t\ 5-- <r--

Physics48 (FaII2011)
Chapter 25: Capacitance
"Theanswers
you receivedependuponthequestions
yozlask ,,- ThomasKuhn
"Life is a mirror and will reflect backto the thinker what he thinrrsinto jt ', - ErnestHormes
" Wat we seedependsmainly on what we lookfor.,' _ John
Lubbock
Reading: pages656-674

Outline:
= capacitors
introduction
definitionof capacitance
+ calculatingcapacitance
parallel-plate
capacitor
sphericalcapacitor(readon your own)
cyiindrical capacitor(readon your own)
= combinations
of capacitors
series
parallel
=> energystoredin an electric field
+ dielectrics
capacitors
with dielectrics
atomicview of dielectrics(powerpoint)
Gauss'Law (readon your own)

ProblemSolvingTechniques
To solvemanyproblemsof this chaptel you shouldknow the basicrelafionship
betweenthe
magnitudeq ofthe chargeon eitherplate of a capacitorandthe potential
V
difference
acrossttre
piates:q = cv' You shouldalsoknow how to cilculatethe capacitance
ofa parallel-plate
capacitor,
a cylindrical capacitor,and a sphericalcapacitor,all in termsofttr" g"orrr"t
v"u
f
shbuldalsoknow thatthe capacitance
ofa capacitorthat is filled *iih u ai"tlct"itrr"
i" or"lf""t"r.
a-i-.r""ti"
constantk is c: rc6, wherec6 is the capacitance
ofthe capacitorwithoutthe dietectrrc.
some problems
{eal with capacitorsin seriesor paralel. Ia eachcase,you shouldknow how to
com.pute tle equivalentcapacitance,the chargeon eachcapacitor,andihe potential
differenceacross
eachcapacitor,given the potentialdifference-across
the combination.

You shor:ldknow how to computethe enerry storedin a capacitot,given eitherits chargeor

potential difference.You shouldalsoknow how to computethe energydensityat pointsbetweenthe
platesor, in general,at any point within a given electricfield.

Questionsand ExampleProblemsfrom Chapter 25

QuestionI
For eachcircuit in the figure belory,arethe capacitorsconnectedin series,in parallel,or in neither
mode?

-t"

"I
(n)

-A-uv'a4

Question2
The figure below showsthreecircuits, eachconsistingof a switch andtwo capacitors,initially
chargedasindicated.After the switcheshavebeenclosed,in which circuit (if any) will the chargeon
the left-handcapacitor(a) increase,(b) decrease,and (c) remainthe same?

0,,{lou
2n-L

r,{lou

"-l-il

(tl

lc7\
!i.,

-A'amu (
--=
t cV
(^)

( b\

t.) O^r,-;} L

r,-.flloo
!(;"1*

_:]

!(;

(3)

.8" apns +^ **4)

V = X/. ^''^,*aJl-'{

Question3
Figurea showsa sircuit with tlree capacitors,and Fig. b showsthe circuit with their equivalent
capacitor,of capacitance
c=, yl.ri9hhgsachargeof 60 pc. without a calculator(and,#possible,
witlout written calculation),find (a) the chargeon and the voltageacror,
ib;
3Ld th"n
(c) the chargeon and (d) the voltageacrosscapacitor1.
"upu"it-

= [o'^rC
$ 'a $a
l0tF

(")

%:_-kes.c

( b) vu-%ul.=
H,
f-=r
c,a:*

L:f

Problem I

(d) V,* = %,^k,^=Gouc =

3V=V,=\A

A,o.tF
I

=
E
^::-'

acrlF

30,,rF

(') S '= c'V' = (

ro^^
f-)(3v) - 3gz g

A parallel-plate
capacitorhascircularplatesof 8.20cm radiusand 1.30mm separation.
(a) Calculate
the capacitance.(b) Find the chargefor a potentialdifferenceof 120V.

'=

'"cli..,o"i
')
(?,ri,.ro
"r,,,
a - (t.t5.,' , f

[ , t l r . i D - l , ot\;

r..:

r.

a--

l"'/3.io-u
Problen 2
Supposethat the two sphericalshellsofa sphericalcapacitorhaveapproximatelyequalradii. Under
theseconditions,the deviceapproximatesa parallel-platecapacitorwith b - a = i. siow that
Eq.25-17(C = 4nx0ab(b - a) doesindeedreduceto Eq. 25-9(C: e6Nd)in this case.
2. jt;*.

l;,-'t

:-!:t ...1.r.\r.,,!-i.,:..1,!il,e4

:!,.,..,1* .._i..i: t

",

,f q

;,

-: \--"

-':

i
> o'ta.
4 eD9,q 4J**
l
I

.,Arq -(!- -u-*^)fu*t A-!

fit
arq b= A
b-q - ld

v
-t,/

= t"k./ 1
/11

riTqb

Problem 3
In the figure below,the batteryhasa potentialdifferenceof 10.0V andthe five capacitorseachhave
a capacitanceof 10.0FF. What is the chargeon (a) capacitor1 and (b) capacitor2?

