = 3.0 µF. Find the equivalent
capacitance if they are connected in
a. series.
b. Parallel.
Solution:
a. 1/Ceq = 1/C1 + 1/C2
= 1/6 µF + 1/ 3 µF
Ceq = 2.0 µF
For emphasis, Ceq = 2.0 µF is less than C1 = 6.0 µF and C2 = 3.0 µF

b. Ceq = C1 + C2
= 6 µF + 3 µF
Ceq = 9.0 µF
Just to confirm, Ceq = 9.0 µF is greater than C1 = 6.0 µF and C2 = 3.0 µF

Read carefully. Satisfy each and every question vividly. For problem solving,
kindly consider the scoring rubric for maximum point Give the factors to consider the amount
of charge that a capacitor can store.

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2021
 𝑸
1. (a) From C = , if charge is constant, what will happen to the capacitance if the potential
𝐕
difference in the circuit is halved? (b) The capacitance of a capacitor in vacuum is
expressed as C = ε◦A/d. What would be the value of the capacitance if the area of the
plate is quadrupled? (Hint: Other factors are constant)
(c) Considering a cylindrical capacitor, when the length of the cylinder is
tripled, what do you think will happen to its capacitance? (Note: The radii
are not changed)
2. A parallel plate-capacitor has a capacitance of 1.0 F. If the plates are 1.0 mm apart,
what is the area of the plates in m2?
3. Capacitor P = 12 µF and capacitor Q = 6.0 µF. Find the equivalent capacitance, in
µF, of the combination if they are connected in series.
4. Just for comparison, based from problem #4, with the same values of capacitances,
what would be the equivalent capacitance when these capacitors are connected in
parallel? Express answer in µF.

Rubric

Scoring rubric in solving the problem

5 4 3 0
Complete and
There is a minor Part/s of the solution set
appropriate solution set
omission like in the is missing and/or with No answer
including the given and
cancelation of units content error
the required quantity

1. Young and Freedman, Sears and Zemansky’s University Physics with

Modern Physics 10th Edition
2. College Physics by Webber Manning White and Weygand 5th Edition

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