,

e
e a o nt of c ar e on a capacitor i depend on o c o ta e e app to it

OR

Capacitance is a
s
eas re of o
ere C is t e

c c ar e a capacitor can o d
of t e capacitor

Capacitance is defined as t e charge per unit volt

h
Q
C −−
−−
V
Unit of Capacitancee is

Note : One farad is a huge capacitance. Capacitors that are used in most electronic devices are measured in
microfarads ( F) or even picofarads (pF).
c

Q Gradient = Q/V = apacitance

Area under graph = ½ Q V= Energy stored in the capacitor

E = ½ QV = ½ V = ½ Q

Note: Energy given by cell = QV.

So only half of the energy given by the cell is stored in the capacitor.
V

PHYSICS DEPT/ C H S E 1
 ar a ar o a a a or

ar ro ar or

e
V V
V s
V
h
Q
c

PHYSICS DEPT/ C H S E 2
ischarging thro gh a resistor

V V V

e
V
s V V

V
h
Q

Q Q
c

arger
arger

PHYSICS DEPT/ C H S E 3
erivations

e
s
alf life

V V
i e constant

V V
h
V V

½
c

PHYSICS DEPT/ C H S E 4
 o bination of apacitors

a a or ara
Capacitors in parallel have common voltages across their plates but different charge that epen upon
the capacitance o the capacitor

V V V V

e
s
a a or r
h
Capacitors in series exhibit a common charge but have different voltages across them depending
capacitor.
upon the capacitance of the capacitor.
c

V V V

PHYSICS DEPT/ C H S E 5
 S

μ Ω V

e
μ μ V

+
s +

– μ μ – μ μ
h
Capacitors
in parallel
c

Capacitors
in series

. Describe how you would show experimentally that the charge stored on a 220 µF capacitor is
proportional to the potential difference across the capacitor for a range of potential differences
between 0 and 15 V. Your answer should include a circuit diagram.

PHYSICS DEPT/ C H S E 1
. V

Charge stored on C1 / n C

0.8 –

e
0.6 –

0.4 –

0.2 –

0.0 – Potential difference / V

–

–
–

0 1.0 2.0 3.0 4.0

s V
h
V

Charge stored on C2 / n C
c

0.8 –

0.6 –

0.4 –

0.2 –

0.0 – Potential difference / V

–

0 1.0 2.0 3.0 4.0

PHYSICS DEPT/ C H S E 2
15 A defibrillator is a machine that is used to correct an irregular heartbeat or to start the
heart of someone who is in cardiac arrest.

The defibrillator passes a large current through the heart for a short time.
The machine includes a high voltage supply which is used to charge a capacitor. Two
defibrillation ‘paddles’ are placed on the chest of the patient and the capacitor is
discharged through the patient.

Discharge Charge
Switch
High voltage
supply
#$%&' 1200 V
Insulated
capacitor
Paddles handles

e
  #$%&'
 

  #*%%+" Calculate the charge on the capacitor.
(b) Calculate the energy stored in the capacitor.
s
(c) When the capacitor discharges there is an initial current of 14 A in the chest of the
patient.
(i) Show that the electrical resistance of the body tissue between the paddles is
":%;
(ii) Calculate the time it will take for three quarters of the charge on the capacitor to
discharge through the patient.
h
(iii) Body resistance varies from person to person. If the body resistance was lower,
the initial current would be greater.

State how this lower body resistance affects the charge passed through the body from
the defibrillator.

16 The diagram shows a circuit that includes a capacitor.

c

(a) (i) Explain what happens to the capacitor when the switch is closed.

(ii) The potential difference (p.d.) across the resistor rises to a maximum as the
switch is closed.
Explain why this p.d. subsequently decreases to zero.

PHYSICS DEPT/ C H S E 3
 *(b) One type of microphone uses a capacitor. The capacitor consists of a flexible
front plate (diaphragm) and a fixed back plate. The output signal is the potential
difference across the resistor.

Outer casing

Sound Output
waves signal

Front plate Back plate

e
The sound waves cause the flexible front plate to vibrate and change the capacitance.
Moving the plates closer together increases the capacitance. Moving the plates
further apart decreases the capacitance.

Explain how the sound wave produces an alternating output signal.

15 A student sets up the circuit shown in the diagram.

s 9
X

Y
Switch S

A
Nȍ

10 μF
h
 DL 6KHPRYHVVZLWFK6IURP;WR<([SODLQZKDWKDSSHQVWRWKHFDSDFLWRU

 LL NHWFKDJUDSKWRVKRZKRZWKHFXUUHQWLQWKHDPPHWHU
varies with time from the moment the switch touches Y. Indicate typical values
of current and time on the axes of your graph.
c

  7KHVWXGHQWZDQWVWRXVHWKLVFLUFXLWWRSURGXFHDVKRUWWLPHGHOD\HTXDOWRWKHWLPH
it takes for the potential difference across the capacitor to fall to 0.07 of its maximum
value.

Calculate this time delay.

PHYSICS DEPT/ C H S E 4