PHY 032: PHYSICS FOR ENGINEERS

Module #20 Student Activity Sheet

Name: _________________________________________________________________ Class number: _______

Section: ____________ Schedule: ________________________________________ Date: ________________

Lesson title: Capacitance Materials:

Lesson Objectives Calculator, Paper, and pen
At the end of this lesson, you should be able to:
References:
1. Calculate the capacitance of capacitors in parallel. College Physics by Giambatista,
2. Calculate the capacitance of capacitors in series. Richardson, Richardson.
Physics for Scientist and
Engineers with Modern Physics
by Serwey, Jewett.
College Physics by Weber,
Manning, White, Weygand
https://openpress.usask.ca/physics155/cha
pter/4-1-capacitors-and-capacitance/
https://electronics.howstuffworks.com/iph
one2.htm

Did you ever wonder how your touch screen mobile

phone works? They work with anything that holds
electric charge, including human skin. Same
principle applied in keyboard and defibrillator. Find
out how they work!

A. LESSON PREVIEW/REVIEW
1) Introduction (2 mins)

+𝑄
A simple capacitor connected to
Battery a device for moving charge from
𝑑 one plate to another
𝑉

−𝑄
Any device on which electric charge may be stored so as to possess electrical potential energy is
called a capacitor.

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 PHY 032: PHYSICS FOR ENGINEERS
Module #20 Student Activity Sheet

Name: _________________________________________________________________ Class number: _______

Section: ____________ Schedule: ________________________________________ Date: ________________

A simple capacitor might consist of two large parallel metal plates insulated from each other and their
surroundings and placed together with empty space between them as shown in the figure above.

2) Activity 1: What I Know Chart, part 1 (3 mins)

What I Know Questions: What I Learned (Activity 4)

1 How are Christmas lights

connected?

2 What is the difference between a

capacitor and a battery?

3 How does a keyboard button

work?

B. MAIN LESSON
1) Activity 2: Content Notes (13 mins)
Capacitance
Since the function of the capacitor is to store a large charge for a given potential difference, or to
store a given charge at a low potential difference, the relation of the charge and potential difference in
capacitor is used to define capacitance. The capacitance (𝑪)of a capacitor is the ratio of the amount of
electricity transferred, from one of its plates to the other, to the potential difference produced between
the plates,

𝑄
𝐶=
𝑉
𝑄 = 𝐶𝑉
𝑄
𝑉=
𝐶

Units of Capacitance
The unit of capacitance in the SI system is the farad (𝑭). A farad is the capacitance of a capacitor
which acquires a potential difference of one volt (𝑉) when it receives a charge of one coulomb (𝐶).

𝐶
1𝐹 =1
𝑉

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 PHY 032: PHYSICS FOR ENGINEERS
Module #20 Student Activity Sheet

Name: _________________________________________________________________ Class number: _______

Section: ____________ Schedule: ________________________________________ Date: ________________

Combination of Capacitors
Capacitors in Parallel

𝐶3 𝑉1 = 𝑉2 = 𝑉3 = 𝑉
𝑄3 𝑄 = 𝐶𝑉
𝑄1 = 𝐶1 𝑉
𝐶2
𝑄2 = 𝐶2 𝑉
𝑄2
𝑄3 = 𝐶3 𝑉
𝐶1
𝑄 = 𝑄1 + 𝑄2 + 𝑄3
𝑄1
𝐶 = 𝐶1 + 𝐶2 + 𝐶3

+ −
For capacitors in parallel, the total capacitance is the sum
𝑉
of the several capacitances.

Capacitors in Series

𝑄1 = 𝑄2 = 𝑄3 = 𝑄
𝐶1 𝐶2 𝐶3
𝑉1 𝑉2 𝑉3 𝑄
𝑉=
𝐶
𝑄 𝑄 𝑄
𝑉1 = 𝑉2 = 𝑉3 =
𝐶1 𝐶2 𝐶3

𝑉 = 𝑉1 + 𝑉2 + 𝑉3
+ −
𝑉 1 1 1 1
= + +
𝐶 𝐶1 𝐶2 𝐶3

For capacitors in series, the reciprocal of the total

capacitance is the sum of the reciprocals of several
capacitances.

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 PHY 032: PHYSICS FOR ENGINEERS
Module #20 Student Activity Sheet

Name: _________________________________________________________________ Class number: _______

Section: ____________ Schedule: ________________________________________ Date: ________________

Example Problems
1. A capacitor having a capacitance of 2.5 𝜇𝐹 is connected to a 50-V battery. Calculate the
charge in the capacitor.

