Physics Capacitance

QUESTION FOR SHORT ANSWER

Q.1 The electric strength of air is about 30, 000 V/cm. By this we mean that when the electric field intensity
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. A typical
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 If you grasp the two wires leading from the two plates of a charged capacitor, you may feel a shock. The
effect is much greater for a 2–F capacitor than for a 0.02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
, 2 and 3 are arranged to be parallel like the two sheets in Fig. What

is their order, from left to right, if the electric field E produced by the
arrangement has magnitude E = 0 in one region and E = 2/0 in another
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 of the
capacitors?

Capacitor Area Separation

1 A d
2 2A d
3 A 2d

Q.5 Initially, a single capacitance C1 is wired to a battery. Then capacitance C2 is added in parallel. Are (a)
the potential difference across C1 and (b) the charge q1 on C1 now more than, less than, or the same as
previously? (c) Is the equivalent capacitance C12 of C1 and C2 more than, less than, or equal to C1? (d)
Is the total charge stored on C1 and C2 together more than, less than, or equal to the charge stored
previously on C1?
Q.6 As shown in the figure three circuits, each consisting of
a switch and two capacitors, initially charged as
indicated. After the switches have been closed, in which
circuit (if any) will the charge on the left–hand capacitor
(a) increase, (b) decrease and (c) remain the same?

Q.7 Cap-monster maze. In the Figure all the capacitors have a capacitance
of 6.0 F, and all the batteries have an emf of 10V. What is the charge
on capacitor C? (If you can find the proper loop through this maze, you
can answer the question with a few seconds of mental calculation.)

Q.8 An oil filled capacitor has been designed to have a capacitance C and to operate safely at or below a
certain maximum potential difference Vm without arcing over. However, the designer did not do a good
job and the capacitor occasionally arcs over. What can be done to redesign the capacitor, keeping C
and Vm unchanged and using the same dielectric?
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?
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Physics Capacitance
ONLY ONE OPTION IS CORRECT.
Take approx. 2 minutes for answering each question.

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
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 :

(A) (B) (C) (D)

Q.2 A parallel plate capacitor has two layers of dielectric as shown in figure.
This capacitor is connected across a battery. The graph which shows
the variation of electric field (E) and distance (x) from left plate.

(A) (B) (C) (D)

Q.3 The distance between the plates of a charged parallel plate capacitor is 5 cm and electric field inside the
plates is 200 Vcm–1. An uncharged metal bar of width 2 cm is fully immersed into the capacitor. The
length of the metal bar is same as that of plate of capacitor. The voltage across capacitor after the
immersion of the bar is
(A) zero (B) 400 V (C) 600 V (D) 100 V

Q.4 Three large plates are arranged as shown. How much charge will flow through
the key k if it is closed?
5Q 4Q 3Q
(A) (B) (C) (D) none
6 3 2

Q.5 Five conducting parallel plates having area A and separation between them d, are placed
as shown in the figure. Plate number 2 and 4 are connected wire and between point A
and B, a cell of emf E is connected. The charge flown through the cell is
3  0AE 2  0AE 4 0 AE  0 AE
(A) (B) (C) (D)
4 d 3 d d 2d

Q.6 If charge on left plane of the 5F capacitor in the circuit segment shown
in the figure is –20C, the charge on the right plate of 3F capacitor is
(A) +8.57 C (B) –8.57 C (C) +11.42 C (D) –11.42 C

Q.7 Five identical capacitor plates are arranged such that they make capacitors each of
2 F. The plates are connected to a source of emf 10 V. The charge on plate C is
(A) + 20 C (B) + 40 C (C) + 60 C (D) + 80 C

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Physics Capacitance
Q.8 A capacitor of capacitance C is charged to a potential difference V from a cell and then disconnected
from it. A charge +Q is now given to its positive plate. The potential difference across the capacitor is
now
Q Q Q
(A) V (B) V + (C) V + (D) V – , if V < CV
C 2C C

