Amity International School, Noida

PHYSICS – CLASS XII

Wk Sh-4, ELECTROSTATICS - CAPACITORS
(Solutions)

1. In the given question,

both the capacitors are connected in series, so charge is C1 = 6 µF C2 = 12 µF
same in both the capacitor.
𝑄 1
V= ,V∝
𝐶 𝐶
So,
𝑉1
=
𝐶2
= 2 ----------------(i)
V
𝑉2 𝐶1
Given in question, V1 = 2 V, So using eqn (i) V2 = 1V
And total potential of the battery
V = V1 + V2 = 3V

2. In the question, Capacitors are conncted in parallel,

So Ceq = C1 + C2 + C3 = 12 µF

3. Given,
𝜀 𝐴 𝐾𝜀 𝐴
C1 = 0 and C2 = 0
𝑑 𝑑
Now, Q1 = C1 V = 30 µC and Q2 = C2 V = 76 µC
𝑄2 𝐶 76 38
= 2=K= =
𝑄1 𝐶1 30 15

4. Both the capacitors X and Y are connected in series so Q is same

for both the capacitors.
𝜀 𝐴
Now, Cx = 0
𝑑
5𝜀0 𝐴
And Cy =
𝑑
𝑄 1
Now, V = , V ∝
𝐶 𝐶
𝑉𝑥 𝐶𝑦
So, = = 5,-----------(i)
𝑉𝑦 𝐶𝑥
Now, Vy + Vx = 12 V------------(ii)
Using egn (i) and (ii),
Vy = 2V and Vx = 10V
1 𝑄2
Now, energy stored in the capacitor is U = ,
2 𝐶
1
as Q is constant, so U ∝
𝐶
𝑈𝑥 𝐶𝑦
So, = =5
𝑈𝑦 𝐶𝑥

5. Suppose the capacitance of the capacitor is C and the emf of the battery is V.
The charge given to the capacitor is Q = CV.
The work done by the battery is W = QV = CV2
The battery supplies this energy. The battery supplies this energy. The energy stored in the capacitor
is `
1 1
U = Q V = C V2
2 2
The remaining energy
1 1
QV - Q V = Q V
2 2
is lost as heat. thus, half energy supplied by the battery is lost as heat.
6 In the question given,
C1 = 3μF, C2 = C3 =C4 = 9μF.
Here, C2 , C3 and C4 are in series so their equivalent is 3 µF,
now this equivalent of C2 , C3 and C4 is in parallel with C1
So, Ceq= 6 µF
Now, VAB = 4 V, so qeq = Ceq x VAB = 24 µC,
Charge drawn by each capacitor is 12 µF.

7. (i) If battery is connected, V = constant U

Energy stored in the capacitor,
1
U = CV2, U ∝ C
2

C
(ii) If battery is connected, Q = constant U
Energy stored in the capacitor,
1 𝑄2 1
U= ,U∝
2 𝐶 𝐶

8. Initial capacitance with a di-electric slab of K,

𝐾𝜀 𝐴
C1 = 0 = 2 x 10-6 F
𝑑
Here, the plates of capacitor is charged to a volt of 100 V,
Now, q1 = C1 V1 ⇒ q1 = 200 x 10-6 C
As the charged capacitor is isolated, the charge remains constant
So, q1 = q2 = q = 200 x 10-6 C
Now, after removing the di-electric slab of K = 5,
𝐶 2 x 10−5
C2 = 1 = F
𝐾 5
New potential
𝑞 5 𝑥 200 𝑥 10−6
V2 = = = 500 V
𝐶2 2 x 10−5
And work done to remove the plate is change in potential energy of the capacitor,
W = U 2 – U1
1
⇒W = q (V2 – V1)
2
1
⇒ W = 200 x 10-6 (500 – 100) = 0.04 J
2

𝜀 𝐴
9. Initially, capacitance C1 = 0
𝑑
Capacitance, by introducing the di-electric (K) slab of thickness t,
𝜀 𝐴
C2 =⇒ 0 𝑡 ,
𝑑−𝑡+
𝑘
According to the question, new capacitances increases by 25 %
So, C2 = 1.25 C1
𝜀 𝐴 𝜀 𝐴
⇒ 0 𝑡 = 1.25 0
𝑑−𝑡+ 𝑑
𝑘
𝑡
⇒ d = 1.25 ( d – t + )
𝑘
Putting, d = 5 mm, t = 2 mm,
 K=2

