Capacitor Charge and Energy Questions
Capacitor Charge and Energy Questions
quesjjommm. <M
QUESTION FOR SHORT ANSWER
Q.l The electric strength of air is about 30,000 V/cm. By this we mean that when the electricfieldintensity
exceeds this value, a spark will jump through the air. We say that "electric breakdown" has occurred.
Using this value, estimate the potential difference between two objects where a spark jumps. Atypical
situation might be the spark that jumps between your body and a metal door handle after you have
walked on a deep carpet or slid across a plastic car seat in very dry weather.
Q.2 Ifyou grasp the two wires leadingfromthe two plates of a charged capacitor, you may feel a shock. The
effect is much greater for a 2-pF capacitor than for a 0.02p,F capacitor, even though both are are
charged to the same potential difference. Why?
Q.3 Three infinite nonconducting sheets, with uniform surface charge densities <T(+) a(-)
a, 2a and 3ct are arranged to be parallel like the two sheets in Fig. What
is their order,fromleft to right, if the electricfieldE produced by the
arrangement has magnitude E = 0 in one region and E = 2a/e in another
0
region?
Q.4 As shown in the figure plots of charge versus potential difference for three parallel plate capacitors,
which have the plate areas and separations given in the table. Which of the plots goes with which ofthe
capacitors?
Capacitor Area Separation
1 A d
2 2A d
3 A 2d
Q.5 Initially, a single capacitance C is wired to a battery. Then capacitance C is added in parallel. Are (a)
t 2
the potential difference across C and (b) the charge qj on C now more than, less than, or the same as
1 t
previously? (c) Is the equivalent capacitance C of Cj and C more than, less than, or equal to Cj? (d)
12 2
Is the total charge stored on C^ and C , together more than, less than, or equal to the charge stored
previously on Cj?
Q.6 As shown in thefigurethree circuits, each consisting of
a switch and two capacitors, initially charged as
indicated. After the switches have been closed, in which 6q_ 6q_ _ Jq 6q__
circuit (ifany) will the charge on the left-hand capacitor 2C 2C C 3C 2C
job and the capacitor occasionally arcs over. What can be done to redesign the capacitor, keeping C
and V unchanged and using the same dielectric?
m
Q.9 One of the plates of a capacitor connected to battery is earthed. Will the potential diffrence between
the plates change if the earthing wire is removed?
(fe Bansal Classes Question Bank on Capacitance [13]
ONLY ONE OPTION IS CORRECT.
Take approx. 2 minutes for answering each question. Cond. Diele.
Q. 1 The distance between plates of a parallel plate capacitor is 5d. Let the
positively charged plate is at x=0 and negatively charged plate is at
1 * x=5d. Two slabs one of conductor and other of a dielectric of equal
thickness d are inserted between the plates as shown in figure.
Potential versus distance graph will look like: x=0 x=d x=2d x=3d x=4d x=5d
v VI
w v
A) (B) (C) (D)
Q.2 A parallel plate capacitor has two layers of dielectric as shown in figure. k=2 k=4
This capacitor is connected across a battery. The graph which shows
the variation of electricfield(E) and distance (x)fromleft plate.
y y y (d,0) (3d,0)
length of the metal bar is same as that of plate of capacitor. The voltage across capacitor after the
immersion ofthe bar is
(A) zero (B)400V (C)600V (D)100V
2Q
Q.4 Three large plates are arranged as shown. How much charge will flow through 2d
the key k if it is closed?
L
5Q 4Q
(A) ( B ) F (C)
3Q
(D) none 1
Q.5 Five conducting parallel plates having area Aand separation between them d, are placed E
as shown in the figure. Plate number 2 and 4 are connected wire and between point A
and B, a cell of emfE is connected. The charge flown through the cell is
u
3 e AE 0 2 s AE0 4s AE 0 e AE 0
(A)
4 d (B)
3 d (C) (D)
2d w
|3nF
Q.6 If charge on left plane of the 5 pF capacitor in the circuit segment shown 5
2(iF
-> in the figure is -20pC, the charge on the right plate of 3 pF capacitor is |ffH
Q.10 A conducting body 1 has some initial charge Q, and its capacitance is C. There are two other conducting
bodies, 2 and 3, having capacitances : C = 2C and C -» QO. Bodies 2 and 3 are initially uncharged.