Q.9 In the circuit shown in figure charge stored in the capacitor

of capacity 5 f is
(A) 60 C (B) 20 C
(C) 30 C (D) zero

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 : C2 = 2C and C3  . Bodies 2 and 3 are initially uncharged.
"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/3N (B) Q/3N–1 (C) Q/N3 (D) None

Q.11 Condenser A has a capacity of 15 F when it is filled with a medium of dielectric constant 15. Another
condenser B has a capacity 1 F with air between the plates. Both are charged separately by a battery
of 100V . After charging, both are connected in parallel without the battery and the dielectric material
being removed. The common potential now is
(A) 400V (B) 800V (C) 1200V (D) 1600V

Q.12 In the adjoining figure, capacitor (1) and (2) have a capacitance ‘C’ each. When the dielectric of dielectric
consatnt K is inserted between the plates of one of the capacitor, the total charge flowing through battery is
KCE KCE
(A) from B to C (B) from C to B
K 1 K 1
(K  1)CE (K  1)CE
(C) from B to C (D) from C to B
2(K  1) 2(K  1)

Q.13 Two identical capacitors 1 and 2 are connected in series to a battery as shown in
figure. Capacitor 2 contains a dielectric slab of dielectric constant k as shown. Q1
and Q2 are the charges stored in the capacitors. Now the dielectric
slab is removed and the corresponding charges are Q’1 and Q’2. Then
Q1 k  1 Q2 k  1 Q2 k  1 Q1 k
(A) Q  k (B)  (C) Q  2 k (D) 
1 Q2 2 2 Q1 2

Q.14 The area of the 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’ from one plate
as : K = sec(y/2d), where  is a dimensionless constant. The capacitance of this capacitor is
(A) 0A / 2d (B) 0A /d (C) 20A /d (D) none

Q.15 A capacitor stores 60C charge when connected across a battery. When the gap between the plates is
filled with a dielectric , a charge of 120C flows through the battery. The dielectric constant of the
material inserted is :
(A) 1 (B) 2 (C) 3 (D) none

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Physics Capacitance
Q.16 In the above question, if the initial capacitance of the capacitor was 2F, the amount of heat produced
when the dielectric is inserted.
(A) 3600J (B) 2700J (C) 1800J (D) none

Q.17 A capacitor of capacitance C is initially charged to a potential difference of V volt. Now it is connected
to a battery of 2V with opposite polarity. The ratio of heat generated to the final energy stored in the
capacitor will be
(A) 1.75 (B) 2.25 (C) 2.5 (D) 1/2

Q.18 Three plates A, B and C each of area 0.1 m2 are separated by 0.885
mm from each other as shown in the figure. A 10 V battery is used to
charge the system. The energy stored in the system is
(A) 1 J (B) 10–1 J (C) 10–2 J (D) 10–3 J

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. The final energy
of the configuration is
3 25 9
(A) zero (B) CV2 (C) CV2 (D) CV2
2 6 2

Q.20 A 2 F capacitor is charged to a potential = 10V. Another 4 F capacitor is charged to a

potential = 20V. The two capacitors are then connected in a single loop, with the positive plate of one
connected with negative plate of the other. What heat is evolved in the circuit?
(A) 300 J (B) 600 J (C) 900 J (D) 450 J

Q.21 The plates S and T of an uncharged parallel plate capacitor are connected across a battery. The battery
is then disconnected and the charged plates are now connected in a system as shown in the figure. The
system shown is in equilibrium. All the strings are insulating and massless. The magnitude of charge on
one of the capacitor plates is: [Area of plates = A]
4mgA 0
(A) 2mgA 0 (B)
k

2mgA 0
(C) mgA 0 (D)
k

Q.22 In the circuit shown, the energy stored in 1F capacitor is

(A) 40 J (B) 64 J
(C) 32 J (D) none

Q.23 Four metallic plates arearranged as shown in the figure. If the distance between each plate then capacitance
of the given system between points A and B is (Given d << A)
 A 2 A
(A) 0 (B) 0
d d
3 0 A 4 0 A
(C) (D)
d d

