MINDSETTERS PHYSICS GROUP TUITIONS

CUG 08

1. Two condensers, one of capacity C and the other of capacity C/2, are connected to a V volt
battery, as shown. [2007]
The work done in charging fully both the condensers is
1
(a) 2CV2 (b) CV 2
2
3 1
(c) CV 2 (d) CV 2
4 2

2. A series combination of n1 capacitors, each of value C1, is charged by a source of potential

difference 4 V. When another parallel combination of n2 capacitors, each of value C2, is charged
by a source of potential difference V, it has the same (total) energy stored in it, as the first
combination has. The value of C2, in terms of C1 is then [2010]
2C1 n n 16C1
(a) (b) 16 2 C1 (c) 2 2 C1 (d)
n 1n 2 n1 n1 n1n 2

3. A parallel plate condenser has a uniform electric field E (V/m) in the space between the plates. If
the distance between the plates is d (m) and area of each plate is A(m2) the energy (joule) stored
in the condenser is [2011]
1 1
(a) 0 E 2 (b) 0EAd (c) 0 E 2 Ad (d) E2Ad/0
2 2
4. Two thin dielectric slabs of dielectric constants K1 and K2 (K1 < K2 ) are inserted between plates
of a parallel plate capacitor, as shown in the figure. The variation of electric field E between the
plates with distance d as measured from plate P is correctly shown by [2014]
5. A parallel plate air capacitor of capacitance C is connected to a cell of e mF V and then
disconnected from it. A dielectric slab of dielectric constant K, which can just fill the air gap of
the capacitor, is now inserted in it. Which of the following is incorrect? [2015]
(a) The potential difference between the plates decreases K times
(b) The energy stored in the capacitor decreases K times
1 1 
(c) The change in energy stored is CV 2  − 1
2 K 
(d) The charge on the capacitor is not conserved.

6. A capacitor of 2 F is charged as shown in the diagram. When the switch S is turned to position
2, the percentage of its stored energy dissipated is: [2016]

(a) 80% (b) 0% (c) 20% (d) 75%

7. A parallel-plate capacitor of area A, plate separation d and capacitance C is filled with four
dielectric materials having dielectric constants k1, k2, k3 and k4 as shown in the figure below. If a
single dielectric material is to be used to have the same capacitance C in this capacitor, then its
dielectric constant k is given by
[2016 Re]
2 3 1
(a) = +
k k1 + k 2 + k 3 k 4
1 1 1 1 3
(b) = + + +
k k1 k 2 k 3 2k 4
(c) k = k1 + k2 + k3 + 3k4
2
(d) k = (k1 + k 2 + k 3 ) + 2k 4
3

8. A capacitor is charged by a battery. The battery is removed and another identical uncharged
capacitor is connected in parallel. The total electrostatic energy of resulting system:
[2017]
(a) Decreases by a factor of 2 (b) Remains the same
(c) Increases by a factor of 2 (d) Increases by a factor of 4

9. A parallel plate capacitor has a capacitance of 50 F in air and 110 F when immersed in an oil. The
dielectric constant K of the oil is
(a) 1.2 (b) 1.5 (c) 2.2 (d) 2.5

10. The capacity of a parallel plate condenser is C .When distance between plates is halved, its capacity is
(a) 2C (b) C (c) 0.25 C (d) 0.2 C

11. In n drops, each of capacitance C, coalesce to form a single big drop, then the ratio of the energy stored
in the big drop to that in each small drop will be
(a) n:1 (b) n1/3 : 1 (c) n5/3 : 1 (d) n2 : 1
12. A parallel plate capacitor has a capacity C. The separation between the plates is doubled and a dielectric
medium is introduced between the plates. If the capacity now becomes 2C, the dielectric constant of the
medium is
(a) 2 (b) 1 (c) 4 (d) 8
13. The electrostatic force between the metal plate of an isolated parallel plate capacitor C having
charge Q and area A, is [2018]
(a) inversely proportional to the distance between the plates.
(b) independent of the distance between the plates.
(c) proportional to the square root of the distance between the plates.;
(d) linearly proportional to the distance between the plates

14. A parallel plate condenser is filled with two dielectrics as shown. Area of each plate is A metre2
and the separation is t metre. The dielectric constants are K1 and K2, respectively. Its
capacitance in farad will be [2001]

0 A 20 A
(a) (K1 + K 2 ) (b) (K1 + K 2 )
t t
0 A K1 + K 2 0 A K1 − K 2
(c)  (d) 
t 2 t 2

15. A 40 F capacitor in a defibrillator is charged to 3000 V. The energy stored in the capacitor is
sent through the patient during a pulse of duration 2 ms. The power delivered to the patient is
[2004]
(a) 45 kW (b) 180 kW (c) 90 kW (d) 360 kW

16. Five capacitors, each of capacitance value C are connected as shown in the figure. The ratio of
capacitance between P and R, and the capacitance between P and Q, is
[2006]