2 3
"Body 2 is touched with body 1. Then, body 2 is removed from body 1 and touched with body 3, and
then removed." This process is repeated N times. Then, the charge on body 1 at the end must be
(A) Q / 3 N (B) Q / 3 N _ 1 (C)Q/N 3 (D) None
[Link] Condenser A has a capacity of 15 pF when it isfilledwith a medium of dielectric constant 15. Another
condenser B has a capacity 1 pF with air between the plates. Both are charged separately by a battery
C of 100V. After charging, both are connected in parallel without the battery and the dielectric material
being removed. The common potential now is
(A) 4 0 0 V (B) 800V (C) 1200V (D) 1600V
Q.12 In the adjoiningfigure,capacitor (1) and (2) have a capacitance C' each. When the dielectric of dielectric
consatnt K is inserted between the plates of one ofthe capacitor, the total charge flowing through battery is
KCE KCE h ,c
t (A) K + l from B to C (B) K + l from C to B
(K-l)CE (K-l)CE A
(C) ^ FROM B to C
+ (D) from C to B
2 ( K + 1)
Q. 13 Two identical capacitors 1 and 2 are connected in series toabatteryas shown in -WUr
1
figure. Capacitor 2 contains a dielectric slab of dielectric constant k as shown. Q
t
and Q are the charges stored in the capacitors. Now the dielectric
2
slab is removed and the corresponding charges are Q' j and Q' . Then 2
H^
q; = k+i Q2 _ k + l Q^_k +1 01 k
(A)
Qi k (B) (C)
Q ~ 2k
2
(D) Qi 2
Q. 14 The area ofthe plates of a parallel plate capacitor is A and the gap between them is d. The gap is filled
with a non-homogeneous dielectric whose dielectric constant varies with the distance 'y'fromone plate
• as : K = ^sec(7ty/2d), where X is a dimensionless constant. The capacitance ofthis capacitor is
(A) 7ie ^ A/2d
0 (B)7rs XA/d
0 (C) 27te k A/d
0 (D)none
Q.15 A capacitor stores 60pC charge when connected across a battery. When the gap between the plates is
filled with a dielectric, a charge of 120pC flows through the battery. The dielectric constant of the
material inserted is:
i (A) 1 (B) 2 . (C) 3 (D) none
Q.19 A parallel plate capacitor of capacitance C is connected to a battery and is charged to a potential
difference V. Another capacitor of capacitance 2C is similarly charged to a potential difference 2V. The
charging battery is now disconnected and the capacitors are connect in parallel to each other in such a
way that the positive terminal of one is connected to the negative terminal of the other. Thefinalenergy
I ofthe configuration is
(A)zero 25 „ (D)-CV
( B ) - CV 2
(C)yCV 2 2
2mgA e m
(C)VmgA (D)
0
3nF
Q.22 In the circuit shown, the energy stored in 1 pF capacitor is IH^F
(A) 40 pJ (B) 64 pJ
(C) 32 pJ (D)none
Q.23 Four metallic plates arearranged as shown in [Link] distance between each plate then capacitance
of the given system between points A and B is (Given d « A)
I - , _ Ss pAA 2s A / , I 1
(A) d n 0n
(B)
3s A 4s o A
(C) d
0
(D)
£ between A & B
W~6c (B) 1.6 C (C)C (D) None B
2.
Q.25 From a supply ofidentical capacitors rated 8 pF, 250 V, the minimum number of capacitors required to
form a composite 16 pF, 1000 Vis :
cP (A) 2 (B) 4 (C) 16 (D) 32
Q.26 The minimum number ofcapacitors each of3 pF required to make a circuit with an equivalent capacitance
£. 2.25 pF is
(A) 3 (B)4 (C)5 (D)6
Q.27 The capacitance (C) for an isolated conducting sphere of radius (a) is given by 47ts a. Ifthe sphere is
0
enclosed with an earthed concentric sphere. The ratio ofthe radii of the spheres being n then the
I- (n-1)
capacitance of such a sphere will be increased by a factor
n (n-1)
(A)n (B) (n-1) (C)
-' n (D) a. n
Q.28 Two capacitor having capacitances 8 pF and 16 pF have breaking voltages 20 V and 80 V. They are
combined in series. The maximum charge they can store individually in the combination is
£ (A) 160 pC (B) 200 p,C (C) 1280 p,C (D) none ofthese
y C,
respectively. The ratio — is :
C-2
3
(A)-: (B)l 5
( C )
(D)
3jiF •JL—
Q.31 In the circuit shown infigure,the ratio ofcharges on 5pF 5(iF
#
6V
Q.32 In the circuit shown, a potential difference of 60V is applied across AB.