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Physics Capacitance
Q.24 What is the equivalent capacitance of the system of capacitors
between A & B
7
(A) C (B) 1.6 C (C) C (D) None
6
Q.25 From a supply of identical capacitors rated 8 F, 250 V, the minimum number of capacitors required to
form a composite 16 F, 1000 V is :
(A) 2 (B) 4 (C) 16 (D) 32

Q.26 The minimum number of capacitors each of 3 F required to make a circuit with an equivalent capacitance
2.25 F 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 40a. If the sphere is
n
enclosed with an earthed concentric sphere. The ratio of the radii of the spheres being then the
(n  1)
capacitance of such a sphere will be increased by a factor
n ( n  1)
(A) n (B) (C) (D) a . n
(n  1) n
Q.28 Two capacitor having capacitances 8 F and 16 F 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 C (B) 200 C (C) 1280 C (D) none of these

Q.29 A capacitor of capacitance 1 F withstands the maximum voltage 6 kV while a capacitor of 2 F

withstands the maximum voltage 4 kV. What maximum voltage will the system of these two capacitor
withstands if they are connected in series?
(A) 10 kV (B)12 kV (C) 8 kV (D) 9 kV

Q.30 Four identical plates 1, 2, 3 and 4 are placed parallel to each other at equal distance as shown in the
figure. Plates 1 and 4 are joined together and the space between 2 and 3 is filled with a dielectric of
dielectric constant k = 2. The capacitance of the system between 1 and 3 & 2 and 4 are C1 and C2
C1
respectively. The ratio is :
C2
5 3 5
(A) (B) 1 (C) (D)
3 5 7

Q.31 In the circuit shown in figure, the ratio of charges on 5F

and 4F capacitor is :
(A) 4/5 (B) 3/5
(C) 3/8 (D) 1/2

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
(A) 10 V (B) 15 V
(C) 20 V (D) 30 V

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Physics Capacitance
Q.33 Find the equivalent capacitance across A & B
28 15
(A) f (B) F
3 2
(C) 15 F (D) none

Q.34 A capacitor of capacitance 1 F with stands the maximum voltages 6 KV while a capacitor of capacitance
2.0 F with stands the maximum voltage = 4KV. if the two capacitors are connected in series, then the
two capacitors combined can take up a maximum voltage of
(A) 2.4 KV (B) 5 KV (C) 9 KV (D) 10 KV

Q.35 The diagram shows four capacitors with capacitances and break down voltages
as mentioned. What should be the maximum value of the external emf source
such that no capacitor breaks down?[Hint: First of all find out the break down
voltages of each branch. After that compare them.]
(A) 2.5 kV (B) 10 / 3kV (C) 3 kV (D) 1 kV

Q.36 Three capacitors 2 F, 3 F and 5 F can withstand voltages to 3V, 2V and 1V respectively. Their
series combination can withstand a maximum voltage equal to
(A) 5 Volts (B) (31/6) Volts (C) (26/5) Volts (D) None

Q.37 Find equivalent capacitance across AB (all capacitances in F)

20
(A) F (B) 9F
3
(C) 48 F (D) None

Q.38 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:
1
0 6 0  0
(A) 3 (B) ln 2 (C) 2ln 2 (D) None
ln 2
Q.39 A charged capacitor is allowed to discharge through a resistance 2 by closing
the switch S at the instant t = 0. A t time t = ln 2 s, the reading of the ammeter
falls half of its initial value. The resistance of the ammeter equal to
(A) 0 (B) 2
(C)  (D) 2M
Q.40 A capacitor C = 100 F is connected to three resistor each of resistance
1 k and a battery of emf 9V. The switch S has been closed for long
time so as to charge the capacitor. When switch S is opened, the
capacitor discharges with time constant
(A) 33 ms (B) 5 ms
(C) 3.3 ms (D) 50 ms