Given: Solution:
−6 𝑄 = 𝐶𝑉
𝐶 = 2.5 𝑥 10 𝐹

𝑉 = 50 𝑉 𝑄 = (2.5 𝑥 10−6 )(50)

𝑄 = 𝟏. 𝟐𝟓 𝒙 𝟏𝟎−𝟒 𝑪
Find: 𝑄

2. Three capacitors of capacitance 4 µF, 8 µF and 12 µF are connected in parallel. The

combination is connected to a 1200- V source. Calculate the capacitance of the combination
and the charge piled up in each capacitor.
Given: 𝐶3 = 12 𝜇𝐹 Solution:
𝐶 = 𝐶1 + 𝐶2 + 𝐶3
𝑄3 𝐶 = 4 + 8 + 12 = 24 𝜇𝐹
𝐶2 = 8 𝜇𝐹 𝑉1 = 𝑉2 = 𝑉3 = 1200 𝑉

𝑄2 𝑄 = 𝐶𝑉

𝐶1 = 4 𝜇𝐹 𝑄1 = 𝐶1 𝑉 = 4𝑥10−6 (1200) = 𝟒. 𝟖𝒙𝟏𝟎−𝟑 𝑪

𝑄2 = 𝐶2 𝑉 = 8𝑥10−6 (1200) = 𝟗. 𝟔𝒙𝟏𝟎−𝟑 𝑪

𝑄1
𝑄3 = 𝐶3 𝑉 = 12𝑥10−6 (1200) = 𝟏𝟒. 𝟒𝒙𝟏𝟎−𝟑 𝑪
+ −
𝑉 = 1200 𝑉
Find: 𝐶, 𝑄1 , 𝑄2 , 𝑄3

3. Three capacitors of capacitance 10 µF, 16 µF and 20 µF are connected in series and is

connected to a 400-V battery. Calculate the voltage across each capacitor and the charge on
each capacitor.
Given: Find: 𝑄, 𝑉1 , 𝑉2 , 𝑉3
𝐶2 = 16 𝜇𝐹
𝐶1 = 10 𝜇𝐹 𝐶3 = 20 𝜇𝐹

𝑉1 𝑉2 𝑉3

Solution:
𝑄 = 𝐶𝑉 𝑉 = 400 𝑉 𝑄 = 4.71𝑥10−6 (400) = 1.88𝑥10−3 𝐶
1 1 1 1 𝑄1 = 𝑄2 = 𝑄3 = 𝟏. 𝟖𝟖𝒙𝟏𝟎−𝟑 𝑪
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𝐶 𝐶1 𝐶2 𝐶3
−3
1.88𝑥10
1 1 1 1 𝑉1 = = 𝟏𝟖𝟖. 𝟎 𝑽
= + + 10𝑥10−6
 PHY 032: PHYSICS FOR ENGINEERS
Module #20 Student Activity Sheet

Name: _________________________________________________________________ Class number: _______

Section: ____________ Schedule: ________________________________________ Date: ________________

2) Activity 3: Skill-building Activities (with answer key) (18 mins + 2 mins checking)
Exercise Problems
Solve the following problems. Use a short bond paper with 1” by 1” border. Avoid erasures.
1. Three capacitors 2 µF, 6 µF, and 24 µF are connected in parallel to a battery of 240 V.
Calculate the capacitance of the combination and the charge on each capacitor. (see figure
1)
2. Calculate the energy stored for the series-parallel combination shown in figure 2 if C1 = 2 µF,
C2 = 3 µF, C3 = 4 µF, C4 = 6 µF, and C5 = 8 µF and the combination is connected to 2400-V
source.
3. Calculate the energy stored for the series-parallel combination shown in figure 3 if C1 = 2 µF,
C2 = 3 µF, C3 = 4 µF, C4 = 6 µF, and C5 = 8 µF and charged to a potential difference of 2600-
V.

𝐶3 = 24 𝜇𝐹

𝑄3
𝐶1 𝐶2 𝐶2 𝐶3
𝐶2 = 6 𝜇𝐹 𝐶5 𝐶1 𝐶5

𝑄2
𝐶3 𝐶4 𝐶4
𝐶1 = 2 𝜇𝐹

𝑄1
𝑉 = 2400 𝑉 𝑉 = 2600 𝑉
+ − Figure 2 Figure 3
𝑉 = 240 𝑉

Figure 1

3) Activity 4: What I Know Chart, part 2 (2 mins)

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 PHY 032: PHYSICS FOR ENGINEERS
Module #20 Student Activity Sheet

Name: _________________________________________________________________ Class number: _______

Section: ____________ Schedule: ________________________________________ Date: ________________

Complete column 3: (What I Learned) of the table in activity 1 based on the content notes from activity
2. Use your own words. Never copy any terms used in the content notes. Preferably, complete the table
without looking at the concept notes.

