Physics 212 - Module 1 Hands On Activities Packet Shazoof Mohammed

Activity 3.1 – Electric PE and E Potential Due to Uniform E

After this activity you should know: • Relation between electric voltage and electric potential energy. ● Use
electric potential to solve conservation of energy problems. ● Find the potential difference created by a uniform
electric field . ● The direction charges would move if release from rest in regions of changing potential.
Work done against the electric force can be stored as electric potential energy 𝑈. The change in electric
potential energy when a charge 𝑞 is moved from point 𝑖 to point 𝑓 is:
"
,,⃗ ⋅ 𝑑𝒔,⃗.
Δ𝑈 = −𝑊! = − ∫# 𝑞𝑬
The electric potential (or voltage) is defined as the potential energy per
charge
𝑈$
𝑓
𝑉= ,
𝑞 𝑞
where 𝑈$ is the part of the energy involving charge 𝑞. Therefore the
𝑖 𝐸%⃗
change in electric potential energy is related to change in electric
potential as
Δ𝑈 = 𝑞Δ𝑉
We can use this in conservation of energy and work-energy problems.
1. The SI unit of the electric potential is the volt = Joule/Coulomb.
a. What is volt in terms of kilograms (kg), meters (m), seconds (s) and Coulombs (C)? Show work.

b. Usually the units of the electric field is written as 𝑉/𝑚. Show that this is the same as 𝑁/𝐶. Show work.

2. A +2𝜇𝐶 charrge moves from a point where the voltage is 8 Volts to a point where the voltage is 5 Volts.
a. What is the change in electric potential energy during this process?

b. The kinetic energy of the charge at the first position is 20 𝜇𝐽. What is the kinetic energy of the charge at
the second position? Assume that only electric forces act on the charge during this process. Reminder:
what happens to the kinetic energy if the potential energy increases?
Physics 212 - Module 1 Hands On Activities Packet Shazoof Mohammed

Electric potential energy and electric potential (voltage) due to a uniform electric field:
For a uniform electric field, the change in electric potential energy during a process is
,⃗𝑬 ⋅ Δ𝒓
Δ𝑈 = −𝑊! = −𝑭 ,,⃗ ⋅ Δ𝒓
,⃗ = −𝑞𝑬 ,⃗
The change in voltage between the beginning and end points is (recall how to calculate scalar products):
Δ𝑈
Δ𝑉 = ,,⃗ ⋅ Δ𝒓
= −𝑬 ,,⃗B |Δ𝒓
,⃗ = −𝐸& Δ𝑥 − 𝐸' Δ𝑦 − 𝐸( Δ𝑧 = −B𝑬 ,⃗| cos 𝜃
𝑞
where 𝜃 is the angle between ,𝑬 ,⃗ and Δ𝒓,⃗ when you place their tails together. Note that only the component of
the displacement Δ𝒓 ,
,⃗
,⃗ in the direction 𝑬 affects the change in voltage. For example, if the electric field is in the 𝑧
direction, the voltage difference does not depend on Δ𝑥 or Δ𝑦.
3. A region has a uniform electric field as shown. +𝑦
𝑉
a. What is the voltage difference 𝑉(𝐵) − 𝑉(𝐴)? Hint: use 25
𝑚 𝐶
components.
+𝑥
5𝑚 3𝑚
b. What is the voltage difference 𝑉(𝐶) − 𝑉(𝐵)?

𝐴 4𝑚 𝐵

c. A −4 𝐶, 5 kg charge is moving at 20 m/s at point A. It is at moving at an angle so that it reaches point C

with only electric forces acting on the charge. Use conservation of energy to determine the speed of the
charge when it reaches point C.

4. The figure shows the equipotential lines (lines where the voltage is
constant) in a region of space.
a. A proton is released from rest at point A. Which way
(left/right/top/bottom) will the charge move?

A
b. A electron is released from rest at point A. Which way will the
charge move?