V' = toy'

(")
L9

= (lo.oLP)(lo'ov)
Qr= C,V,
e,: loo.ue
:==--

(b)

C, *Co'^^an'ia

+. /"^-/".=G-e"*.
' \-?

Ce>

r---J_^

J_

--->
Ca.+ C,'. rr ga.,"".N{e"Q

-)-r

-T'n

a\
La:q I Ls NY\A!^'t Ia -)

Carrs

$..rs

\,rlts

=-..-+l
t-

l=

C".r. -- (e-F

/ ?.{r

lO.u l-

= C".,'V..r" = (6-t=Xtov) = fuouL ---l

= ffi
v...,=%^',/r^"r

V".={

- 4v'

(aar

=%u=foul
(%r=crvr= '6uc)

=1V

4a= ts
\-r

= tor^g
:--

lov

C.
Ca

C,{

cs

5.r^F t l0r,F

_l* _J-cs
Cr.,

Cae.rs
Ill

S,trtr

Cr.., -- C.g *C..

Ca:\ = / Br^F

\- a3'l

--

$0uL

6V

Problem 4
t-90Oa
is chargedto a potentialdifferenceof 50-V, and the charging
,t
:"t":itor
batreryis
clrscorurected.
Thecapacitoris thencorurected
in parallelwith a secondri"itiiriu"n#geal
capacitor'If the potential differenceacrossthe first capacitor
dropsto 35 v, what is the capacitance
of this secondcapacitor?

/' v - -r
\ - - ' = t^.i.
Yt
Vo-

ScV

=) c+)h

lr ),n-,frurL'6,
L t - -|p . , . - :/-* c :i - t - - - . : , .: : , _ . . _ :"r

= C J,

(Yv-,-',.;r.

..-.'.1't

iutt t te$n-y,,)r,t1,t"
l^

-!

,.tr,r,"r',crl) ">,.'t1-q,'.1 f.:"r;L.",^,:G-.t ts* _.,j,.:,,- :.. ,:,<--_i1,t:.r,J7i

,.rr__,;i _p.,,,r,.u.,

C"o.,"s,1
:i,,"- t,-'i.,:
_

> t' J*J.,::

-t

l,'..,,-C, / = .-':,",,-r; ,., *^**$,*:;.,re

?,

.,,"'i-r i .1,-.3.i::.: ,-?! ,4

probtem5

j, j

,r,... ;i.,* ,..r'-.,-Ji,

= 19a:-lrii':'i
C a = %^/,,,. r-, ( \J,-t,//'r'

" =Wlf,
I
t

: 3.0 pF andboth
*.
chargedto a potentialdifferenceofv = 100v bui with opp-ositepolarity
"-uiuino.,
asshown.
switches sl and
52arenow closed.(a) What is now thepotential OifferenceUetweenpoints
a andb? What arenow
the chargeson capacitors(b) I and (c) 2.?

=) asblil"-art^fi1

tt rla+"A,

Xg\,c,a?^i,t1r

a/ll r^1 trDl di-0r{ ..}a #v /vcy}Aq

a7,.+.t' ssq

,^" \9rt -&e.r1e

\ v: % =V* = %"/c,.%"'W*
gta

C,v, = (t"our)(roov)

{,'

, Let

= lD o,r.rC
c[a = CaV*

%r*

= ( 3 . o , , r p - ) ( 1 6 o v ;- - 3 o o l q

= Aoor,rc -.,",J.l,ri
floo.tL
Cr +Ce. .cr^{vn po.^-"dta!>

,tlrn4zce...-tg
)a c+Wu.*o
Cr^= Cr +Ca"= l.o,,.rF+3.o,uF= 4.o.qtr

V^=%'/",^=
t:# =@

0> S, = C,V, -

(l.orF)q5ov)= eI
=
=
=l_t:9^!
Ca.V"
(z"our)( s,u)
Qa

V,=V*- 5ov

Problem6
In the figurebelow,V: 10V, Cr: 10 Y.F,andCz: C: = 20 FF' SwitchS is fust tlrown to the left
sideuntil capacitor1 reachesequilibrium.Thenttre switch is thrown to the right. Whenequilibrium .
is againreached,how much chargeis on capacitor1..