10. In the given diagram, K1 = 2, K2 = 3

𝐾 𝜀 𝐴 4𝜀 𝐴
CI = 1 0 = 0
𝑑/2 𝑑
𝐾2 𝜀0 𝐴 6 𝜀0 𝐴 I
CII = =
𝑑/2 𝑑 II
As this given combination is a series one,
1 1 1 𝑑 5
= + =
𝐶𝑒𝑞 𝐶𝐼 𝐶𝐼𝐼 𝜀0 𝐴 12
12 𝜀0 𝐴
⇒ Ceq (series) =
5𝑑
In the given diagram, K1 = 2, K2 = 3
𝐾 𝜀 𝐴/2 𝜀 𝐴
CI = 1 0 = 0
𝑑 𝑑
𝐾2 𝜀0 𝐴/2 3 𝜀0 𝐴
CII = = I II
𝑑 2𝑑
As this given combination is a parallel one,
5𝜀 𝐴
Ceq(parallel) = CI + CII = 0
2𝑑
𝐶𝑒𝑞 (𝑝𝑎𝑟𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑒𝑙) 25
Now, =
𝐶𝑒𝑞 (𝑠𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑖𝑒𝑠) 24

11. Let, Ceq is the equivalent capacitance of this

infinite network between points A and B, it
consists of repeating two capacitor C and C,
again and again.
Assuming the network to be completed after the
symbol ‘}’, by placing Ceq there.
Now, in 2nd circuit diagram,
the equivalent capacitor between A and B, Ceq
1 1 1
= + , here C = 1 µF
𝐶𝑒𝑞 𝐶+ 𝐶𝑒𝑞 𝐶
−1 ± √5
⇒ Ceq = , taking positive sign,
2
−1+ √5
⇒ Ceq = ,
2

12. As, these three capacitances I, II and III are

connected in series,
1 1 1 1
So, = + + ,
𝐶𝑒𝑞 𝐶𝐼 𝐶𝐼𝐼 𝐶𝐼𝐼𝐼
𝜀0 𝐴/3 𝜀0 𝐴
CI = = II III
𝑑 3𝑑
𝜀0 𝐴/3 𝜀0 𝐴 I
CII = = and
2𝑑 6𝑑
𝜀0 𝐴/3 𝜀0 𝐴
CIII = =
3𝑑 9𝑑
1 1 1 1
Now, = + +
𝐶𝑒𝑞 𝐶𝐼 𝐶𝐼𝐼 𝐶𝐼𝐼𝐼
1 𝑑 18 𝑑
⇒ = ( 3 + 6 + 9) =
𝐶𝑒𝑞 𝜀0 𝐴 𝜀0 𝐴
𝜀0 𝐴
⇒ Ceq =
18𝑑

13. When the two capacitors are connected in parallel, the energy stored in the combination of the
1
capacitor is Ep = (C1 + C2) V2 = 80 mJ
2
⇒ (C1 + C2) = 16 x 10-6 F = 16 µF ----------------(i)
When the two capacitors are connected in series, the energy stored in the combination of the
1 𝐶 𝐶
capacitor is Es = ( 1 2 ) V2 = 15 mJ
2 𝐶1 + 𝐶2
⇒ C1 C2 = 48 x 10-12 F,
 ⇒ (C1 – C2) = √ [(C1 + C2)2 – 4 C1 C2]
⇒ (C1 – C2) = 8 µF-----------------------------------(ii)
Using equation (i) and (ii),
C1 = 12 µF and C2 = 4 µF

14. When battery is connected,

a) (i) Q = CV, as C increases to Cnew and V remain same, so Q also increases.
𝐾𝜀 𝐴
(ii) The capacitance increases as the dielectric constant K>1, where Cnew = 0
𝑑
(iii) V, p.d. remain constant because battery remains connected.
𝑉
(iv) Electric field E= , where V is the p.d. and d the separation between the plates. As V and d remains
𝑑
the same, electric field also remain same.
1
(v) Energy stored in a capacitor U = Cnew V2 As Q is constant and C increases, U decreases.
2

b) When the battery is disconnected,

(i) Q remains the same since the battery is disconnected.
𝐾𝜀 𝐴
(ii) The capacitance increases as the dielectric constant K>1, where Cnew = 0
𝑑
𝑄
(iii) Potential difference V= . As C increases and Q remains the same since the battery is disconnected,
𝐶
the p.d. between the plates decreases.
𝑉
(iv) Electric field E= , where V is the p.d. and d the separation between the plates. As V decreases and d
𝑑
remains the same, electric field also decreases.
1 𝑄2
(v) Energy stored in a capacitor U = . As Q is constant and C increases, U decreases.
2 𝐶𝑛𝑒𝑤

15. As shown in figure, suppose the points A and B are

(i) connected with positive and negative terminal of a
battery. A+
Clearly we can see the three capacitors I, II and III. Their -B
positive plates are connected with A and negative plates
are connected with B.
So these three capacitors are in parallel.
So Cnet = CI + CII + CIII = 3 C,
3𝜀 𝐴
Cnet = 0
𝑑

(ii) As shown in figure, suppose the points A and B are

connected with positive and negative terminal of a
battery. A+ -B
Clearly we can see the three capacitors I and II. Their
positive plates are connected with A and negative plates
are connected with B.
So these two capacitors are in parallel.
So Cnet = CI + CII = 2 C,
2𝜀 𝐴
Cnet = 0
𝑑