20V 30V 40V 50V 60V 70V

c. What is the direction of the electric field in this region of space?
Physics 212 - Module 1 Hands On Activities Packet Shazoof Mohammed

Activity 3.2 – Electric PE of Point Charges

After this activity you should know: • Relation between electric voltage and electric potential energy. ● Use
electric potential to solve conservation of energy problems. ● Find the potential difference created by a uniform
electric field. ● The direction charges would move if release from rest in regions of changing potential.
1. Two charges are separated by the distance 2𝑊 shown. We want to find the voltage due to these charges at
point 𝑖 and at point 𝑓 (which is midway between the two charges).
a. What is the voltage at point 𝑖? Take 𝑉 = 0 at ∞.
𝑖

3𝑊 3𝑊
b. What is the voltage at point 𝑓?

𝑓
+3𝑄 +3𝑄
2𝑊

c. A third charge −2𝑄 with mass 𝑀 is released from rest at point 𝑖

as shown. What is the change in potential energy during this −2𝑄
process? Assume that the +3𝑄 charges are much more massive
so they do not move and that no other forces act on −2𝑄.

3𝑊 3𝑊

𝑓
d. How fast is this new charge moving when if reaches point 𝑓? +3𝑄 +3𝑄
2𝑊
Physics 212 - Module 1 Hands On Activities Packet Shazoof Mohammed

2. The electric potential energy stored in a group of point charges is given

𝑞# 𝑞/
𝑈= R 𝐾
𝑟#/
)** ,)#-.

where 𝑟#/ is the distance between the ith and jth charge and the sum is over all ways to pair the charges.
The potential energy is taken to be zero when all the charges are infinitely far apart. Note that the potential
energy is a scalar but may be positive or negative.
a. Determine the electrical potential energy of the system of three −2𝑄
charges when the −2𝑄 charge is at initial position shown.

3𝑊 3𝑊

𝑓
b. Determine the potential energy of the system of three charges +3𝑄 +3𝑄
2𝑊
when the −2𝑄 charge is at the final position shown.

−2𝑄

+3𝑄 +3𝑄
2𝑊

c. Use your result from (a) and (b) to find the change in potential energy as the −2𝑄 charge moves from
the initial to final position.

d. Check that your answer agrees with your result from 1c. Why is it easier to use Δ𝑈 = 𝑞Δ𝑉 for this case?
Physics 212 - Module 1 Hands On Activities Packet Shazoof Mohammed

Activity 3.3 – E Potential Continuous Charge Dist

After this activity you should know: • Set up integrals for the voltages due to rods and rings of charge.
1. A thin rod of length 𝑊 has uniform charge per length 𝜆. Find the electric potential (voltage) at the position
𝑃 as shown. Assume 𝑉 = 0 at 𝑟 = ∞ for problems on this worksheet.
Use the integration variable 𝑢 as defined in the diagram to
write the voltage at point 𝑃. Include the limits of 𝑃
integration but you do not need to evaluate the integral.
Hint: break up the rod into small pieces of length 𝑑𝑢 and
use the point charge formula for the voltage due to the 𝑧
small piece 𝑑𝑉 = 𝐾𝑑𝑞/𝑟 with 𝑑𝑞 and 𝑟 written in terms of
the givens 𝜆, 𝐿, 𝑧 and integration variable 𝑢 and 𝑑𝑢.
𝑊
3 𝑑𝑢

0 𝑢

2. A thin rod has charge 3𝑄 uniformly distributed along its length 𝑊. Find the voltage at a distance 𝐻 from the
end of the rod. Please evaluate the integral. Hint: repeat the steps above. You will need to define your own
integration variable.
3𝑄, 𝑊
𝑃 𝐻
Physics 212 - Module 1 Hands On Activities Packet Shazoof Mohammed

Activity 3.4 – E Potential and E Field Problems

After this activity you should know: • Be able to recognize when to use electric fields and when to use electric
potential.
1. Three charges are arranged as shown.
a. The magnitude of the electric field at point 𝑃 due to one +𝑄
of the +𝑄 charges is 𝐸0 . What is the magnitude of the
net electric field at 𝑃? Write answer in terms of 𝐸0 𝐿 −3𝑄
and/or 𝜃 only. 𝜃
𝑃 2𝐿
𝜃 𝐿

+𝑄

b. The electric potential at point 𝑃 due to one of the +𝑄 charges is 𝑉0 . What is the net voltage at point 𝑃?
Take 𝑉 = 0 at infinity. Write answer in terms of 𝑉0 and/or 𝜃 only.

