G.S.

Berdibekov Fundamentals of Electrical Engineering I

Homework 4

1. A parallel plate capacitor has dimensions of w = 3.0mm and l = 3.0mm. The gap
between the plates is 2mm. What does the relative permitivity (εr ) need to be to create
a capacitance of 20pF ? (Note that 1pF = 10−12 F ). Recall that ε = εr ε0 and ε0 =
8.85 · 10−12 F/m. Find εr .

2. A parallel plate capacitor has an area of A = 60mm2 . The gap between the plates is
2mm. Assume that ε = 8 · 10−9 F/m. If the magnitude of the charge stored on either
plate of the capacitor is Q = 3nC, what is the potential difference V between the plates?

3. In this question, you are required to find the capacitance of a parallel-plate capacitor
in units of nF (10−9 F ) given that the width and length of the two identical plates are
6m and 5m, respectively. These plates are separated by 30cm and the gap between
them is filled with glass. The relative permittivity of glass is εr = 4.7 and recall that
ε0 = 8.85 · 10−12 F/m.

4. Which one of the following can be done to reduce this capacitance value in previous
problem? Select all that apply. The relative permittivity of rubber is εr = 7.

ˆ Change the width and length of the plates to 8m and 4m, respectively.
ˆ Change the width and length of the plates to 12m and 5m, respectively and the
distance between them to 60cm.
ˆ Use rubber instead of glass to fill the gap between the two plates.
ˆ Change the spacing between the plates to 1m.

5. Capacitive sensors work by using a circuit that varies its output based on a varying
value of a capacitor. Suppose that one such sensor has capacitor plates that can be
pushed closer together (perhaps some force or air pressure pushes one plate closer to the
other). Compute the difference in capacitance between the two cases, C2 − C1 in pF
(1pF = 10−12 F )? Find the difference.
Case 1 (C1 ): d = 4mm, w = 10mm, l = 10mm, εr = 1 for air in the gap. Recall that
ε0 = 8.85 · 10−12 F/m
Case 2 (C2 ): d = 2mm, w = 10mm, l = 10mm, εr = 1 for air in the gap. Recall that
ε0 = 8.85 · 10−12 F/m

6. A capacitor (Figure 1) has a capacitance of C = 6F . It initially has a voltage of VC = 2V

across the parallel plates. The capacitor is connected to an independent current source
that has a current of i(t) = 2t A. After 6 seconds, what is the voltage VC across the
capacitor? Find your answers for voltage VC in Volts.

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G.S. Berdibekov Fundamentals of Electrical Engineering I

Figure 1: Circuit 1

7. Repeat the problem above, but use a capacitor that has half of the physical area, A, of
the original one.

8. Repeat the original problem with a capacitor that has the same area as the original
capacitor but where the distance separating the two parallel plates is doubled.

9. Use the circuit below for the following questions (Figure 2). The switch in the circuit has
been closed for a long time. Right at t = 0 the switch is opened. Find the voltage across
the capacitor in units of V at t = 30ms. In this circuit, I = 2mA and C = 5µF .

Figure 2: Circuit 2

10. Find the power being consumed by the capacitor in units of mW at t = 30ms for previous
problem.

11. Calculate the equivalent capacitance Cab for the following schematic (Figure 3).

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G.S. Berdibekov Fundamentals of Electrical Engineering I

Figure 3: Circuit 3

12. Calculate the equivalent capacitance Cab for the following schematic (Figure 4). All
capacitors have a capacitance of 10pF .

Figure 4: Circuit 4

13. Calculate the equivalent capacitance Cab for the following schematic (Figure 5).

Figure 5: Circuit 5

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G.S. Berdibekov Fundamentals of Electrical Engineering I

14. We have a circuit element with the following current and voltage functions. Which of the
following can this circuit element be?

Figure 6: Diagram 1

ˆ Capacitor
ˆ Resistor
ˆ Inductor

15. What is the magnitude of this element in the previous problem? Convert your answer to
Ω, F or H.

16. Suppose that the following voltage waveform is applied to a 2 H inductor (Figure 7).

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G.S. Berdibekov Fundamentals of Electrical Engineering I

Figure 7: Diagram 2

Select the most appropriate expression for the current through the inductor from the
choices below, for 0 < t < 3. Assume that the inductor is initially uncharged.

ˆ i(t) = 2 for 0 < t < 2 and i(t) = 0 for 2 < t < 3

ˆ i(t) = t2 for 0 < t < 2 and i(t) = 0 for 2 < t < 3
ˆ i(t) = t for 0 < t < 2 and i(t) = 2 for 2 < t < 3
ˆ i(t) = 2t for 0 < t < 2 and i(t) = 4 for 2 < t < 3

17. For the inductor and voltage waveform given above, what is the power, in Watts, con-
sumed by the inductor at t = 1 second?

