HKAL Exercise : Part 4 Electricity and Electromagnetism

Chapter 14 Capacitance
14.1 Capacitance
1.

The figure above shows a charged parallel plate capacitor. P is a point between the plates and
its distance from plate A is x. If E is the electric field at point P, which of the following graphs
best represents the variation of E with x? (The separation of the plates is s.)
A. B. C. D.

Capacitance of Two parallel Plates

2. A parallel-plate capacitor is formed by two A. decrease by 30%. B. increase by 30%.
square metal plates. To determine the C. decrease by 23%. D. increase by 23%.
capacitance C, a student measures the
length of side l and separation d of the 5.
plates.
If the maximum percentage error of l = 2%,
the maximum percentage error of d = 6%,
then the maximum percentage error for C will
be A. 2% B. 8%
C. 10% D. 14% A parallel-plate capacitor is first charged by
3. A potential difference V is applied connecting it to a battery. After disconnecting
between two large parallel plates, distance the battery, one of the plates of the capacitor is
s apart. An electron, mass m, charge –e, shifted downward slightly as shown. What
starts from rest at the negative plate and would happen to each of the following
travels across the gap to the positive plate. quantities ?
The time taken is V : the potential difference between the plates
Q : the magnitude of the charge on each plate
A. . B. .
C : the capacitance of the capacitor
V Q C
C. . D. .
A. decreased unchanged increased
4. If the separation between the plates of a B. unchanged decreased decreased
parallel-plate capacitor is increased by C. increased decreased decreased
30%, its capacitance will D. increased unchanged decreased
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6.
7.

In the capacitor arrangement shown in the A parallel-plate capacitor is connected to a

diagram, plate P has been charged and battery as shown. What will happen if the
connected to the electroscope. If plate Q is separation of the plates is increased?
moved away from plate P, the gold-leaf capacitance voltage charge
will A. decreases unchanged decreases
A. diverge a little more. B. increases unchanged decreases
B. remain where it is. C. decreases decreases decreases
C. fall slightly. D. decreases decreases increases
D. fall completely.
Capacitors with Dielectric
8. C1 and C2 are plane parallel plate direction to that at Q.
capacitors of the same area. The plates of 10.
C1 and C2 are separated by slabs of the
same dielectric material of thickness d and
4d respectively. The capacitance of C2 is
0.15μF. The capacitance of C1 and C2 Two large metal plates A, B are oppositely
connected together in series is charged and placed a small distance apart.
A. 0.03μF. B. 0.12μF. A piece of metal M is placed centrally
C. 0.60μF. D. 0.75μF. between the plates. Which of the
9. following graphs shows the variation of
electric field intensity E from A to B ?
A. B.

A sheet of dielectric occupies part of the space

between the parallel of an evacuated capacitor.
P is a point in the dielectric and Q is a point in C. D.
the vacuum between the plates. Neglecting
edge effects, the electric field strength at P
when the capacitor is charged is
A. zero. B. less than that at Q.
C. greater than that at Q.
D. equal in magnitude but opposite in
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14.2 Combination of capacitors(Equivalent Capacitance)
11. Which one of the following combinations 14.
has the least capacitance?
A. B.

C. D.
Circuit A Circuit B
Three identical capacitors are connected to
the same d.c. source in parallel (circuit A)
and then in series (circuit B). The
magnitude of the ratio of the total energies
12. A parallel-plate capacitor of capacitance stored by the capacitors in circuit A to
C0 is formed by two rectangular metal circuit B is
plates having separation d. Now each of A. 1/9. B. 1/3.
the plates is cut into four smaller, identical C. 1. D. 9.
ones to form two capacitors, each with
plate separation 4d. What is the 15.
capacitance when they are connected in
series ?
A. (1/2)C0 B. (1/4)C0
C. (1/8)C0 D. (1/32)C0

13. In the above circuit, a charged capacitor C1

is connected across AB so that it is parallel
with two initially uncharged capacitors C2
and C3. Which of the following statements
is/are correct when switch S is closed ?
Three identical capacitors, each of (1) The potential difference across AB
capacitance C, form a network as shown. will drop.
What is the equivalent capacitance (2) The combined capacitance across AB
between terminals X and Y ? will increase.
A. B. (3) The quantity of charge on C1 is the
same as that on C2.
C. D. 3C A. (1) only B. (3) only
C. (1) and (2) only
D. (2) and (3) only

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(Structural question)
16.