The potential difference between the point M and N is r - Cr ^ h r
60V
(A) 10 V (B) 15V
(C) 20 V (D) 30 V B I Li 2d H
such that no capacitor breaks down?[Hint: First of allfindout the break down
voltages of each branch. After that compare them. ] 7C;lkV 3C;2kV
Q. 3 8 Three long concentric conducting cylindrical shells have radii R, 2R and 2^2 R. Inner and outer shells
are connected to each other. The capacitance across middle and inner shells per unit length is:
I 6^0
(A) (B) In 2 (C) 2/n2 (D) None
/n2
Q.39 A charged capacitor is allowed to discharge through a resistance 2Q by closing 0.5 |JF
the switch S at the instant t = 0. At time t = In 2 ps, the reading of the ammeter
falls halfof its initial value. The resistance ofthe ammeter equal to
(A) 0 (B)2Q
(C)°o (D) 2MQ
Q. 40 A capacitor C = 100 pF is connected to three resistor each of resistance Hh
1 kf2 and a battery of emf 9V. The switch S has been closed for long IkSl
time so as to charge the capacitor. When switch S is opened, the ikn
capacitor discharges with time constant
(A) 33 ms (B) 5 ms
(C) 3.3 ms (D) 50 ms
rH^n
Q. 41 A capacitor C = 100 pF is connected to three resistors each of resistance 1 kW and AW ikn
A battery of emf 9V. The switch S has been closed for long time so as to charge the pvWv—
a
ikn
^ t { capacitor. When switch S is opened, the capacitor discharges with time constant. LAWvH
t
(A) is constant c
(B) increases with increase in time t
(C) decreases with increase in time t
(D)firstincreases then decreases
Q.44 Find heat produced in the capacitors on closing the switch S 20V
£ (A) 0.0002 J (B) 0.0005 J
L \ (C) 0.00075 (D) zero
Q.45 In the circuit shown, when the key k is pressed at time t = 0, which of the following statements about
current I in the resistor AB is true K
(A) I = 2mA at all t r|2V I—^^IOOOSI
VV—IT—
(B) I oscillates between 1 mA and 2mA .1000Q
(C) 1= 1 mA at all t i
(D) At t = 0,1 = 2mA and with time it goes to 1 mA
Q.46 In the R-C circuit shown in thefigurethe total energy of 3.6 *10~ J is dissipated in the 10 Q resistor
3
key at the instant t =0. At the instant t = (In 4) ps, the reading [Link] yijc
falls halfthe initial value. The resistance of the ammeter is equal to
(A) 1 MO (B) ID (C)2H (D) 2MQ Hg)- - W2Q W—
c
Q.48 In the circuit shown, the cell is ideal, with emf= 15 V. Each resistance is
of 3Q. The potential difference across the capacitor is
(A) zero (B)9V
<y (C) 12 V (D) 15 V
10nF 4|iF
Question No. 49 to 52 (4 questions)
In the circuit shown infigure,four capacitors are connected to a battery. 5HFV 6uF
[13]
(fe Bansal Classes Question Bank on Capacitance
Q. 5 0 The charge on the 5 pF capacitor is
> (A) 60 pC (B) 24 pC (C) 12 pC (D)20pC
Q. 51 The potential difference aero ss the 6 pF capacitor is
(A) 6V (B)4V (C)5V (D)none
Q. 5 2 The maximum energy is stored in the capacitor of
- (A)10pF (B) 6 uF (C) 5 pF (D)4pF
Q, 5 3 A parallel plate capacitor has an electricfieldof 10 V/m between the plates. Ifthe charge on the capacitor
5
Q. 1 A parallel plate capacitor A isfilledwith a dielectric whose dielectric constant varies with applied voltage
as K=V. An identical capacitor B of capacitance C with air as dielectric is connected to voltage source
0
V = 3 0V and then connected to thefirstcapacitor after disconnecting the voltage source. The charge
0
Q.2 Two capacitors of 2 pF and 3 pF are charged to 150 volt and I.5HF
120 volt respectively. The plates of capacitor are connected as 0 '' °
shown in thefigure.A discharged capacitor ofcapacity 1.5 pF
falls to the free ends ofthe wire. Then 150V 2nF 3|^F 120V
(A) charge on the 1.5 pF capacitors is 180 pC \ ^J
(B) charge on the 2pF capacitor is 120 pC A
switch I
(B) The current through resistor R a long time after the switch closed is 5 A.
3
Q.12 Identify the correct statement(s) related to the R,, R^ Cj and C„ of the two RC circuits.
(A)R >R ifE,=E
1 2 2 (B)C <C ifE =E
1 2 1 2
Q.13 Aparallel plate capacitor is charged by connecting it to a battery. The battery is disconnected and the
plates of the capacitor are pulled apart to make the separation between the plates twice. Again the
capacitor is connected to the battery (with same polarity) then
(A) Chargefromthe batteryflowsinto the capacitor after reconnection
(B) Chargefromcapacitorflowsinto the battery after reconnection.