18. Consider an inductor with the following current and voltage functions (Figure 8). Find
the inductance.

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G.S. Berdibekov Fundamentals of Electrical Engineering I

Figure 8: Diagram 3

19. What is the total equivalent inductance looking into terminal a and b (Figure 9)? Assume
all inductors have the same inductance of 5 Henry.

Figure 9: Circuit 6

20. Calculate the equivalent inductance, Lab , for the following schematic (Figure 10). All
inductors have an inductance of 0.2mH.

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G.S. Berdibekov Fundamentals of Electrical Engineering I

Figure 10: Circuit 7

21. Calculate the equivalent inductance Lab for the following schematic.

Figure 11: Circuit 8

22. Consider a capacitor C = 1mF . The voltage across the capicator is: V = 5V . Find the
energy stored in the capacitor
23. A current passing through an inductor (L = 2mH) varies through time according to the
following equation: i(t) = 0.5t2 A. Find the energy stored in the inductor at t = 2s.
24. A parallel plate capacitor has an area of A = 60mm2 and a plate separation of 2mm.
Assume that ε = 8 · 10−9 F/m.
How much energy is stored in the capacitor when it is charged to a potential difference
of 12V ?

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G.S. Berdibekov Fundamentals of Electrical Engineering I

25. Chapter 7 (Dorf&Svoboda), problem 7.2-1.

26. Chapter 7 (Dorf&Svoboda), problem 7.2-2.

27. Chapter 7 (Dorf&Svoboda), problem 7.2-4.

28. Chapter 7 (Dorf&Svoboda), problem 7.2-6.

29. Chapter 7 (Dorf&Svoboda), problem 7.2-11.

30. Chapter 7 (Dorf&Svoboda), problem 7.2-14.

31. Chapter 7 (Dorf&Svoboda), problem 7.2-16.

32. Chapter 7 (Dorf&Svoboda), problem 7.2-18.

33. Chapter 7 (Dorf&Svoboda), problem 7.2-22.

34. Chapter 7 (Dorf&Svoboda), problem 7.3-1.

35. Chapter 7 (Dorf&Svoboda), problem 7.3-3.

36. Chapter 7 (Dorf&Svoboda), problem 7.3-5.

37. Chapter 7 (Dorf&Svoboda), problem 7.3-6.

38. Chapter 7 (Dorf&Svoboda), problem 7.3-7.

39. Chapter 7 (Dorf&Svoboda), problem 7.4-1.

40. Chapter 7 (Dorf&Svoboda), problem 7.4-3.

41. Chapter 7 (Dorf&Svoboda), problem 7.4-5.

42. Chapter 7 (Dorf&Svoboda), problem 7.4-9.

43. Chapter 7 (Dorf&Svoboda), problem 7.4-10.

44. Chapter 7 (Dorf&Svoboda), problem 7.5-1.

45. Chapter 7 (Dorf&Svoboda), problem 7.5-5.

46. Chapter 7 (Dorf&Svoboda), problem 7.5-6.

47. Chapter 7 (Dorf&Svoboda), problem 7.5-8.

48. Chapter 7 (Dorf&Svoboda), problem 7.5-10.

49. Chapter 7 (Dorf&Svoboda), problem 7.5-13.

50. Chapter 7 (Dorf&Svoboda), problem 7.5-15.

51. Chapter 7 (Dorf&Svoboda), problem 7.5-17.

52. Chapter 7 (Dorf&Svoboda), problem 7.5-23.

53. Chapter 7 (Dorf&Svoboda), problem 7.6-1.

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G.S. Berdibekov Fundamentals of Electrical Engineering I

54. Chapter 7 (Dorf&Svoboda), problem 7.6-3.

55. Chapter 7 (Dorf&Svoboda), problem 7.6-4.

56. Chapter 7 (Dorf&Svoboda), problem 7.6-5.

57. Chapter 7 (Dorf&Svoboda), problem 7.6-6.

58. Chapter 7 (Dorf&Svoboda), problem 7.7-1.

59. Chapter 7 (Dorf&Svoboda), problem 7.7-3.

60. Chapter 7 (Dorf&Svoboda), problem 7.7-4.

61. Chapter 7 (Dorf&Svoboda), problem 7.7-7.

62. Chapter 7 (Dorf&Svoboda), problem 7.7-9.

63. Chapter 7 (Dorf&Svoboda), problem 7.7-12.