The metal sphere of a small Van de Graaff generator illus- trated in Figure 15.23 has a radius of 18 cm. When the electric field at the surface of the sphere reaches 3.0 x 10° V/m, the air breaks down, and the generator discharges. What is the maximum potential the sphere can have before breakdown occurs?

The metal sphere of a small Van de Graaff generator illus- trated in Figure 15.23 has a radius of 18 cm. When the electric field at the surface of the sphere reaches 3.0 x 10° V/m, the air breaks down, and the generator discharges. What is the maximum potential the sphere can have before breakdown occurs?

Physics for Scientists and Engineers: Foundations and Connections

1st Edition

ISBN:9781133939146

Author:Katz, Debora M.

Publisher:Katz, Debora M.

Chapter27: Capacitors And Batteries

Section: Chapter Questions

Problem 14PQ: When a Leyden jar is charged by a hand generator (Fig. 27.1, page 828), the work done by the person...

See similar textbooks

Similar questions

How many electrons should be removed from an initially uncharged spherical conductor of radius 0.300 m to produce a potential of 7.50 kV at the surface?
A large parallel-plate capacitor is attached to a battery that has terminal potential (Fig. 27.15A). After a period of time, the capacitor stores charge Q so that its top plate is positive and its bottom plate is negative, and the potential difference between the plates is VC = . An I-shaped neutral conductor consisting of two parallel plates connected by a wire is slipped between the plates of the capacitor so that all four plates are parallel (Fig. 27.15B). What are the charges q1, and q2 on the plates of the I-shaped conductor? What is the potential difference VC between the top and bottom plates of the capacitor?
The temperature near the center of the Sun is thought to be 15 million degrees Celsius ( 1.5107oC ) (or kelvin). Through what voltage must a singly charged ion be accelerated to have the same energy as the average kinetic energy of ions at this temperature?
Suppose that the capacitance of a variable capacitor can be manually changed from 100 pF to 800 pF by turning a dial, connected to one set of plates by a shaft from 0° to 180°. With the dial set at 180° (corresponding to C — 800 pF), the capacitor is connected to a 500-V source. After charging, the capacitor is disconnected from the source, and the dial is turned to 0°. If friction is negligible, how much work is required to turn the dial from 180° to 0°?
A 1-megabit computer memory chip contains many 60.0 1015-F capacitors. Each capacitor has a plate area of 21.0 1012 m2. Determine the plate separation of such a capacitor. (Assume a parallel-plate configuration.) The diameter of an atom is on the order of 1010 m = 1 . Express the plate separation in angstroms.
An election enters a region between two large parallel plates made of aluminum separated by a distance of 2.0 cm and kept at a potential difference of 200 V. The electron enters through a small hole in the negative plate and moves toward the positive plate. At the time the electron is near the negative plate, its speed is 4.0103 m/s. Assume the electric field between the plates to be uniform, and find the speed of electron at (a) 0.10 cm, (b) 0.50 cm, (c) 1.0 cm, and (d) 1.5 cm from the negative plate, and (e) immediately before it hits the positive plate.
According to UE=12C(V)2 (Eq. 27.3), a greater capacitance means more energy is stored by the capacitor, but according to UE = Q2/2C (Eq. 27.2), a greater capacitance means less energy is stored. How can both of these equations be correct?
When a Leyden jar is charged by a hand generator (Fig. 27.1, page 828), the work done by the person turning the crank is stored as electric potential energy in the jar. When a capacitor is charged by a battery, where does the electric potential energy come from?
A 1-megabit computer memory chip contains many 60.0 1015-F capacitors. Each capacitor has a plate area of 21.0 1012 m2. Determine the plate separation of such a capacitor. (Assume a parallel-plate configuration.) The diameter of an atom is on the order of 1010 m = 1 . Express the plate separation in angstroms.
Find the ratio of speeds of an electron and a negative hydrogen ion (one having an extra electron) accelerated through the same voltage, assuming non-relativistic final speeds. Take the mass of the hydrogen ion to be 1.6710-27 kg.
A 10.0-F capacitor is charged to 15.0 V. It is next connected in series with an uncharged 5.00-F capacitor. The series combination is finally connected across a 50.0-V battery as diagrammed in Figure P20.83. Find the new potential differences across the 5.00-F and 10.0-F capacitors after the switch is thrown closed. Figure P20.83
Two capacitors, C1 = 18.0 F and C2 = 36.0 F, are connected in series, and a 12.0-V battery is connected across them. (a) Find the equivalent capacitance, and the energy contained in this equivalent capacitor. (b) Find the energy stored in each individual capacitor. Show that the sum of these two energies is the same as the energy found in part (a). Will this equality always be true, or does it depend on the number of capacitors and their capacitances? (c) If the same capacitors were connected in parallel, what potential difference would be required across them so that the combination stores the same energy' as in part (a)? Which capacitor stores more energy in this situation, C1 or C2?