(C) The potential difference between the plates increases when the plates are pulled apart.
(D) After reconnection ofbattery potential difference between the plate will immediately becomes half of
the initial potential difference. (Just after disconnecting the battery)
Q. 14 The plates of a parallel plate capacitor with no dielectric are connected to a voltage source. Now a
dielectric of dielectric constant K is inserted tofillthe whole space between the plates with voltage
source remaining connected to the capacitor.
(A) the energy stored in the capacitor will become K-times
(B) the electricfieldinside the capacitor will decrease to K-times
(C) the force of attraction between the plates will increase to K -times 2
(D) Energy stored in capacitor C. is two times the energy stored in capacitor C . 2
Q.17 A capacitor C is charged to a potential difference V and batteiy is disconnected. Now if the capacitor
plates are brought close slowly by some di stance:
(A) some +ve work is done by external agent (B) energy of capacitor will decrease
(C) energy of capacitor will increase (D) none of the above
(D) the external agent has to do ^E C(k -1) amount ofwork to take the slab out.
2
Q.19 Two capacitors of capacitances 1 pF and 3 pF are charged to the same voltages 5 V. They are connected
in parallel with oppositely charged plates connected together. Then:
(A) Final common voltage will be 5 V (B) Final common voltage will be 2.5 V
(C) Heat produced in the circuit will be zero. (D) Heat produced in the circuit will be 37.5 pJ
Q. 20 The two plates X and Y of a parallel plate capacitor of capacitance C are given a charge of amount Q
each. X is now joined to the positive terminal and Yto the negative terminal of a cell of emfE = Q/C.
(A) Charge of amount Q willflowfromthe negative terminal to the positive terminal ofthe cell inside it
(B) The total charge on the plate X will be 2Q.
(C) The total charge on the plate Y will be zero.
(D) The cell will supply CE amount of energy.
2
Q.21 A dielectric slab is inserted between the plates of an isolated charged capacitor. Which of the following
quantities will remain the same?
(A) the electricfieldin the capacitor (B) the charge on the capacitor
(C) the potential difference between the plates (D) the stored energy in the capacitor.
Q.22 The separation between the plates of a isolated charged parallel plate capacitor is increased. Which of
the following quantities will change?
(A) charge on the capacitor (B) potential difference across the capacitor
(C) energy of the capacitor (D) energy density between the plates.
Q.23 Each plate ofa parallel plate capacitor has a charge q on it. The capacitor is now connected to a battery. Now,
(A) the facing surfaces of the capacitor have equal and opposite charges.
(B) the two plates of the capacitor have equal and opposite charges.
(C) the battery supplies equal and opposite charges to the two plates.
(D) the outer surfaces ofthe plates have equal charges.
Q. 24 Following operations can be performed on a capacitor:
X - connect the capacitor to a battery of emf E. Y - disconnect the battery
Z - reconnect the battery with polarity reversed. W - insert a dielectric slab in the capacitor
(A) In XYZ (perform X, then Y, then Z) the stored electric energy remains unchanged and no thermal
energy is developed.
(B) The charge appearing on the capacitor is greater after the action XWY than after the action XYW.
(C) The electric energy stored in the capacitor is greater after the action WXY than after the action XYW.
(D) The electricfieldin the capacitor after the action XW is the same as that after WX.
Q.25 A parallel plate capacitor is charged and then disconnectedfromthe source of potential difference. Ifthe
plates of the condenser are then moved farther apart by the use of insulated handle, which one of the
following is true?
(A) the charge on the capacitor increases (B) the charge on the capacitor decreases
(C) the capacitance of the capacitor increases (D) the potential difference across the plate increases
(fe Bansal Classes Question Bank on Capacitance [13]
Q.26 Aparallel plate capacitor is charged and then disconnected from the source steady E.M.F. The plates
are then drawn apart farther. Again it is connected to the same source. Then:
(A) the potential difference across the plate increases, while the plates are being drawn apart.
(B) the charge from the capacitorflowsinto the source, when the capacitor is reconnected.
(C) more charge is drawn to the capacitor from the source, during the reconnection.
(D) the electric intensity between the plates remains constant during the drawing apart of plates.
Q.27 When a parallel plates capacitor is connected to a source of constant potential difference,
(A) all the charge drawnfromthe source is stored in the capacitor.
(B) all the energy drawnfromthe source is stored in the capacitor.