Figure 16.1

Figure 16.1 shows a capacitor C1, formed by two square metal plates of length 0.80 m,
connected with a variable E.H.T. supply. The capacitance of the capacitor is 4.10 × 10-10 F.
(a) (i) Express the electric field strength between the parallel plates, E, in terms of the
potential difference across the plates, Vo. (2 marks)

(ii) It is known that electric breakdown occurs (i.e. conduction happens between the
plates) when the electric field strength between the plates reaches 2 × 106 V m-1. Find
the potential difference at which electric breakdown occurs for capacitor C1.
(2 marks)

(b) Another capacitor C2 identical to C1 but with a sheet of mica in between, is also connected
to the same E.H.T. supply as shown in Figure 16.2.

Figure 16.2
(i) C1 and C2 are then disconnected from the supply and the charges on each of them are
measured by an electrometer. The readings on the output meter of the electrometer
are 0.14 mA and 0.84 mA respectively. Find the ratio of the capacitance of C2 to that
of C1. Show your working. (2 marks)

(ii) With both C1 and C2 charged to a potential difference 600 V, the E.H.T. supply in
Figure 16.2 is then removed, and the mica sheet is also removed from C2. Find the
resulting charge and potential difference of C2. (4 marks)

(c) Give TWO advantages of placing a sheet of mica between the plates of a capacitor in
practice. (2 marks)
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17. The two plates of a parallel-plate capacitor initially carry equal amounts of positive charge. If
some charges are transferred from one plate to another, the charges on the plates are
respectively +200μC and +800μC. The potential difference across the plates becomes 15 V.
What is the capacitance of the capacitor ?
A. 13μF B. 20μF C. 53μF D. 67μF

18.

Three capacitors are connected to a 105 V supply as shown in the above circuit. The voltage at
the output is
A. 15 V. B. 42 V. C. 63 V. D. 90 V.

19.

A voltage of 1800 V is applied across AB in the capacitor network shown above. The voltage
across CD is found to be 600 V. If after some time, the voltage across CD suddenly jumps to
400 V, which capacitor(s) has been shorted ?
A. 1μF B. 2μF C. 3μF D. All 4 capacitors have been shorted.
20.

In the above circuit, the battery has an e.m.f. of 4.0 V and all the capacitors are identical.
Initially none of the capacitors are charged. The switch is first connected to X and then to Y.
What is the final potential difference between Z and Y ?
A. 1.0 V B. 2.0 V C. 3.0 V D. 4.0 V
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14.3 Energy Stored in a Capacitor
Energy Stored in a Capacitor
21. A parallel-plate capacitor is charged by a 23. The energy of a 8μF capacitor when
constant voltage source. With the plates charged to a potential difference V is E.
remaining connected to the source, the The energy of a 2μF when charged to a
plate separation, d, is then gradually potential difference 2 V is
increased from an initial value d0. Which A. 1 E.
of the following graphs best shows the B. 2 E.
relationship between the energy, U, stored C. 4 E.
in the capacitor and plate separation, d ? D. 16 E.
A. B. 24.

A charged capacitor C1 is connected to an

uncharged capacitor C2 as shown. If
C. D. E1 = the total energy stored in C1 and C2
before connection, and
E2 = the total energy stored in C1 and C2
after connection,
Which of the following is/are correct?
(1) The charges discharged by C1 is equal
22. A parallel-plate capacitor is charged by a to the charges charged in C2.
battery and the energy stored in the (2) After connection, the charges stored
capacitor is E. The connections to the in C1 and C2 are in the ratio
battery are then removed. If one of the
.
plates is moved so that the plate-
separation is doubled, the electrical energy (3) After connection, the p.d. across C1 is
stored in the capacitor will equal to the p.d. across C2.
A increase to 2E. A. (1) only B. (1) and (2) only
B increase to 4E. C. (2) and (3) only D. (1), (2) and (3)
C decrease to E/4.
D decrease to E/2.

14.4 Charging and Discharging

25. A capacitor has a capacitance of 1 farad. Which of the following deductions must be correct ?
(1) It stores 1 coulomb of charge at a potential difference of 1 volt.
(2) It will be fully charged in 1 second by a constant current of 1 ampere.
(3) It gains 1/2 joule of electrical energy when it has 1 coulomb of charge.
A. (1) only B. (2) only C. (1) and (3) only D. (1), (2) and (3)
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Charging a Capacitor At a Constant Rate
26. A capacitor is charged by a constant current. Which of the following graphs shows the time
variation of the energy stored in the capacitor during the charging process ?
A. B. C. D.