2.Three charges are on a line as shown. An −𝑍 +𝑍 −2𝑍

electron (charge −𝑒, mass 𝑚) is released 𝐴 𝐵
from rest at point A. We want to
determine how fast the electron is moving 𝑊 𝑊 𝑊 𝑊
at point 𝐵.
a. A common mistake is to calculate the electric force on the electron at point A and then use Newton’s 2nd
law and constant acceleration kinematics to find the speed of the electron at point B. Why won’t this
work?

b. Use conservation of energy to determine the speed of the electron a point B.

Physics 212 - Module 1 Hands On Activities Packet Shazoof Mohammed

3.One way to generate a uniform electric field is to use a parallel plate capacitor. The two plates of the
capacitor each have an area 𝐴 and are separated by a small distance 𝑑. Theplate on the left has charge −3𝑄
and the other plate has a charge +3𝑄.
a. What is the magnitude and direction of the electric field in the gap between the plates? +3𝑄
−3𝑄

𝐴
b. Which plate is at a higher voltage?

𝑑
c. What is the voltage across the plates? (“Voltage across” means the absolute value of the voltage
difference.)

d. A positive ion (charge +2𝑒, mass 𝑚) is traveling at speed 𝑣0 at the positive plate toward the
negative plate. What is the ion’s kinetic energy just before it hits the negative plate?
Physics 212 - Module 1 Hands On Activities Packet Shazoof Mohammed

Activity 3.5 – Relation E Field and E Potential

After this activity you should know: . • Know when to integrate the electric field to find voltages • Know the
directions in which the voltage increases/decreases • Know how to obtain the electric field from the electric
potential.
"
1. Using Δ𝑉 = − ∫# ,𝑬,⃗ ⋅ 𝑑𝒔,⃗ to find Δ𝑉 is often very difficult because we need to know the electric field
,𝑬
,⃗ everywhere between initial and final points. However, this can be done if there is enough symmetry
to use Gauss’s Law to find 𝑬 ,,⃗ as a function of position.
A very long (treat as infinte) solid metal cylinder of radius 𝑏 has uniform charge per area +𝜂 on its surface.
Find the voltage difference between an initial point 4𝑏 from the axis and a final point on the cylinder.
a. What is the charge on a length 𝐿 of the cylinder? Call i
this qenc , i.e. the charge enclosed.
P

4b
f r +𝜂
b. What is the charge per length l of the cylinder? Hint,
b
divide qenc by L.

c. What is the electric field 𝐸 as a function of 𝑟 (𝑟 > 𝑏)?

"
d. Use Δ𝑉 = − ∫# 𝑬 ,,⃗ ⋅ 𝑑𝒓
,⃗ to find the voltage difference where the initial point is 4𝑏 from the axis and the
final point is on the surface of the cylinder.

e. Consider an initial point on the surface of the cylinder i +𝜂

and a second point in the interior of the conducting
b f
cylinder. What is the voltage difference between these
two points? Assume the cylinder is in electrostatic
equilibrium. Think: what is E inside the conductor?
Physics 212 - Module 1 Hands On Activities Packet Shazoof Mohammed

f. What is true of the voltage inside a solid conductor in electrostatic equilibrium? Choose one!
i. The voltage inside a positively charged conductor increases as one approaches the center.
ii. The voltage inside a positively charged conductor decreases as one approaches the center.
iii. The voltage inside a conductor must be zero.
iv. The voltage inside a conductor is the same everywhere inside and is equal to the voltage at the
surface.

g. What is the voltage difference between an initial point at a distance 4𝑏 from the central axis and a final
point at the center axis of the metal cylinder? No new calculation should be required.

2. A solid conducting sphere has charge 𝑄 uniformly distributed over it surface.

a. Which graph best represents the magnitude of the electric field as a function of 𝑟?

b. Which graph best represents the voltage as a function of 𝑟? Think about your result from 1f.

