CAPACITANCE AND DIELECTRICS PROBLEM SOLUTIONS

1) Four metal plates of the same shape are connected as in the figure. If the area of each plate is A
and the distance between them is d, calculate the
capacitance for both figures shown.

(a) (b)
SOLUTION: Þ3 capacitors connected in parallel,
Þ C = C 1 + C2 + C3
A A A A
C   0   0   0  C  3 0
d d d d
 1 3
2

Since the electric field is

zero, there is no capacitance.

Þ2 capacitors connected in parallel,

1 2 Þ C = C1 + C2
A A A
C  0   0  C  20
d d d

2) A variable capacitor with parallel plates, as shown in the figure, has a

capacitance value that can vary between 35 pF and 300 pF when its moving
plates are rotated through 180°. The plates are completely interlocked and the
capacitor is connected to a 200 V battery. Then the connection with the battery is
cut off. What will be the potential across the capacitor if the shaft holding the
variable plates is rotated 180°? Find the energy stored in the capacitor in the first
and last cases.

SOLUTION:

When the plates are completely interlocked, the capacity is max. since it will be,

Q=V.C
Q = 200.300.10-12
Q = 6.10-8 C
When the plates are separated, the charge will be the same and the capacity will be minimum. So,
Q=V.C
6.10-8 = V . 35.10-12
V @ 1,71.103 V = 1,71 kV

The energy stored in the capacitor in the first and last cases:

3) If a total of 0,2 mJ of energy has to be expended in transferring a 0,60 mC charge from one plate of
a 3 mF capacitor to the other, what is the amount of charge on each plate before the subsequently
added charge is transferred?

SOLUTION:
 INITIAL FINAL

W =u f −u i
2 2
1 (q f ) 1 ( qi )
0,2= −
2C 2C
2
1 ( q+Δq ) 1 q 2
0,2= −
2C 2C
q +2 qΔq +Δq 2 −q 2
2
0,2=
2C
2 q . 0,6+0 ,36
0,2=
2.3
1,2 q+0 , 36=1,2
1,2 q=0 ,84
q=0,7 μC

4) The parallel-plate capacitor is constructed using three

different dielectric materials, as shown in figure.
a) Find an expression for the capacitance of the device
in terms of the plate area A and d, k1 , k2 and k3.
b) Calculate the capacitance using the values A = 1 cm 2,
d = 2 mm, k1 = 4,9, k2 = 5,6 and k3 = 2,1.

SOLUTION: a)
 C2
C1
C3

Þ C2 and C3 are connected in series.

C C
1 s
 Þ C1 and Cs are connected in
parallel.

A
C  C1  Cs  10 2   A   2 3 
0  
d d   2  3 

b) A = 1 cm2, d = 2 mm, k1 = 4,9, k2 = 5,6 and k3 = 2,1 values by using,

is obtained.

5) Battery B in the figure provides a potential difference of 12 V to the circuit.

a) When switch S1 is closed,

b) Then find the amount of charge in each capacitor when the switch S 2 is also closed.
( C1 = 1 mF, C2 = 2 mF, C3 = 3 mF and C4 = 4 mF)

SOLUTION: a)

When switch S1 is closed, C1 and C3, C2 and C4 are

connected in series, respectively.
C1 C3

C2 C4

B S1
C13 and C24 are connected in parallel.
 eq eq
eq eq

The charge provided by the battery to the system;

eq eq

are obtained.

The charges on the C1 ve C3;

The charges on C2 ve C4;

b)
C1 When C3 switch S2 is also closed, C1 and C2 , C3 and C4 are
connected in parallel respectively.

S2

C2 C4
C1 2 and C34 are cennected in series.

B
eq
eq

The charge provided by the battery to system;

eq eq

C12V1 = qeşeq

q eq 25 ,2 .10−6
V 1= =
C12 3 . 10−6
V 1 =8,4 V

V1 = 8,4 V

V2 = V0 - V1 = 12 - 8,4 = 3,6 V

The charge on each capacitor;

q1 = C1V1 = 1.10-6.8,4 = 8,4.10-6 = 8,4 mC

 q2 = C2V1 = 2.10-6.8,4 = 16,8.10-6 = 16,8 mC

q3 = C3V2 = 3.10-6.3,6 = 10,8.10-6 = 10,8 mC

q4 = C4V2 = 4.10-6.3,6 = 14,4.10-6 = 14,4 mC

6) Two capacitors, C1 = 1 µF and C2 = 2 µF are connected in parallel and charged with a 1200 V power
supply.
a) Find the charge on each capacitor and potential difference between the plates.
b) After disconnecting the charged capacitors from the circuit and from each other, the oppositely
charged plates are reconnected to come together. Find the final charge on each capacitor and
potential difference between the plates.

SOLUTION: a)

q1 =C 1 V q 2=C 2 V
C1
=10−6 x1200 =2x 10−6 x1200
−3
=1,2 x 10−3 C =2,4 x10 C
C2 V1 = V2 = 1200 V

V
b) C1 and C2 are connected in parallel. So;

qeq 1,2 x 10−3

V= = =400 V
q net =( 2,4−1,2 ) x 10−3 =1,2 x 10−3 C C eq 3 x 10−6
and

q1 = C1V = 1 x 10-6 x 400 = 0,4 x 10-3 C

q2 = C2V = 2 x 10-6 x 400 = 0,8 x 10-3 C

are obtained.
7) A parallel-plate capacitor is constructed using a dielectric material whose dielectric constant is 3
and whose dielectric strength is 2x10 8 V/m. The desired capacitance is 0,25 µF and the capacitor
must withstand a maximum potential difference of 4000 V. Find the minimum area of the capacitor
plates.

SOLUTION:

V 4000
V =E . d ⇒ d= = =2 x 10−5 V
E 2 x 108

A
C=κε 0
d
A
0 ,25 x 10−6 =3 x8 ,85 x10−12
2 x10−5
A=0,188 m2

8) Consider the combination of capacitors shown in figure.

a) What is the equivalent capacitance between points a
and b?
b) Determine the charge on each capacior if Vab = 5 V.

SOLUTION:

a)
20 x 5 100
C eq=5+ 3+ =8+ =8+ 4=12 μF
20+5 25

b)

q=CV
q1 =5 x 5=25 μF
q 2=3 x 5=15 μF
q 3=q4 =4 x 5=20 μF

9)
a) Find the equivalent capacitance between points a and b
for the group of capacitors connected as as shown in figure
if C1 = 5 µF, C2 = 10 µF and C3 = 2 µF.
b) Determine the charge on capacior C 3 if Vab = 60 V.
SOLUTION:

a)
C 1 C2
5 x 10 50
C1,2( seri)= = =3 , 33 μF =
C 1 +C 2 5+10 15
C2,2 =C 2 +C 2=10+10=20 μF
C1,2,3 =2 C 1,2 +C3 =2 x 3 , 33+2=8 , 66 μF
C C 8 , 66 x 20
C eq= 1,2,3 2,2 = =4 ,04 μF
C 1,2,3 +C 2,2 8 , 66+20

b)

'
qeq=Ceq V=6,04 x60=362,4 μC
' 362 , 4 '
'
qeq=C1,2,3V ¿V = =41,84 V¿q3=C3V =2x41,84=83,68 μC ¿
8,6
362,4=8,6 {V