Q.41 A capacitor C = 100 F is connected to three resistors each of resistance 1 kW and

a battery of emf 9V. The switch S has been closed for long time so as to charge the
capacitor. When switch S is opened, the capacitor discharges with time constant.
(A) 33 ms (B) 5 ms (C) 3.3 ms (D) 50 ms

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Physics Capacitance
Q.42 In the transient shown the time constant of the circuit is :
5 5
(A) RC (B) RC
3 2
7 7
(C) RC (D) RC
4 3
Q.43 In the circuit shown in figure C1=2C2. Switch S is closed at time t=0.
Let i1 and i2 be the currents flowing through C1 and C2 at any time t,
then the ratio i1/ i2
(A) is constant
(B) increases with increase in time t
(C) decreases with increase in time t
(D) first increases then decreases
Q.44 Find heat produced in the capacitors on closing the switch S
(A) 0.0002 J (B) 0.0005 J
(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
(A) I = 2mA at all t
(B) I oscillates between 1 mA and 2mA
(C) I = 1 mA at all t
(D) At t = 0, I = 2mA and with time it goes to 1 mA

Q.46 In the R–C circuit shown in the figure the total energy of 3.6 ×10–3 J is dissipated in the 10  resistor
when the switch S is closed. The initial charge on the capacitor is
60
(A) 60 C (B) 120 C (C) 60 2 C (D) C
2

Q.47 A charged capacitor is allowed to discharge through a resistor by closing the

key at the instant t =0. At the instant t = (ln 4) s, the reading of the ammeter
falls half the initial value. The resistance of the ammeter is equal to
(A) 1 M (B) 1 (C) 2 (D) 2M

Q.48 In the circuit shown, the cell is ideal, with emf = 15 V. Each resistance is
of 3. The potential difference across the capacitor is
(A) zero (B) 9 V
(C) 12 V (D) 15 V

Question No. 49 to 52 (4 questions)

In the circuit shown in figure, four capacitors are connected to a battery.

Q.49 The equivalent capacitance of the circuit is

(A) 25 F (B) 6 F (C) 8.4 F (D) none

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Physics Capacitance
Q.50 The charge on the 5 F capacitor is
(A) 60 C (B) 24 C (C) 12 C (D) 20 C

Q.51 The potential difference across the 6 F capacitor is

(A) 6V (B) 4V (C) 5V (D) none

Q.52 The maximum energy is stored in the capacitor of

(A) 10 F (B) 6 F (C) 5 F (D) 4 F

Q.53 A parallel plate capacitor has an electric field of 105V/m between the plates. If the charge on the capacitor
plate is 1C, then the force on each capacitor plate is
(A) 0.1Nt (B) 0.05Nt (C) 0.02Nt (D) 0.01Nt

Q.54 A capacitor is connected to a battery. The force of attraction between the plates when the separation
between them is halved
(A) remains the same (B) becomes eight times
(C) becomes four times (D) becomes two times

ONE OR MORE THAN ONE OPTION MAY BE CORRECT

Take approx. 3 minutes for answering each question.

Q.1 A parallel plate capacitor A is filled with a dielectric whose dielectric constant varies with applied voltage
as K = V. An identical capacitor B of capacitance C0 with air as dielectric is connected to voltage source
V0 = 30V and then connected to the first capacitor after disconnecting the voltage source. The charge
and voltage on capacitor.
(A) A are 25C0 and 25V (B) A are 25C0 and 5 V
(C) B are 5c0 and 5V (D) B are 5C0 and 25 V

Q.2 Two capacitors of 2 F and 3 F are charged to 150 volt and

120 volt respectively. The plates of capacitor are connected as
shown in the figure. A discharged capacitor of capacity 1.5 F
falls to the free ends of the wire. Then
(A) charge on the 1.5 F capacitors is 180 C
(B) charge on the 2F capacitor is 120 C
(C) charge flows through A from right to left.
(D) charge flows through A from left to right.