27. A capacitor is discharged through a resistance of 2 kΩ. If the time constant of the discharging
circuit is 10 ms, what is the capacitance of the capacitor ?
A. 5 mF B. 2 mF C. 500μF D. 200μF

Charging a capacitor via a resistor

28.

A capacitor and a resistor are connected in series to a d.c. voltage supply as shown. At time t =
0, the key K is closed. Which of the following statements is/are true?
(1) The final charge on the capacitor does not depend on the resistance of R in the circuit.
(2) At any time t the sum of the potential differences across C and R is a constant.
(3) The capacitor is almost fully charged after a time t = CR.
A. (1) only B. (3) only C. (1) and (2) only D. (2) and (3) only

29.

A changing voltage V is applied across AB in the circuit shown. The potential difference VAC
across the capacitor is found to vary with time t as shown. Which of the following graphs
shows the variation of potential difference VR across the resistor R with time t ?
A. B. C. D.

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30.

An initially uncharged capacitor of capacitance C is connected in series with a resistor R and a

battery of e.m.f. E. What will be (1) the energy dissipated by R in fully charging up C and (2)
the energy finally stored in C ?
Energy dissipated Energy stored Energy dissipated Energy stored
by R in C by R in C
A. CE2 0 B. C E2 C E2

C. CE2 C E2 D. CE2 CE2

(Structural question)
31.

Figure 31.1
A student performs an experiment in which a 400μF capacitor C is to be charged at a constant
rate, using the circuit in Figure 31.1. After switch S is closed, the microammeter shows an
initial current reading of 150μA. By continuously adjusting the variable resistance R, the
charging current is maintained at this magnitude throughout the subsequent charging process.

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 Figure 31.2
At the same time, the student also notes down, from the voltmeter V, the variation of the p.d.
across R (VR) as a function of time. The observed variation is shown in Figure 31.2. The
student then draws the conclusion that the capacitor is leaking. In answering the following
questions, you may assume that a leaking capacitor can be regarded as a capacitor with a high
resistance R0 (the leakage resistance) connected in parallel.
(a) Sketch on Figure 31.2, the expected variation of VR with time if the capacitor is NOT
leaking. (2 marks)
(b) Explain the difference between the two curves, and indicate the reason why the fact that
VR approaches a constant value after 160 s suggests a leaking capacitor. (3 marks)

(c) (i) Sketch below the variation of charge Q stored in capacitor C as a function of
charging time t. (No numerical values to be calculated.) (2 marks)

(ii) Calculate the final charge stored on capacitor C. (3 marks)

(iii) Calculate the leakage resistance R0. (2 marks)

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Discharging a capacitor via a resistor
32.

A charged capacitor C, of 5μF capacitance, is connected in the circuit above. For a period of
10 s, the current is kept constant at 8μA by continuous adjustment of R. During this period,
the p.d. across the capacitor has fallen by
A. 8 × 10-5 V. B. 1.6 V. C. 2.8 V. D. 16 V.
33. A charged capacitor is connected across a resistor. Its voltage drops to one-fourth of the
original value in 8 s. Find the time constant of the circuit.
A. 5.8 s B. 8.3 s C. 11.1 s D. 32 s
34. A capacitor is charged to a p.d. of 200 V and then connected across a resistor. After 2 s, the p.d.
across the capacitor is 150 V. After another four seconds, the p.d. across the capacitor will be
A. 75 V. B. 84 V. C. 113 V. D. 125 V.
35. A charged capacitor of capacitance 61μF is connected to a voltmeter. The voltmeter reading
drops from 12 V to 4 V in 4.8 s. Find the resistance of the voltmeter.
A. 32 kΩ. B. 36 kΩ. C. 59 kΩ. D. 72 kΩ.

36. A 5μF capacitor, which is initially charged, is discharged through a 20 Ω resistor. The
maximum current during discharge is 30 A. What is the initial charge on the capacitor ?
A. 1 × 10-3 C B. 3 × 10-3 C
C. 1 × 10-4 C D. 1.5 × 10-4 C

37.

