2015-2016 ACADEMIC YEAR

GRADE 12 / PHYSICS
Physics 12 Capacitors
CAPACITORS (Problems)
Worksheet : Capacitors (Problems)

1.
1.
2.
2. 3.
A capacitor is connected to the terminals of a battery as A Two
capacitor is charged
capacitors and disconnected
are arranged as shown.from
The the batteryC1
capacitor
shown in the figure. ashas
shown in theof
a charge figure.
20µC and the capacitor C2 is uncharged.
The switches S1 and S2 are closed at the same time.

After a dielectric is inserted between the plates of

capacitor;

After a dielectric is inserted between the plates of a)Calculate; increases

The capacitance of capacitor ______________..
capacitor;
a) final charges of each capacitor.
b) the potential difference across the plates of each
b) Potential decreases
difference across the plates _____________.
capacitor.
increases
a) The capacitance of capacitor ______________.
c) the energy stored in the capacitor C1.
remains the same remains the same
c) Charge of capacitor ________________.
b) Potential difference across the plates _____________.

decreases
d) The electric field between the plates _____________.
increases
c) Charge of capacitor ______________.
1
remains the same
d) The electric field between the plates ____________.

4.
 DEMIC YEARc) Charge of capacitor ______________.
PHYSICS
S (Problems)Physics 12 Capacitors Worksheet : Capacitors (Problems)
d) The electric field between the plates ____________.

3.
3. 4. 4.
Two capacitors are arranged as shown. The capacitor C1
has a charge of 20µC and the capacitor C2 is uncharged.
The switches
2. S1 and S2 are closed at the same time.
A capacitor is charged and disconnected from the battery
as shown in the figure.

For the circuit given calculate

a) Equivalent capacitance of the system
b) Total charge of the system
c) The charge of the each capacitor
After a dielectric is inserted between the plates of d) Potential difference across the plates of each
Calculate;
capacitor; capacitor.
a) final charges of each capacitor.
b) the potential difference across the plates of each
capacitor.
a) The capacitance of capacitor ______________..
c) the energy stored in the capacitor C1.
a) Ceq=2 µF

a) b)QPotential difference across the plates _____________.

total=20 µC
b) Qtotal=24 µC
Q/1=5 µC and Q/2=15 µC
c) Charge of capacitor ________________.

b) d)V=5/3
The electric
voltsfield between the plates _____________. c) Q1= Q2=24 µC
1

4.
c) E=(CV2)/2=(3.(5/3)2)/2=25/6 µJ d) V1=8 V and V2=4 V
 Physics 12 Capacitors Worksheet : Capacitors (Problems)

5.
5.
6.
6.
7.
The potential difference across the plates of C1 is 40 After the capacitors are fully charged an insulator with
volts. K=2 is inserted between the plates of C1 and the system
is again fully charged.

For the given circuit, calculate

Calculate; a) The equivalent capacitance and the total charge of
a) The potential difference of C2 the system.
a) What is change in the charge of C1?
b) The potential difference of battery c)What
b) The potential
is changedifference across
in the potential ofeach
C1? capacitor.
c) The total charge of system d) The charge stored on each capacitor.
e) The electric potential energy of the system.
a) Ceq= 2 F
a) Q1= Q2=120 C then Q1= Q2=12 C then
V2=(120)/(6)=20 V After dielectric is inserted;
C/1=6 F then C/eq= 3 F
b) V=40+20=60 V Q/1= Q/2=18 C

c) Ceq= 2 F and V=60 V b) V1=4 V and V2=8 V

Qtotal=2.60=120 C After dielectric is inserted;
6. 8. V/1=3 V and V/2=3 V
After the capacitors are fully charged an insulator with After the capacitors are fully charged an insulator having
 Physics 12 Capacitors Worksheet : Capacitors (Problems)

7.
6.
7. 8.
8.
After the capacitors are fully charged an insulator with After the capacitors are fully charged an insulator having
K=2 is inserted between the plates of C1 and the system a dielectric constant K=2 is inserted between the plates
is again fully charged. of C1 and the system is again fully charged.

For the given circuit, calculate

a) The equivalent capacitance and the total charge of
the system.
a) c) Theispotential
What change indifference across
the charge of C1each
? capacitor.
b)d) Theischarge
What change stored
in theon each capacitor.
potential of C1?
e) The electric potential energy of the system.
a) What is change in the charge of C1?
b) What is change in the potential of C1?
a) Ceq= 1+2=3 µF c) How does the charge of C2 change? Why?