Q.3 In the circuit shown, each capacitor has a capacitance C. The emf of the cell is E. If the switch S is closed
(A) positive charge will flow out of the positive terminal of the cell
(B) positive charge will enter the positive terminal of the cell
(C) the amount of charge flowing through the cell will be CE.
(D) the amount of charge flowing through the cell will be 4/3 CE.

Q.4 In the circuit shown initially C1, C2 are uncharged. After closing the
switch
(A) The charge on C2 is greater that on C1
(B) The charge on C1 and C2 are the same
(C) The potential drops across C1 and C2 are the same
(D) The potential drops across C2 is greater than that across C1

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Physics Capacitance
Q.5 A parallel plate air-core capacitor is connected across a source of constant potential difference. When a
dielectric plate is introduced between the two plates then :
(A) some charge from the capacitor will flow back into the source.
(B) some extra charge from the source will flow back into the capacitor.
(C) the electric field intensity between the two plate does not change.
(D) the electric field intensity between the two plates will decrease.

Q.6 A parallel plate capacitor has a parallel sheet of copper inserted between and parallel to the two plates,
without touching the plates. The capacity of the capacitor after the introduction of the copper sheet is :
(A ) minimum when the copper sheet touches one of the plates.
(B) maximum when the copper sheet touches one of the plates.
(C) invariant for all positions of the sheet between the plates.
(D) greater than that before introducing the sheet.

Q.7 I n the circuit shown in the figure, the switch S is initially open and the
capacitor is initially uncharged. I 1, I2 and I3 represent the current in the
resistance 2, 4 and 8 respectively.
(A) Just after the switch S is closed, I1 = 3A, I2 = 3A and I3 = 0
(B) Just after the switch S is closed, I1 = 3A, I2 = 0 and I3 = 0
(C) long time after the switch S is closed, I1 = 0.6 A, I2 = 0 and I3 = 0
(D) long after the switch S is closed, I1 = I2 = I3 = 0.6 A.

Q.8 The circuit shown in the figure consists of a battery of emf  = 10 V ; a capacitor
of capacitance C = 1.0 F and three resistor of values R1 = 2, R2 = 2 and
R3 = 1. Initially the capacitor is completely uncharged and the switch S is
open. The switch S is closed at t = 0.
(A) The current through resistor R3 at the moment the switch closed is zero.
(B) The current through resistor R3 a long time after the switch closed is 5A.
(C) The ratio of current through R1 and R2 is always constant.
(D) The maximum charge on the capacitor during the operation is 5C.

Q.9 In the circuit shown in figure C1 = C2 = 2F. Then charge stored in

(A) capacitor C1 is zero (B) capacitor C2 is zero
(C) both capacitor is zero (D) capacitor C1 is 40 C

Q.10 A capacitor of capacity C is charged to a steady potential difference V and

connected in series with an open key and a pure resistor 'R'. At time t = 0, the
key is closed. If I = current at time t, a plot of log I against 't' is as shown in (1)
in the graph. Later one of the parameters i.e. V, R or C is changed keeping the
other two constant, and the graph (2) is recorded. Then
(A) C is reduced (B) C is increased
(C) R is reduced (D) R is increased

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Physics Capacitance
Question No.11 to 12 (2 questions)
The charge across the capacitor in two different RC circuits 1 and
2 are plotted as shown in figure.
Q.11 Choose the correct statement(s) related to the two circuits.
(A) Both the capacitors are charged to the same charge.
(B) The emf's of cells in both the circuit are equal.
(C) The emf's of the cells may be different.
(D) The emf E1 is more than E2
Q.12 Identify the correct statement(s) related to the R1, R2, C1 and C2 of the two RC circuits.
(A) R1 > R2 if E1 = E2 (B) C1 < C2 if E1 = E2
R1 C
(C) R1C1 > R2C2 (D) < 2
R2 C1
Q.13 A parallel 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) Charge from the battery flows into the capacitor after reconnection
(B) Charge from capacitor flows into the battery after reconnection.
(C) The potential difference between the plates increases when the plates are pulled apart.
(D) After reconnection of battery 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 to fill the 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 electric field inside the capacitor will decrease to Ktimes
(C) the force of attraction between the plates will increase to K2–times
(D) the charge on the capacitor will increase to Ktimes

