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A Level Physics Capacitor Marking Scheme

The document outlines a marking scheme for an A2 physics worksheet, detailing calculations related to capacitors, charge, energy, and capacitance in various configurations. It includes step-by-step solutions for problems involving voltage, charge, and energy stored in capacitors, as well as the effects of series and parallel arrangements. The document serves as a guide for assessing student responses in physics related to electrical circuits.

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Polite Madire
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24 views3 pages

A Level Physics Capacitor Marking Scheme

The document outlines a marking scheme for an A2 physics worksheet, detailing calculations related to capacitors, charge, energy, and capacitance in various configurations. It includes step-by-step solutions for problems involving voltage, charge, and energy stored in capacitors, as well as the effects of series and parallel arrangements. The document serves as a guide for assessing student responses in physics related to electrical circuits.

Uploaded by

Polite Madire
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

24 Marking scheme: Worksheet (A2)

1 a Q = VC = 9.0 × 30 × 10–6 [1]


Q = 2.7 × 10–4 C (270 µC) [1]
Q 2.7 × 10 −4
b number of excess electrons = = [1]
e 1.6 × 10 −19
15 15
number = 1.69 × 10 ≈ 1.7 × 10 [1]
2 a i The charge is directly proportional to the voltage across the capacitor.
Hence doubling the voltage will double the charge. [1]
charge = 2 × 150 = 300 nC [1]
ii Since Q ∝ V for a given capacitor, increasing the voltage by a factor of three
will increase the charge by the same factor. [1]
charge = 3 × 150 = 450 nC [1]
Q 150 × 10 −9
b C= = [1]
V 3.0
–8
C = 5.0 × 10 F [1]
1 2 1
3 a E= V C = × 9.02 × 1000 × 10–6 [1]
2 2
E = 4.05 × 10–2 J ≈ 4.1 × 10–2 J [1]
b For a given capacitor, energy stored ∝ voltage2. [1]
energy = 22 × 4.05 × 10–2 ≈ 0.16 J [1]
4 a Ctotal = C1 + C2 [1]
Ctotal = 20 + 40 = 60 nF [1]
1 1 1
b = + [1]
C total C1 C2
1 1 1
= + = 0.012 µF−1 [1]
C total 100 500
1
Ctotal = ≈ 83 µF [1]
0.012
1 1 1 1
c = + + [1]
C total C1 C2 C3
1 1 1 1
= + + = 0.13 µF−1 [1]
C total 10 50 100
1
Ctotal = ≈ 7.7 µF [1]
0.13
d Total capacitance of the two capacitors in parallel = 50 + 50 = 100 µF. [1]
1 1 1
= + = 0.03 µF−1 [1]
C total 50 100
1
Ctotal = ≈ 33 µF [1]
0.03
e Total capacitance of the two capacitors in series is 83 µF (from b). [1]
Ctotal = 83 + 50 = 133 µF ≈ 130 µF [1]
5 a Ctotal = C1 + C2 [1]
Ctotal = 100 + 500 = 600 µF [1]
b The potential difference across parallel components is the same and equal to 1.5 V. [1]

AS and A Level Physics Original material © Cambridge University Press 2010 1


24 Marking scheme: Worksheet (A2)

c Q = VC = 1.5 × 600 × 10–6 [1]


Q = 9.0 × 10–4 C (900 µC) [1]
1 1
d E = QV = × 9.0 × 10–4 × 1.5 [1]
2 2
E = 6.75 × 10–4 J ≈ 6.8 × 10–4 J [1]
1 2 1
6 a E= V C = × 322 × 10 000 × 10–6 [1]
2 2
E = 5.12 J ≈ 5.1 J [1]
E 5.12
b P= = [1]
t 0.300
P ≈ 17 W [1]
7 a Q = VC = 12 × 1000 × 10–6 [1]
Q = 1.2 × 10–2 C (12 mC) [1]
b i Ctotal = C1 + C2 [1]
Ctotal = 1000 + 500 = 1500 µF [1]
Q
ii V = (The charge Q is conserved and C is the total capacitance.) [1]
C
1.2 × 10 −2
V= = 8.0 V [1]
1500 × 10 −6

