Concept explainers
You have two identical capacitors and an external potential source, (a) Compare the total energy stored in the capacitors when they are connected to the applied potential in series and in parallel, (b) Compare the maximum amount of charge stored in each case, (c) Energy storage in a capacitor can be limited by the maximum electric field between the plates. What is the ratio of the electric field for the series and parallel combinations?
Want to see the full answer?
Check out a sample textbook solutionChapter 24 Solutions
University Physics with Modern Physics (14th Edition)
Additional Science Textbook Solutions
University Physics Volume 1
Essential University Physics: Volume 2 (3rd Edition)
Physics for Scientists and Engineers with Modern Physics
Glencoe Physical Science 2012 Student Edition (Glencoe Science) (McGraw-Hill Education)
Physics for Scientists and Engineers: A Strategic Approach, Vol. 1 (Chs 1-21) (4th Edition)
The Cosmic Perspective Fundamentals (2nd Edition)
- The dielectric to be used in a parallel-plate capacitor has a dielectric constant of 3.60 and a dielectric strength of 1.60107 V/m. The capacitor has to have a capacitance of 1.25 nF and must be able to withstand a maximum potential difference 5.5 kV. What is the minimum area the plates of the capacitor may have?arrow_forwardEarth can be considered as a spherical capacitor with two plates, where the negative plate is the surface of Earth and the positive plate is the bottom of the ionosphere, which is located at an altitude of approximately 70 km. The potential difference between Earth’s surface and the ionosphere is about 350,000 V. (a) Calculate the capacitance of this system, (b) Find the total charge on this capacitor, (c) Find the energy stored in this system.arrow_forwardA 2.0F capacitor and a 4.0F capacitor are connected in series across a 1.0-kV potential. The charged capacitors are then disconnected from the source and connected to each other with terminals of like sign together. Find the charge on each capacitor and the voltage across each capacitor.arrow_forward
- A capacitor is constructed from two square, metallic plates of sides and separation d. Charges +Q and Q are placed on the plates, and the power supply is then removed. A material of dielectric constant K is inserted a distance x into the capacitor as shown in Figure P20.85. Assume d is much smaller than x. (a) Find the equivalent capacitance of the device. (b) Calculate the energy stored in the capacitor. (c) Find the direction and magnitude of the force exerted by the plates on the dielectric. (d) Obtain a numerical value for the force when x = /2, assuming = 5.00 cm, d = 2.00 mm, the dielectric is glass ( = 4.50), and the capacitor was charged to 2.00 103 V before the dielectric was inserted. Suggestion: The system can be considered as two capacitors connected in parallel. Figure P20.85arrow_forward(i) A battery is attached to several different capacitors connected in parallel. Which of the following statements is true? (a) All capacitors have the same charge, and the equivalent capacitance is greater than the capacitance of any of the capacitors in the group, (b) The capacitor with the largest capacitance carries the smallest charge, (c) The potential difference across each capacitor is the same, and the equivalent capacitance is greater than any of the capacitors in the group. (d) The capacitor with the smallest capacitance carries the largest charge. (e) The potential differences across the capacitors are the same only if the capacitances are the same, (ii) The capacitors are reconnected in series, and the combination is again connected to the battery. From the same choices, choose the one that is true.arrow_forwardA 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 P20.83arrow_forward
- Calculate the equivalent capacitance between points a and b in Figure P26.77. Notice that this system is not a simple series or parallel combination. Suggestion: Assume a potential difference v between [joints a and b. Write expressions for vab in terms of the charges and capacitances for the various possible pathways from a to b and require conservation of charge for those capacitor plates that are connected to each other.arrow_forwardA variable air capacitor used in a radio tuning circuit is made of N semicircular plates, each of radius R and positioned a distance d from its neighbors, to which it is electrically connected. As shown in Figure P20.38, a second identical set of plates is enmeshed with the first set. Each plate in the second set is halfway between two plates of the first set. The second set can rotate as a unit. Determine the capacitance as a function of the angle of rotation , where = 0 corresponds to the maximum capacitance. Figure P20.38arrow_forwardThree capacitors are connected to a battery as shown in Figure P20.50. Their capacitances are C1 = 3C, C2 = C, and C3 = 5C. (a) What is the equivalent capacitance of this set of capacitors? (b) State the ranking of the capacitors according to the charge they store from largest to smallest. (c) Rank the capacitors according to the potential differences across them from largest to smallest. (d) What If? Assume C3 is increased. Explain what happens to the charge stored by each capacitor. Figure P20.50arrow_forward
- 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?arrow_forwardThree capacitors having capacitances 8.4, 8.4, and 4.2 F are connected in series across a 36.0-V potential difference, (a) What is the total energy stored in all three capacitors? (b) The capacitors are disconnected from the potential difference without allowing them to discharge. They are then reconnected in parallel with each other with the positively charged plates connected together. What is the total energy now stored in the capacitors?arrow_forward(i) Rank the following five capacitors from greatest to smallest capacitance, noting any cases of equality, (a) a 20-F capacitor with a 4-V potential difference between its plates (b) a 30-F capacitor with charges of magnitude 90 C on each plate (c) a capacitor with charges of magnitude 80 C on its plates, differing by 2 V in potential. (d) a 10-F capacitor storing energy 125 J (e) a capacitor storing energy 250 J with a 10-V potential difference (ii) Rank the same capacitors in part (i) from largest to smallest according to the potential difference between the plates, (iii) Rank the capacitors in part (i) in the order of the magnitudes of the charges on their plates, (iv) Rank the capacitors in part (i) in the order of the energy they store.arrow_forward
- Principles of Physics: A Calculus-Based TextPhysicsISBN:9781133104261Author:Raymond A. Serway, John W. JewettPublisher:Cengage LearningPhysics for Scientists and Engineers: Foundations...PhysicsISBN:9781133939146Author:Katz, Debora M.Publisher:Cengage Learning
- Physics for Scientists and Engineers, Technology ...PhysicsISBN:9781305116399Author:Raymond A. Serway, John W. JewettPublisher:Cengage LearningGlencoe Physics: Principles and Problems, Student...PhysicsISBN:9780078807213Author:Paul W. ZitzewitzPublisher:Glencoe/McGraw-HillPhysics for Scientists and EngineersPhysicsISBN:9781337553278Author:Raymond A. Serway, John W. JewettPublisher:Cengage Learning