Capactiance
Capacitance:
Q1.
a. State one use of a capacitor in a simple electric circuit. [1]
b. The diagram shows the change in current with time when the capacitor is discharged.
i. Deduce the resistance R of the resistor.[2]
ii. Explain why the current decreases as the capacitor discharges. [2]
iii. The charge on the capacitor is equal to the area under the graph. Estimate the charge on the capacitor when the potential difference across it is 9.0 V. [2]
iv. Calculate the capacitance of the capacitor. [2]
Q2. The spherical dome on a Van de Graff generator is placed near an earthed metal plate. The dome has a diameter of 40 cm and the potential at its surface is 54 kV.
a
i.Calculate the charge on the dome.[2]
ii. Calculate the capacitance of the dome. [2]
The metal plate is moved slowly towards the dome and it discharges through the plate. The graph in the diagram shows how the potential at the surface of the sphere changes during the discharge.
b.Calculate the energy that is dissipated during the discharge.[4]
c.Suggest why the discharge ceases while there is still some charge on the dome.[2]
Q3.
a.Show that the capacitance C of an isolated conducting sphere is given by the formula:
C=4*pi*EpsilonNought*r
The diagram shows two identical conducting brass spheres of radius 10 cm mounted on insulating stands. Sphere A has a charge of +5.0*10^-8 C and sphere B is uncharged.
b
i.Calculate the potential at the surface of sphere A.[2]
ii. Calculate the energy stored on sphere A.[2]
Sphere B is brought up to sphere A and is touched on it so that the charge is shared between the two spheres, before being removed to its original position.
c
i.Calculate the energy stored on each sphere.[3]
ii.Suggest why there is a charge in the total energy of the system. [1]
Q4.
a. Define the term capacitance of a capacitor. [2]
b. The diagram shows a circuit which can be used to measure the capacitance of a capacitor.
The reed switch vibrates back and forth at a frequency of 50Hz. Each time it makes contact with A the capacitor is charged by the battery so that there is p.d of 12V accross it. Each time it makes contact with B it is fully discharged through the resistor.
i. Calculate the charge that is stored on the capacitor when there is a p.d of 12V accross it.[2]
ii.Calculate the current in the resistor. [2]
iii. Calculate the power in milliammeter. [3]
c. A second capacitor of the same value is connected in series with the first capacitor.Discuss the effect on both the current recorded and the power dissipated in the resistor. [4]