I 225 ×10 −3
8 a ∆Q = I∆t = = = 4.5 × 10–3 C [1]
f 50
Q 4.5 × 10 −3
b C= = [1]
V 9 .0
= 5.0 × 10–4 F = 500 µF [1]
c i The capacitors are in parallel, so the total capacitance = 2C and charge stored = 2Q;
current =2I = 2 × 225 = 450 mA [1]
1 1
ii The capacitors are in series, so the total capacitance = C and charge stored = Q;
2 2
1 1
current = I = × 225 = 113 mA [1]
2 2
9 a Q = CV = 200 × 10–6 × 200 = 0.040 C [1]
1 1
b E = CV 2 = × 200 × 10–6 × 2002 = 4.0 J [1]
2 2
c The two capacitors now make a pair of capacitors in parallel of total capacitance
= 100 µF + 200 µF = 300 µF [1]
Q 0.040
The charge is conserved, therefore V = = [1]
C 300 × 10 −6
= 133 V [1]
1 1
d E = CV 2 = × 300 × 10–6 × 1332 [1]
2 2
= 2.67 J [1]
e The energy is lost as the connected wires are heated as the current passes through them. [1]

AS and A Level Physics Original material © Cambridge University Press 2010 2


24 Marking scheme: Worksheet (A2)

10 The capacitors are in parallel, so the total capacitance = 3C. [1]


The total charge Q remains constant. [1]
Q2
The energy stored by a capacitor is given by E = . [1]
2C
Q2 Q2
Einitial = and Efinal = [1]
2C 2(3C )
Efinal Q 2 2(3C ) 1
Fraction of energy stored = = 2
= [1]
Einitial Q 2C 3
1 2
Fraction of energy ‘lost’ as heat in resistor = 1 – = . [1]
3 3
The resistance governs how long it takes for the capacitor to discharge. The final voltage
across each capacitor is independent of the resistance. Hence, the energy lost as heat is
independent of the actual resistance of the resistor. [1]

AS and A Level Physics Original material © Cambridge University Press 2010 3

Common questions

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When capacitors are connected in series, the total capacitance is determined by the reciprocal sum of the individual capacitances, resulting in a lower total capacitance compared to any individual capacitor. In contrast, when capacitors are connected in parallel, the total capacitance is the sum of the individual capacitances, resulting in a higher total capacitance compared to any individual capacitor .

Excess electrons are a measure of the additional electrical charge stored on the capacitor plates when a voltage is applied. The number of excess electrons can be calculated using the relationship Q = n*e, where Q is the charge (calculated as the product of capacitance and voltage), n is the number of excess electrons, and e is the electron charge. This calculation helps in understanding the real charge dynamics at play within the capacitor as it charges and discharges .

The energy stored in a capacitor is proportional to the square of the voltage across it. This means that increasing the voltage will result in a quadratic increase in the energy stored. For instance, if the voltage is doubled, the energy stored will increase by a factor of four .

The fraction of energy lost as heat can be calculated by considering the initial and final energy configurations. For capacitors in parallel, the initial energy stored is given as E_initial = (C*Q^2)/2. When capacitors are configured to store energy as E_final = (3*C*Q^2)/2, the fraction of energy lost as heat is given by 1 - (E_final/E_initial) = 2/3 .

The configuration of capacitors significantly impacts the energy discharge behavior of a circuit. In a series configuration, capacitors share the same charge but have different voltages, leading to longer discharge times compared to parallel configurations, where they have the same voltage and share the sum of the charges. The presence of resistance in the circuit affects the discharge rate by dissipating energy as heat, extending discharge time. The actual discharge time is contingent upon the total resistance and the manner in which it interacts with the combined capacitance, though it does not affect the final voltage across the capacitors .

In a circuit where capacitors are connected, the voltage across each capacitor after charge and discharge cycles remains unaffected by the resistance. This is because the energy lost as heat due to resistance does not influence the potential difference across the capacitors. The final voltage is determined by the configuration and characteristics of the capacitors themselves .

The potential energy stored in a capacitor is given by the expression E = (1/2)*C*V^2. For a 10 µF capacitor charged to 200 V, this would be calculated as E = (1/2)*10*10^-6 F * (200 V)^2 = 0.2 J .

The power dissipated in a resistor can be calculated using the formula P = E/t, where E is the energy dissipated during capacitor discharge and t is the time over which this discharge occurs. Using the provided energy dissipation (e.g., 5.12 J) and time parameters, the calculation will yield the average power dissipated in the circuit over the specified time period, resulting in the example power value, such as 17 W .

The charge stored in a capacitor is directly proportional to the voltage across it. Therefore, doubling the voltage will double the charge stored in the capacitor .

To find the total capacitance for capacitors in series, you use the formula: 1/C_total = 1/C1 + 1/C2 + 1/C3. For capacitors of 10 µF, 50 µF, and 100 µF arranged in series, this calculation yields 1/C_total = 1/10 + 1/50 + 1/100 = 0.13 µF^-1, leading to C_total ≈ 7.7 µF .

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