Qtotal= 12.3 =36 µC a) Q1= 3.12=36 µC

b) V1= V2=12 V C1= 3 µF then
c) Q1= 1.12 =12 µC C/1= 6 µF (with dielectric)
Q2= 2.12 =24 µC Q/1= 6.12=72 µC
d) Etotal=CV2/2=(3.122)/2 b) V1= V/1=12 V
8. Etotal=216 µJ
After the capacitors are fully charged an insulator having c) Q2= Q/2=48 µC
 Physics 12 Capacitors Worksheet : Capacitors (Problems)

9.9. 10.
10. 11.
WhenWhen the switch
the switches S1Sand
is open
S2 arethe totalthe
open, charge of the syste
equivalent
is Q1. When
capacitance of thethe switch
circuit is 6isµF.
closed the total charge of the
system becomes Q2.

For the circuit given, Calculate

a) charge stored on each capacitor
b) potential difference across each capacitor
c) energy stored in C2 WhatCalculate the ratio capacitance
is the equivalent of Q1/ Q2? of the circuit
when both switches are closed?
When both switches are open
a) 2 F and 4 F are parallel : 6 F
6 F and 12 F are series : Ceq= 4 µF then Ceq=C =6 µF
Qtotal=4.12=48 µC
When both switches are closed
Q1=48 µC, Q2=16 µC and Q3=32 µC
b) V1=4 V and V2=V3=8 V
c) E2=(2.82)/2=64 J
Ceq=10C/3

12.
Ceq=(10.6)/3=20 µF
10.
When the switches S1 and S2 are open, the equivalent
 Physics 12 Capacitors Worksheet : Capacitors (Problems)

11.
11.
10.
12.
12.
When the switch S is open the total charge of the system
When the switches S1 and S2 are open, the equivalent
is Q1. When the switch is closed the total charge of the
capacitance of the circuit is 6 µF.
system becomes Q2.

Calculate the equivalent capacitance between points

K and L.
Calculate the ratio of Q1/ Q2?
What is the equivalent capacitance of the circuit
when both switches are closed?
S is open;
4 F and 4 F are series
Ceq=2 F then Q1=2.V Q1/Q2=(2.V)/(8.v/3)
Q1/Q2=3/4

S is closed;
Ceq=4+4+12
4 F and 4 F are paralle:8 F
Ceq=20 F
Ceq=8/3 F then Q2=8.V/3

12.
 Physics 12 Capacitors Worksheet : Capacitors (Problems)

13.
13.
14.
14.
15.

A 40 µF capacitor is charged by connecting it to 16 V

battery. The battery is then disconnected and the
charged capacitor is next connected across a 120 µF that
was initially uncharged.
After steady state has been reached, what is the
charge on each capacitor and the voltage across
each?

What is the equivalent capacitance between th

If the potential difference between the ends of 3µF points K and L?
capacitor is 24 V, what is the potential difference
Initially;
between points K and L?
Qi=40.16=640 µC
then
Qtotal=640 µC
Q1=160 µC and Q2=480 µC
(Q is directly proportional to C
when two capacitors are parallel.)
6.V=3.24 VKL=12+24 Vcommon=160/40=4 V

V=12 V VKL=36 V
4
 Physics 12 Capacitors Worksheet : Capacitors (Problems)

15.
. 15. 16.
16.
40 µF capacitor is charged by connecting it to 16 V The potential difference between the two ends of 12 µF
ttery. The battery is then disconnected and the capacitor is 40 V.
arged capacitor is next connected across a 120 µF that
as initially uncharged.
ter steady state has been reached, what is the
harge on each capacitor and the voltage across
ch?

What is the equivalent capacitance between the

points K and L?

What is the amount of charge stored in the 6µF

capacitor, in µC?

12 µF and 3 µF : parallel: 15 µF
6 µF and 4 µF : parallel: 10 µF
10 µF and 15 µF : series
Their charges are the same.
8 F and 24 F : series : 6 F
40.15=V.10 then V=60 V
6 F and 18 : parallel : 24 F
24 F and 12 F : series : Ceq=8 F The charge on 6 µF capacitor is
Q=6.60=360 µC