Q.15 Four capacitors and a battery are connected as shown. The potential
drop across the 7 F capacitor is 6 V. Then the :
(A) potential difference across the 3 F capacitor is 10 V
(B) charge on the 3 F capacitor is 42 C
(C) e.m.f. of the battery is 30 V
(D) potential difference across the 12 F capacitor is 10 V.

Q.16 A circuit shown in the figure consists of a battery of emf 10 V and two capacitance C1 and C2 of
capacitances 1.0 F and 2.0 F respectively. The potential difference VA – VB is 5V
(A) charge on capacitor C1 is equal to charge on capacitor C2
(B) Voltage across capacitor C1 is 5V.
(C) Voltage across capacitor C2 is 10 V
(D) Energy stored in capacitor C1 is two times the energy stored in capacitor C2.

Q.17 A capacitor C is charged to a potential difference V and battery is disconnected. Now if the capacitor
plates are brought close slowly by some distance :
(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

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Physics Capacitance
Q.18 The capacitance of a parallel plate capacitor is C when the region between the plate has air. This region
is now filled with a dielectric slab of dielectric constant k. The capacitor is connected to a cell of emf E,
and the slab is taken out
(A) charge CE(k – 1) flows through the cell (B) energy E2C(k – 1) is absorbed by the cell.
(C) the energy stored in the capacitor is reduced by E2C(k – 1)
1
(D) the external agent has to do E2C(k – 1) amount of work to take the slab out.
2
Q.19 Two capacitors of capacitances 1F and 3F are charged to the same voltages 5V. They are connected
in parallel with oppositely charged plates connected together. Then:
(A) Final common voltage will be 5V. (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 J

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 Y to the negative terminal of a cell of emf E = Q/C.
(A) Charge of amount Q will flow from the negative terminal to the positive terminal of the 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 CE2 amount of energy.

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 electric field in 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 of a 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 of the 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 electric field in the capacitor after the action XW is the same as that after WX.

Q.25 A parallel plate capacitor is charged and then disconnected from the source of potential difference. If the
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

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Physics Capacitance
Q.26 A parallel 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 capacitor flows into 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 drawn from the source is stored in the capacitor.
(B) all the energy drawn from the 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 them from the 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 different from the sum of the individual initial potential differences.
(D) the net energy stored in the two capacitors is less than the sum of the initial individual energies.
Q.29 A parallel 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 of the
capacitor so as to fill the space between the plates. If Q, E and W denote respectively, the magnitude of
charge on each plate, the electric field between the plates (after the slab is inserted) and the work done
on the system, in question, in the process of inserting the slab, then
2
 0 AV  0 KAV V  0 AV  1
(A) Q = (B) Q = (C) E = K d (D) W = – 1  
d d 2d  K 
Q.30 A parallel plate capacitor is connected to a battery. The quantities charge, voltage, electric field and
energy associated with the capacitor are given by Q0, V0, E0 and U0 respectively. A dielectric slab is
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 > Q0 (B) V > V0 (C) E > E0 (D) U < U0
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 
2
(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 between B and C.
(D) The charge on the inner face of A is now Q 2 .
Q.32 Two capacitors C1 = 4 F and C2 = 2F are charged to same potential
V = 500 Volt, but with opposite polarity as shown in the figure. The switches S1
and S2 are closed.
(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 of final energy to initial energy of the system is 1/9.
(D) The ratio of final energy to initial energy of the system is 4/9.
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Physics Capacitance
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 of the capacitor decreases
(D) The capacitance increases

Q.34 If a battery of voltage V is connected across terminals I of the block box

shown in figure, an ideal voltmeter connected to terminals II gives a reading
of V/2, while if the battery is connected to terminals II, a voltmeter across
terminals
I reads V. The black box may contain