4) Activity 5: Check for Understanding (5 mins)

Student Engagement (SE) Effective Questioning

State the relationship between the total and

individual voltages, charges, and capacitances for
capacitors connected in parallel and in series.

5) Activity 6: Assessment for Student Learning

Classroom Assessment Technique (CAT) 3-2-1

Three things you learned:

1.
2.
3.
Two things that you would like to learn more about:
1.
2.
One question you still have:
1.

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 PHY 032: PHYSICS FOR ENGINEERS
Module #20 Student Activity Sheet

Name: _________________________________________________________________ Class number: _______

Section: ____________ Schedule: ________________________________________ Date: ________________

C. LESSON WRAP-UP
1) Activity 6: Thinking about Learning (5 mins)

KEY TO CORRECTIONS

Solution to Exercises
1. Given:
𝑄 = 𝐶𝑉
(Parallel)
𝐶1 = 2 𝜇𝐹 𝑉 = 240 𝑉
𝑄1 = (2 𝑥 10−6 )(240) = 𝟒. 𝟖 𝒙 𝟏𝟎−𝟒 𝑪
𝐶2 = 6 𝜇𝐹
𝑄2 = (6 𝑥 10−6 )(240) = 𝟏. 𝟒𝟒 𝒙 𝟏𝟎−𝟑 𝑪
𝐶3 = 24 𝜇𝐹
𝑄1 = (24 𝑥 10−6 )(240) = 𝟓. 𝟕𝟔 𝒙 𝟏𝟎−𝟑 𝑪
Find: 𝐶, 𝑄′𝑠
Solution:
𝐶 = 2 + 6 + 24 = 32 𝜇𝐹
𝑉 = 240 𝑉 = 𝑉1 = 𝑉2 = 𝑉3

2. Given: 𝐶1 𝐶2 𝐶12
𝐶5 𝐶5 𝐶1234 𝐶5

𝐶3 𝐶4 𝐶34

𝑉 = 2400 𝑉 𝑉 = 2400 𝑉 𝑉 = 2400 𝑉

Find: 𝐶, 𝑄′𝑠

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 PHY 032: PHYSICS FOR ENGINEERS
Module #20 Student Activity Sheet

Name: _________________________________________________________________ Class number: _______

Section: ____________ Schedule: ________________________________________ Date: ________________

Solution:
Consider 𝐶1234 & 𝐶5 (𝑠𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑒𝑠),
Consider 𝐶1 & 𝐶2 (𝑠𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑒𝑠), 𝑄 = 𝑄1234 = 𝑄5 = 5.95 𝑥 10−3 𝐶
1 1 1 𝑄1234 5.95 𝑥 10−3
= + 𝑉1234 = = = 1652.78 𝑉
𝐶12 2 𝑥 10−6 3 𝑥 10−6 𝐶1234 3.6 𝑥 10−6
𝐶12 = 1.2 𝑥 10−6 𝐹 𝑄5 5.95 𝑥 10−3
𝑉5 = = = 743.75 𝑉
𝐶5 8 𝑥 10−6
Consider 𝐶3 & 𝐶4 (𝑠𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑒𝑠), Consider 𝐶12 & 𝐶34 (𝑝𝑎𝑟𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑒𝑙),
1 1 1 𝑉1234 = 𝑉12 = 𝑉34 = 1652.78 𝑉
= −6
+
𝐶34 4 𝑥 10 6 𝑥 10−6
𝑄12 = 𝐶12 𝑉12 = (1.2 𝑥 10−6 )(1652.78) = 1.98 𝑥 10−3 𝐶
𝐶34 = 2.4 𝑥 10−6 𝐹 𝑄34 = 𝐶34 𝑉34 = (2.4 𝑥 10−6 )(1652.78) = 3.97 𝑥 10−3 𝐶
Consider 𝐶12 & 𝐶34 (𝑝𝑎𝑟𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑒𝑙),
Consider 𝐶1 & 𝐶2 (𝑠𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑒𝑠),
𝐶1234 = 𝐶12 + 𝐶34 𝑄12 = 𝑄1 = 𝑄2 = 1.98 𝑥 10−3 𝐶
𝐶1234 = 1.2 𝑥 10−6 + 2.4 𝑥 10−6 = 3.6 𝜇𝐹 𝑄1 1.98 𝑥 10−3
𝑉1 =
= = 990 𝑉
𝐶1 2 𝑥 10−6
Consider 𝐶1234 & 𝐶5 (𝑠𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑒𝑠), 𝑄2 1.98 𝑥 10−3
𝑉2 = = = 660 𝑉
1 1 1 𝐶2 3 𝑥 10−6
= −6
+
𝐶 3.6 𝑥 10 8 𝑥 10−6 Consider 𝐶3 & 𝐶4 (𝑠𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑒𝑠),
𝐶 = 2.48 𝑥 10−6 𝐹 𝑄34 = 𝑄3 = 𝑄4 = 3.97 𝑥 10−3 𝐶
Solve for 𝑄, 𝑄3 3.97 𝑥 10−3
𝑉3 = = = 992.5 𝑉
𝐶3 4 𝑥 10−6
𝑄 = 𝐶𝑉 = (2.48 𝑥 10−6 )(2400) = 5.95 𝑥 10−3 𝐶 𝑄4 3.97 𝑥 10−3
𝑉4 = = = 661.67 𝑉
𝐶4 6 𝑥 10−6

