SAMPLE PROBLEMS: 112-Topic 3: CAPACITANCE & CAPACITORS

1) A 6nf capacitor is connected to a 100 volt dc-supply. The plates of the capacitor are 0.1 mm apart.
What force would an electron experience if placed in between the plates?
Solution: We have two basic relations to work with. First the
definition of capacitance:
C Q/V
(1)

The second is the capacitance of a parallel plate capacitor:

C o = o A/d

(2)

Using (1) we could calculate the charge on the plates.

-9

-7

Q = CV = (6 x 10 )(10 ) = 6 x 10 Coul. We also could

use (2) to determine the area of the plates, and subsequently
the charge density on the plates.

+
+

However, the only question asked is for the force experienced by an electron when placed between
the plates. From the definition of the Electric Field, we have:
F on electron = qe E .
The Electric Field between parallel plates is constant, and the magnitude is given by
| E | = V/x = (100 volts)/(0.1 mm) = 10 2 / (.1 x 10 3) = 10 2/10 4 = 10 6 N/Coul.
Hence, the magnitude of the force on the electron is | F | = (1.6 x 10 19)(10 6) = 1.6 x 10 13 N.
The direction of the force is opposite to the field, that is, in the figure the force is to the left (toward
the + charged plate). Question: if released at the negative plate, how much kinetic energy would the
electron acquire as it accelerates to the + plate? [Ans. 100 eV]
2) An air capacitor consisting of two closely spaced parallel plates has a capacitance of 1000 pF. The
charge on each plate is 1 micro C. (a) What is the potential difference between the plates? (b) If the
charge is kept constant, what will be the potential difference between the plates if the separation is
doubled? (c) How much work is required to double the separation?

Solution: We have two basic relations to work with. First the

definition of capacitance:
C Q/V
(1)

The second is the capacitance of a parallel plate capacitor:

C o = o A/d

(2)

Using (1) we have: V = Q/C = (10-6)/(103 x 10-12) = 103 V.

+
+

From (2) we see that if 'd' is doubled, Co is cut in half. But if

the charge is fixed then (from 1) V must double.

The work required is the work by us. Hence:

W = U = U2 - U1 = (1/2)Q2 V2 - (1/2)Q1 V1 . Since the charge stays the same this is:
= (1/2)Q (V2 - V1) = (1/2)(10-6)(103) = .5 x 10-3 = 5 x 10-4 J.

3) A parallel plate capacitor consists of plates of area 8 x 10 -4 m2 separated a distance of 1.77 mm. The
capacitor is connected to a 12 volt battery and a dielectric of dielectric constant K = 3 is inserted
between the plates. a) How much charge is stored? b) What is the electric field strength throughout the
dielectric? c) Assuming that the capacitor was fully charged before the dielectric was inserted, how
much additional charge was supplied by the battery when the dielectric was inserted?
Solution: The basic relations for a parallel plate capacitor are:
C = K o A/d

& C Q/V.

Since we are given K and the geometric characteristics of the capacitor, we can immediately find C:
C = (4)(8.85 x 10-12)(8 x 10-4)/(1.77 x 10-3)
Thus C = 12 x 10-12 = 12 pf and

Q = C V = (12 p)(12) = 144 pC.

The strength of the electric field can be calculated from the 'gradient of the potential' since E is
constant.
E = V/x = (12 V)/(1.77 mm) = (12)/1.8) = 6.6 V/mm
The amount of charge pumped up by the battery is exactly equal to the induced charge on the face of
the dielectric. We have:

Q = Q - Qo = Q (1 - 1/K) = (1 - 1/3) Q = (2/3) Q.

Hence, the additional charge pumped up by the battery is: (2/3)(144 pC) = 96 pC.
4) A parallel plate capacitor consists of plates of area 8 x 10 -4 m2 separated a distance of 1.77 mm. The
capacitor is connected to a 12 volt battery and a dielectric of dielectric constant K = 3 is inserted
between the plates. a) How much charge is stored? b) What is the electric field strength throughout the
dielectric? c) Assuming that the capacitor was fully charged before the dielectric was inserted, how
much additional charge was supplied by the battery when the dielectric was inserted?
The basic relations for a parallel plate capacitor are:
C = K o A/d

& C Q/V.
+

Since we are given K and the geometric characteristics of the

capacitor, we can immediately find C:
a
-12

-4

Thus C = 12 x 10

-12

= 12 pf and

-3

C = (3)(8.85 x 10 )(8 x 10 )/(1.77 x 10 )

Q = C V = (12 p)(12) = 144 pC.

The strength of the electric field can be calculated from the 'gradient of the potential' since E is
constant.
E = V/x = (12 V)/(1.77 mm) = (12)/1.8) = 6.6 V/mm .
The amount of charge pumped up by the battery is exactly equal to the induced charge on the face of
the dielectric. We have:
Q = Q - Qo = Q (1 - 1/K) = (1 - 1/3) Q = (2/3) Q.
Hence, the additional charge pumped up by the battery is: (2/3)(144 pC) = 88 pC.
5) A parallel plate capacitor of capacitance 17.7 pf has plates of area 1 cm2 separated by a dielectric 0.2
mm thick. If this capacitor is connected to a battery supplying a potential difference of 20 volts, a) how
much energy is stored? b) What is the dielectric constant of the dielectric?

The basic relations for a parallel plate capacitor are:

C = K o A/d

& C Q/V.
+

Since we are given K and the geometric characteristics of the

capacitor, we can immediately find C:
a
-12

-4

-12

-4

-4

17.7 pf = (K)(8.85 x 10 )(1 x 10 )/(2 x 10 )

-12

-4

Thus K = (17.7 x 10 )(2 x 10 )/(8.85 x 10 )(1 x 10 ) = 4

and
Q = C V = (17.7 p)(20) = 354 pC.

The energy stored is given by: U = (1/2) Q V = (1/2)(354 p)(20) = 3540 pJ or 3.54 n J
6) A parallel plate capacitor consists of plates of area 0.1 m 2 separated by a dielectric (dielectric
constant = 3) of thickness 0.885 mm. If this capacitor is connected to a potential difference of 1000 V
find: a) the charge on the plates, b) the energy stored in the capacitor.
The basic relations for a parallel plate capacitor are:
C = K o A/d

& C Q/V.
+

Since we are given K and the geometric characteristics of the

capacitor, we can immediately find C:
a
-12

-1

-4

Thus

Q = C V = (3 n)(10 ) = 3 x 10 C = 3 C.
3

-6

The energy stored is given by:

U = (1/2) Q V = (1/2)(3 )(103) = 1.5 x 10-3 J

or 1.5 m J.

-9

C = (3)(8.85 x 10 )(10 )/(8.85 x 10 ) = 3 x 10 = 3 nf.