(A) (B)

(C) (D)

Q.35 Two capacitors of equal capacitance (C1 = C2) are shown in the figure.
Initially, while the switch S is open, one of the capacitors is uncharged and
the other carries charge Q0. The energy stored in the charged capacitor is
U0. Sometimes after the switch is closed, the capacitors C1 and C2 carry
charges Q1 and Q2, respectively; the voltages across the capacitors are V1
and V2; and the energies stored in the capacitors are U1 and U2. Which of
the following statements is INCORRECT ?
1
(A) Q0 = (Q1 + Q2) (B) Q1 = Q2
2
(C) V1 = V2 (D) U1 = U2
(E) U0 = U1 + U2
Question No.36 to 39 (4 questions)
The figure shows a diagonal symmetric arrangement of capacitors and a
battery
Q.36 Identify the correct statements.
(A) Both the 4F capacitors carry equal charges in opposite sense.
(B) Both the 4F capacitors carry equal charges in same sense.
(C) VB – VD > 0
(D) VD – VB > 0

Q.37 If the potential of C is zero, then

(A) VA = + 20V (B) 4(VA – VB) + 2(VD – VB) = 2VB
(C) 2(VA – VD) + 2(VB – VD) = 4VD (D) VA = VB + VD

Q.38 The potential of the point B and D are

(A) VB = 8V (B) VB = 12V (C) VD = 8V (D) VD = 12V

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Physics Capacitance
Q.39 The value of charge q1, q2 and q3 as shown in the figure are
(A) q1 = 32 C ; q2 = 24 C ; q3 = – 8 C
(B) q1 = 48 C ; q2 = 16 C ; q3 = + 8 C
(C) q1 = 32 C ; q2 = 24 C ; q3 = + 8 C
(D) q1 = 3 C ; q2 = 4 C ; q3 = + 2 C

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

1  Q 2  1  CV 2  1  CV 2  1  Q 2 
(A) (B) (C) (D)
2  0 A  2  d  2  A 0  4  0 d 2 

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Physics Capacitance
ANSWER KEY

ONLY ONE OPTION IS CORRECT

Q.1 B Q.2 A Q.3 C Q.4 A Q.5 B Q.6 A

Q.7 B Q.8 C Q.9 D Q.10 A Q.11 B Q.12 D
Q.13 C Q.14 A Q.15 C Q.16 C Q.17 B Q.18 B
Q.19 B Q.20 B Q.21 A Q.22 C Q.23 B Q.24 B
Q.25 D Q.26 B Q.27 A Q.28 A Q.29 D Q.30 B
Q.31 C Q.32 D Q.33 B Q.34 C Q.35 A Q.36 B
Q.37 B Q.38 B Q.39 A Q.40 D Q.41 D Q.42 C
Q.43 B Q.44 D Q.45 D Q.46 B Q.47 C Q.48 C
Q.49 B Q.50 D Q.51 B Q.52 B Q.53 B Q.54 C

ONE OR MORE THAN ONE OPTION MAY BE CORRECT

Q.1 B,C Q.2 A,B,C Q.3 A,D Q.4 B

Q.5 B,C Q.6 C,D Q.7 B Q.8 A,B,C,D
Q.9 B,D Q.10 B Q.11 A,C Q.12 D
Q.13 B,C Q.14 A,C,D Q.15 B,C,D Q.16 A,D
Q.17 B Q.18 A,B,D Q.19 B,D Q.20 A,B,C,D
Q.21 B Q.22 B,C Q.23 A,C,D Q.24 B,C,D
Q.25 D Q.26 A,B,D Q.27 A,C Q.28 B,C,D
Q.29 A,C,D Q.30 A Q.31 A,B,C,D Q.32 A,C
Q.33 A Q.34 D Q.35 E Q.36 B,C
Q.37 A,B,C,D Q.38 B,C Q.39 C Q.40 A,B

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