3. Given: 𝐶2 𝐶3 𝐶23
𝐶1 𝐶5 𝐶1 𝐶5 𝐶1 𝐶234 𝐶5

𝐶4 𝐶4

𝑉 = 2600 𝑉 𝑉 = 2600 𝑉 𝑉 = 2600 𝑉

Find: 𝐶, 𝑄′𝑠

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 PHY 032: PHYSICS FOR ENGINEERS
Module #20 Student Activity Sheet

Name: _________________________________________________________________ Class number: _______

Section: ____________ Schedule: ________________________________________ Date: ________________

Solution:
Consider 𝐶2 & 𝐶3 (𝑠𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑒𝑠), Consider 𝐶23 & 𝐶4 (𝑝𝑎𝑟𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑒𝑙),
1 1 1
= + 𝑉234 = 𝑉24 = 𝑉4 = 444.48 𝑉
𝐶23 3 𝑥 10 −6 4 𝑥 10−6
𝐶23 = 1.71 𝑥 10−6 𝐹 𝑄23 = 𝐶23 𝑉23 = (1.21 𝑥 10−6 )(444.88) = 7.6 𝑥 10−4 𝐶
𝑄4 = 𝐶4 𝑉4 = (6 𝑥 10−6 )(444.88) = 2.67 𝑥 10−3 𝐶
Consider 𝐶23 & 𝐶4 (𝑝𝑎𝑟𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑒𝑙),
𝐶234 = 1.71 𝑥 10−6 + 6 𝑥 10−6 = 7.71 𝑥 10−6 𝐹 Consider 𝐶2 & 𝐶3 (𝑠𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑒𝑠),

Consider 𝐶1 , 𝐶234 & 𝐶5 (𝑠𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑒𝑠), 𝑄23 = 𝑄2 = 𝑄3 = 7.6 𝑥 10−4 𝐶

1 1 1 1 𝑄2 7.6 𝑥 10−4
= + + 𝑉2 = = = 253.33 𝑉
𝐶 2 𝑥 10 −6 7.71 𝑥 10 −6 8 𝑥 10−6 𝐶2 3 𝑥 10−6
𝐶 = 1.32 𝑥 10−6 𝐹 𝑄3 7.6 𝑥 10−4
𝑉3 = = = 190 𝑉
𝐶3 4 𝑥 10−6
Solve for 𝑄,
𝑄 = 𝐶𝑉 = (1.32 𝑥 10−6 )(2600) = 3.43 𝑥 10−3 𝐶
Consider 𝐶1 , 𝐶234 & 𝐶5 (𝑠𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑒𝑠),
𝑄 = 𝑄1 = 𝑄234 = 𝑄5 = 3.43 𝑥 10−3 𝐶
𝑄1 3.43 𝑥 10−3
𝑉1 = = = 1715 𝑉
𝐶1 2 𝑥 10−6
𝑄234 3.43 𝑥 10−3
𝑉234 = = = 444.48 𝑉
𝐶234 7.71 𝑥 10−6
𝑄5 3.43 𝑥 10−3
𝑉5 = = = 435 𝑉
𝐶5 8 𝑥 10−6

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