-ugi:
arrd+A
-=---

;-6,^a

{lr

[--f_^

il_:r''

rc.lrn.7.t o-t C,

=
%= C,% (lo,"r)(tov)
= loor,^.L
?-

C a. { C, *

4
O'b^d-A"AA

-^

C1s = C^*C,

Ao^^tri AO.r^F

C.3 = {or^F

ry4

ft-g,a^a*-lo raazt^r.A

.\
\'rr---_]*

t-l

L---T

v"= C'Vr *
I
.v

$, t $ra

C*"Vts

V,=V*.=V

C,V= C,V* Cr.V = (c,+c.=)V

( to,*F) ( tov)
/^
/\
\
(Lt r L-lr/

( l o , " l = *f o r F )

V,-' }-"oV
V6= X.oV

= ( to,,F) ( r.ov)
Qer=C'V'
4tt

)O,taC

= C", V^u= (+o-r) (1.ov) = 8 o , ^ , r c

Problem 7
Theparallel-.plaes in a capacitor,with a plate areaof 8.50 cnt' andan air-filled separationof
3.00 mm, ae chargedby a 6.00V battery.Theyarethen disconnectedfrom the batteryandpulled
apart(without discharge)to a separationof 8.00mrn. Neglectingfringing, find (a) the potential
differencebetweenthe plates(b) the initial storedenergy,(c) the final storedenergyand (d) the
work requiredto separatethe piates.

\/

C= .Vl

A- ?,5ocmt- !,gdxl4fqrr

fu e*"ry ^a/-4* fuA,'v,ry

+,nt\.V\tlt fu^A,

= !.@orlt'311
C[ = ?.oon.\

= 6.oov

,o"n" ca+-r-b't;a &).caw^h)

ori?"*Ifu --

(3'oo

A.St"lo-'"F
nqQr,,O&a^.oy

^4i'in;^^

V=b.oov
A,a/,\a

C= Ct,sS^rt''t7u.')(Y
%=cV

"to-'

''')

= (a,st'1ooF)(r,.oov)= /,5)"\o-tt
-='

(^) v: yc= l' 51,.lo-'t

,ld'?F

'

Q, ? o

V=tGV

Cc) U=/r.C'vi 1.AO,161'"

(U) u -- l( C;V;\ = )/r(l.sr'to-'*F)(a-oov)a
7-'J'------'---1
(d) W= DD=l7.SA^to-"7
= lq.S
Problen
rruurerrl o
8
5J |t
l - 7 c ) lx
l x lo-"
lu
Il ,
IG

'
tt'
)aDacrtof nas a caDacllar
of 50 pF. (a) If eachof its plateshasan areaof '
A parallel-plateair-filled capftibTfficapacildnce
0.35m", what is the sepmation?(b) lf the regionbetweenthe platesis now filled with material
havingr : 5.6, what is the capacitance?

c= sDPF
A = o"35r-,1
K= 5.G

(q) C=e"Vd*

J= "yc

( 5o* \o-'' i=;

3c',
d = 6.1* lO
(Ul

,\.L,^J* o da.q!-o'Db,^Xx-hrl&\*As [i"e,ofu, 't&r' rnur-o ca+a]:rj6oo,v.e

,tt ry;vut* !:4

C^,^-=((.)ftA-K

(n'Ya)

C^,,r*. (s.{e)(sopp) = ATo eF

K C,,A

Problem9
The spacebgtweentwo concentricconductingsphericalshellsof radiiQ: 1.70cm andb = 1.20cm
isfilledwithasubstanceofdielecficconstantK=23.5.ApotentialdifferenceV=73.0Visapplied
acrossthe imrer andouter shells.Determine(a) the capacitanceof the dwice, (b) the free chargeq
on the inner shell, and(c) the chargeq' inducedalongthe surfaceofthe inner shell.
-2

ro^
q=r"/o*lo

"

cq)

/-*\
C"= l rT'r-(;:t

r,
,/.
f abl.
c.)(Co = ?rr118" ( a-uj

)n

6 = l . A o " 1 o 'no;

l<= a3"s
V= ?3.ov
(U)

{ry

looTxio-?F - o.tc?nF

C'

coot',,art -- cV-

c) $-$'=%/Kn

( i"o?. 1s-?F) (l;-ev)

%'=%-%/g

= S(l

n'=(t't1"')(t-*") =

| ,/,-\
/r_J

1"%

Problem 10
Two parallelplatesof area100 cm2aregiven chargesof equalmagnitudes8.9 x l0-? C but opposite
signs.The elechic field within the dielectricmaterialfilling the spacebetweenthe platesis
1.4 x 10oV/m. (a) Calculatethe dieleckic constantof the material.(b) Determinethe magritude of
the chargeinducedon eachdielectricsurface.

H
l-l

nil"

ll
l-l
l+l

lt

J+l

Ll

H
f1

fl
fl
fl

tl

ll

fl

d=8'9n{o-?c
e--i"l"lobv/n')

:
^,4m \,
A -- lDo.*"( #.* ) = io'r"

.In
q Au!r'rh"-,A' E,/X =
,ur,wr
ftj

(a)' K==+;r\ --+(' =

?>E
( 8,i 5 iC''
"

( b)

%'%'

= %k

( to
%^') ( r,t*tobufrn)

?{
lK=
r--------

^^A'^a Xt = t"a*oJ'h*"#
%= t,0*n<mP2&
aur=T.?,.iD-?c

'"u)