(a) 3:1 (b) 5:2 (c) 1:1 (d) 2:3

HINTS AND SOLUTIONS ( CUG 08)
1. (c) The two condensers in the circuit are in parallel order, hence
C 3C
C = C + =
2 2
The work done in charging the equivalent capacitor is stored in the form of potential energy.
1 1  3C  2 3
Hence, W = U = CV 2 =   V = CV
2

2 2 2  4
2.(d) Case I. When the capacitors are connected in series
1 C
Useries = = 1 (4V) 2
2 n1
Case II. When the capacitors are connected in parallel
1
U parallel = (n 2C2 )V 2
2
1 C1 1 16C1
According to question, Useries = Uparallel or (4V) 2 = (n 2C2 )V 2  C2 =
2 n1 2 n 2 n1
3.(c)The energy stored in the capacitor
1
U = CV 2
2
1  A   A0 
U =  0  (Ed) 2  C = and V = Ed 
2 d   d 
1
U = 0 E 2 Ad
2
Q
4.(c) Electric field inside parallel plate capacitor having charge Q at place where dielectric is absent =
A0
Q
where dielectric is present =
KA0
As K1 < K2 so E1 > E2
Hence graph (c) correctly depicts the variation of electric field E with distance d.

Q
5.(d)Capacitance of the capacitor, C =
V
After inserting the dielectric, new capacitance
C1 = K.C
V
New potential difference V1 =
K
Hence option (a) is the correct statement.
1 Q2
Ui = CV = 2
( Q = CV)
2 2C
Q2 Q2 C2 V 2  U i 
Uf = = = = 
2C1 2KC 2KC  K 
Hence option (b) is also correct statement.
1 1 
∆U = Uf − Ui = CV 2  − 1
2 K 
Hence option (c) is also correct statement.
After disconnecting the battery, the capacitor is isolated on inserting the dielectric slab the charge on
the plates remain conserved.
Hence option (d) is not the correct statement.
6.(a)Initial energy stored in capacitor 2 F
1
Ui = 2(V) 2 = V 2
2
Final voltage after switch 2 is ON
C1V1 2V
Vf = = = 0.2 V
C1 + C2 10
Final energy in both the capacitors
2
1 1  2V 
U f = (C1 + C2 )Vf2 = 10   = 0.2 V
2

2 2  10 
V 2 − 0.2 V 2
So energy dissipated =  100 = 80%
V2
7.(a) Circuit can be redrawn as

1 1 1
= +
C C1 C2
d 1 1
= +
A 0 k A  (k1 + k 2 + k 3 ) A 0 k 4
0
3 d/2 d/2
2 3 1
 = +
k k1 + k 2 + k 3 k 4
8.(c) Charge on capacitor when it is connected with battery q = CV

when it is connected with another uncharged capacitor.

Common potential difference across capacitors

q + q2 q+0 q V
VC = 1 = =  VC =
C1 + C2 C + C 2C 2
1
Initial energy, U1 = CV 2
2
2
1 V 1
Final energy, U f = [2C]   = U1
2 2 2
Hence total electrostatic energy of resulting system is decreased by a factor of 2.
 Cd 110  10−6 11
9.(c) K = = = = 2.2
Cair 50  10−6 5

C2 d1 d1
10.(a) =  C2 =  C1 = 2C
C1 d 2 d1
2
11.(c) Ebig = n5/3 Esmall

C2 K 2 d1 2C1 K 2 d1 K2
12.(c) =  ; =   =4
C1 K1 d 2 C1 K1 2d1 K1
13.(b) Electric field due to plate (1) at the position of plate (2)
 ˆ Q ˆ
E= i= i
20 2A0
Hence magnitude of force between the plates
Q2
F = Q  E1 =
2A0

Hence force between the plates is independent of separation between the plates.

14.(c) The given arrangement is equivalent to two capacitors in parallel. In each capacitor the area of
the plate will be A/2.
K  A / 2 K 20 A / 2 (K1 + K 2 )0 A
 Equivalent capacitance C’ = C1 + C2= 1 0 + =
t t 2t
15.(c)A capacitor is a device that stores energy in the electric field created between a pair of conductors on
which equal but opposite electric charges have been placed.
1
The energy stored in a capacitor = CV 2
2
Given, C = 40 F = 40  10 F, V = 3000 V
− 6

1
 E =  40  10−6  (3000) 2 = 180 J Also 1 W = 1 J/s  2 ms = 2  10−3 s
2
180 J
Hence, power = = 90  103 W = 90 kW
2  10−3 s
16.(d)If a source is connected between points P and R, same charge will flow through two capacitors in arms
PQ and QR. Similarly, same charge will flow through capacitors in arms PT, TS and SR.
So, equivalent capacitance of left side

C C C 1 1 1 1 3 C
C = = and equivalent capacitance of right side = + + =  C =
c+C 2 C C C C C 3
Now, C’ and C” will be in parallel combination, hence
 C C 5C
C1 = C’ + C” = + =
2 3 6
Similarly, if a source is connected between points P and Q, then equivalent capacitance
C 5C
C2 = C + = Hence, the required ratio is given by
4 4
C1 5C / 6 2
= =
C2 5C / 4 3