THE COPPERBELT UNIVERSITY

SCHOOL OF MATHEMATICS AND NATURAL SCIENCES

DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS
PH 210, CAPACITORS AND CAPACITANCE, TUTORIAL SHEET 3

1. Calculate the capacitance of a capacitor whose plates are 20 cm × 3 cm and are

separated by a 1.0 mm air gap. [53 pF]
2. A parallel plate capacitor has an area of 10 cm2 and plate separation 5 mm. 300 V is
applied between its plates. If neoprene is inserted between its plates, how much charge
does the capacitor hold? 𝜅 for neoprene is 6.7. [𝟑. 𝟓𝟔 × 𝟏𝟎−𝟗 𝐂]
3. A cylindrical capacitor has two co-axial cylinders of radii 1.5 cm and 1.4 cm. The outer
cylinder is earthed and the inner cylinder is given a charge of 3.5 µC. Determine the
capacitance per unit length of this configuration. [𝟑. 𝟓𝟔 × 𝟏𝟎−𝟗 𝐅/𝐦]
4. Determine the capacitance of a single capacitor that will have the same effect as the
combination shown in the figure below. Assume 𝐶1 = 3 F, 𝐶2 = 6 F, 𝐶3 = 2 F,
and 𝐶4 = 4 F. [2 F]

5. Two capacitors C1 =2 μF and C2 =4μF are connected in parallel and then connected in
series to a capacitor C3 =3 μF. The battery of e.m.f 12 V is connected across the
combination of capacitors. What is the charge on C1? [8 C]
6. A camera flash unit stores energy in a 150 F capacitor at 200 𝑉. How much electric
energy can be stored? [3 J]
7. An energy of 9.0x10-3 Joules is stored by a capacitor that has a potential difference of
85 Volts across it. Determine the capacitance of the capacitor. [2.5 microfarads]
8. A 4 𝜇F capacitor is charged by 200 V supply. The supply is then disconnected and the
charged capacitor is connected to another uncharged 2 𝜇F capacitor. How much
electrostatic energy of the first capacitor is lost in the process of attaining the steady
situation? [𝟐. 𝟔𝟕 × 𝟏𝟎−𝟐 𝑱]