(C) the potential difference across the capacitor grows very rapidly initially and this rate decreases to
zero eventually.
(D) the capacity of the capacitor increases with the increase of the charge in the capacitor.
Q.28 When two identical capacitors are charged individually to different potentials and connected parallel to
each other, after disconnecting themfromthe source:
(A) net charge on connected plates is less than the sum of initial individual charges.
(B) net charge on connected plates equals the sum of initial charges.
(C) the net potential difference across them is differentfromthe sum ofthe individual initial potential differences.
(D) the net energy stored in the two capacitors is less than the sum ofthe initial individual energies.
Q. 29 Aparallel plate capacitor of plate area A and plate seperation d is charged to potential difference V and
then the battery is disconnected. A slab of dielectric constant K is then inserted between the plates ofthe
capacitor so as tofillthe space between the plates. If Q, E and W denote respectively, the magnitude of
charge on each plate, the electricfieldbetween the plates (after the slab is inserted) and the work done
on the system, in question, in the process of inserting the slab, then
e AV
0 s KAV
0 V £ AV 1 - 1
2
K
Q. 3 0 A parallel plate capacitor is connected to a battery. The quantities charge, voltage, electricfieldand
energy associated with the capacitor are given by Q , V , E and U respectively. A dielectric slab is
0 Q 0 0
introduced between plates of capacitor but battery is still in connection. The corresponding quantities
now given by Q, V, E and U related to previous ones are
(A)Q>Q 0 (B) V > V 0 (C) E > E q (D)U<U 0
Q.31 A parallel-plate capacitor is connected to a cell. Its positive plate A and its negative plate B have charges
+Q and -Q respectively. A third plate C, identical to A and B, with charge +Q, is now introduced
midway between A and B, parallel to them. Which of the following are correct?
3Q
(A) The charge on the inner face of B is now ——
(B) There is no change in the potential difference between A and B.
(C) The potential difference between A and C is one-third of the potential difference betweenB and C.
(D) The charge on the inner face ofA is now Q/ 2.
Q.32 Two capacitors Cj = 4 pF and C = 2pF are charged to same potential
2
(A) The potential difference across the two capacitors are same and is given by 500/3 V
(B) The potential difference across the two capacitors are same and is given by 1000/3 V
(C) The ratio offinalenergy to initial energy of the system is 1/9.
(D) The ratio offinalenergy to initial energy ofthe system is 4/9.
(fe Bansal Classes Question Bank on Capacitance [13]
Q. 33 A parallel plate capacitor is charged to a certain potential and the charging battery is then disconnected.
Now, if the plates of the capacitor are moved apart then:
(A) The stored energy of the capacitor increases
(B) Charge on the capacitor increases
(C) Voltage ofthe capacitor decreases
(D) The capacitance increases
Q. 34 If a battery of voltage V is connected across terminals I of the block box
shown infigure,an ideal voltmeter connected to terminals II gives a reading
of V/2, while ifthe battery is connected to terminals II, a voltmeter across
terrninals
I reads V. The black box may contain
i 1
O-J -o
(A) I !
O—I—vwv-
iR 11
(B) 1
1
Tc
l R
' R
O—I—vwv- -o i ii 1 j£)
ER
11
(C) O—i—vwv- 11
-o (D)1. J 1! T
l R
Q.35 Two capacitors of equal capacitance (Cj = C ) are shown in the figure. 2
Initially, while the switch S is open, one ofthe capacitors is uncharged and
the other carries charge Q . The energy stored in the charged capacitor is
0
(E)U = U j + U
0 2
battery T 2(xF
Q. 3 6 Identify the correct statements. h
(A) Both the 4pF capacitors carry equal charges in opposite sense. 2 (iF ° 4|iF
(B) Both the 4pF capacitors carry equal charges in same sense. E=20V
(C)V -V >0 B D
(D)V -V >0 d B
( C ) 2 ( V - V ) + 2 ( V - V ) = 4V
A d B d D (D)V = V + V
A B D
(B) q = 48 pC ; q = 16 pC ; q = + 8 pC
{ 2 3
(C) qj = 32 pC ; q = 24 pC ; q = + 8 pC
2 3 q2 D qi
(D) q = 3 pC ; q = 4 pC ; q = + 2 pC
E=20V
( 2 3
Q.40 If Q is the charge on the plates of a capacitor of capacitance C, V the potential difference between the plates,
A the area of each plate and d the distance between the plates, the force of attraction between the plates is
r
CV2 A
CV2
(A)
v 7 —
2V o
(B) <oj 7IE0d'
8 A v o J
A s
-J.