A capacitor C is charged to a certain p.d. and then discharged through a resistor R. The
variation of the current i with time t is shown in the above graph. Which of the following is/are
correct ?
(1) The area under the graph is proportional to the square root of the energy stored in the
capacitor.
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 (2) If the resistance of R is doubled, the current at t = 0 will also be doubled.
(3) The time constant of the circuit is about 29 s.
A. (2) only B. (3) only C. (1) and (2) only D. (1) and (3) only

38. A ‘jumbo’ capacitor has capacitance 50 000μF. Such a capacitor charged to 10 V would
(1) provide a mean current of 0.5mA for 2000s.
(2) be completely discharged through a 100 Ω resistor in 1 s.
(3) store 0.25 J of electrostatic energy.
A. (1) only B. (3) only C. (1) and (2) only D. (2) and (3) only

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Experiment for the Measurement of the Capacitance
39.

Using the vibrating reed switch S, in the above circuit, the capacitor C is charged from battery
B and partially discharged through the resistor R with a frequency of 20 Hz. When a CRO is
connected across R, the wave form will look like :
A. B. C. D.

40.

In the above circuit, a capacitor C is charged from a battery E and then completely discharged
through a resistor R using a vibrating reed switch S. The waveform displayed on the screen of
the CRO with suitable time base should be
A. B. C. D.

41.

(a) (b)
A square wave voltage VS, as shown in Figure (a), is applied to a circuit containing a 10μF
capacitor and a 20 Ω resistor connected in series. Which of the following graphs best
represents the variation of the p.d. V across the resistor with time t ?
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 A. B. C. D.

42.

A charged capacitor C1 , is connected to an uncharged capacitor C2 of smaller capacitance

through a resistor R as shown above. When switch S is closed, which of the following
statements is INCORRECT ?
A. The total charges on the two capacitors falls.
B. The total energy stored in the capacitors falls.
C. The potential difference across the two capacitors finally becomes equal.
D. The potential difference across C1 falls.

43.

In the circuit shown, S is connected to P until the capacitor is fully charged. Then S is switched
to Q. What is the initial value of the current through the 5 MΩ resistor ?
A. 6.3 × 10-6 A B. 1.0 × 10-5 A C. 1.6 × 10-5 A D. 8.0 × 10-4 A

44. In a circuit with a vibrating reed switch, a 5μF capacitor is charged from a battery of e.m.f. 16
V and completely discharged through a resistor with a frequency of 14 Hz. The average power
dissipated as heat in the resistor is
A. 80μW. B. 256μW. C. 600μW. D. 9 mW.

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HKAL Exercise (KEY) : 4 Electricity and Electromagnetism
Chapter 14 Capacitance

1 – 10 : CCACC, AABBC, 11 – 15 : BDBDC,

16. (a) (i) E= and C1 =

E= Vo 1

= Vo

= 72.4 Vo 12
(ii) By (a) (i) 2 × 106 = 72.4 Vo 1
Vo = 27 600 V 12

(b) (i) C1 = and C2 =

= = (as charge is proportional to output current) 1

=6 12

(ii) Q1 = C1 × 600, Q2 = C2 × 600

After removing mica,
(*) Q’ = C1 V’ (Q1’ = Q2’ = Q’, V1’ = V2’ = V’) 1
Total charges conserved,
Q1 + Q2 = Q’ + Q’ 1
600 C1 + 600 C2 = 2 Q’
600 C1 + 600 (6 C1) = 2 Q’
Q’ = 2100 C1
= 2100 (4.10 × 10-10) C
= 8.61 × 10-7 C 1
C1V’ = 2100 C1 (by (*))
V’ = 2100 V 14
(c) - to keep the plates apart
- to raise the capacitance
- to reduce the chance of electric breakdown (so that a large potential
difference can be used)
Any TWO of the above @1. 22

17 – 20 : BCAA, 21 – 30 : CAADC, DACAB,

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31. (a)

straight line with -ve slope 1

cuts t-axis at 48 s 12
(b) Theoretically, charge accumulated at uniform rate, VC increases linearly; VR drops
linearly. 1
VR approaches a constant value means that the p.d. across the capacitor, and hence
the charge stored in it, also becomes steady. 1
At this stage, the current will not charge up the capacitor any further but will be all
leaking away, i.e. an equilibrium state has been reached. 13
(c) (i)

ordinary charging curve 1

achieves a constant value later 12
(ii) At equilibrium, VR = 3.6 V
P.d. across capacitor = (18 - 3.6) V = 14.4 V 1
Hence, charge stored on capacitor
= (400  10-6)(14.4) C 1
= 5.76  10-3 C 13
(iii) Since p.d. across capacitor at equilibrium = 14.4 V
and leakage current = 150 A.
Leakage resistance =  1

= 96 k 12

32 – 40 : DABD, BDBCC, 41 – 44 : AACD.

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