3. The electric field in a region of space points in the direction shown.

A B
a. Which point (A, B, C, or D) is at the highest voltage?

b. Which points are at the same voltage? D C

Physics 212 - Module 1 Hands On Activities Packet Shazoof Mohammed

4. Having found the voltage difference from knowing the electric field, we can also do the inverse, find the
electric field if we know the voltage as a function of position. Since the inverse of integration is
differentiation, we have:
𝜕𝑉 𝜕𝑉 𝜕𝑉
𝐸& = − , 𝐸' = − , 𝐸( = −
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑧
The partial derivative 𝜕𝑉/𝜕𝑥 means that to take the derivative with respect to 𝑥 while treating 𝑦 and 𝑧 as
constant. The electric potential in a region of space is given by
𝑥 1 5𝑦
𝑉(𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧) = 𝑉0 ab c − e
𝐿 𝐿
What is the electric field in this region?

5. The graph shows the voltage as a function of x.

a. What is 𝐸& at 𝑥 = 2.5 𝑚?

b. What is 𝐸& at 𝑥 = 1.5 𝑚?

6. The plot shows a series equipotential surfaces (surfaces where all the points have the same voltage).
Hint: think about your results from (3).
a. Draw an arrow showing the direction of
the electric field at point B. 10V
15V
25V 20V

b. At which point (A, B or C) is the

A
magnitude of the electric field the B
smallest?
C
Physics 212 - Module 1 Hands On Activities Packet Shazoof Mohammed

Activity 3.6 – Intro to EMF and Capacitors

Materials: “PhET Circuit Construction Kit (AC+DC)” https://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulation/circuit-construction-
kit-ac.
After this activity you should know: • Know the role of a emf in a circuit • Know Kirchhoff’s loop rule • Know
the definition of capacitance and how an emf charges a capacitor.
1. A capacitor consists of two conductors (called plates) separated by an insulating gap. The plates are given
opposite charges +𝑄 and −𝑄. This generates an electric field in the gap and a voltage difference between
the plates. The capacitance of a capacitor is the charge per voltage difference:
𝑄
𝐶= .
Δ𝑉2
In this definition both 𝑄 and Δ𝑉2 is taken as positive. The SI units of
capacitance is the Farad. It is named after the British experimental 𝐸%⃗
physicist/chemist Michael Faraday (1791-1867). −𝑄

a. Rewrite the Farad in terms of Joules and Coulombs. Show work.

+𝑄
Δ𝑉!

b. The voltage across a 2 𝑛𝐹 capacitor (“𝑛”=nano=1034 ) is 15 Volts. What is the charge on the capacitor?
“Charge on capacitor” means the charge on the positive plate.

2. Open the PhET simulation and build the circuit consisting of a capacitor, resistor and battery as shown. Click
on each circuit element and set the capacitance to 0.1 𝐹, the resistance to 10 Ω and the battery to 9𝑉.
Note the blue dots represent the motion of the conduction electrons. The current is defined as the direction
positive charges move and so the direction of the current is opposite the direction the electrons move.
a. Right click on the capacitor and discharge it, then watch the capacitor
charge. Where do the unbalanced charges on the plates come from? capacitor
Choose one!
• Electrons initially stored in the battery are delivered to the negative
plate of the capacitor. Similarly, protons stored in the battery are
delivered to the positive plate of the capacitor.
• The battery moves electrons from the positive plate to the negative
plate leaving the plates with charge of opposite sign but same
magnitude. resistor
• Electrons moves across the gap between the plates leading to plates
with charge of opposite sign but same magnitude.
battery
Physics 212 - Module 1 Hands On Activities Packet Shazoof Mohammed

b. The voltmeter measures the voltage difference between the red and black leads: 𝑉50*67868- = 𝑉-89 −
𝑉:*)2; . Therefore the voltmeter reading is positive if the voltage at the red lead is higher than that at the
black lead.
Click on the voltmeter button. Place the black lead at the negative terminal of the battery and the red lead at
the positive terminal of the battery. What is meant when we say the emf of the battery is 9 Volts?
• The voltage of the positive terminal is 9 Volts and the voltage of the negative terminal is −9 Volts.
• The voltage of the positive terminal is 9 Volts above the voltage of the negative terminal.
• The voltage of the positive terminal is always 9 Volts and the voltage of the negative terminal is always zero.
c. What is the change in electric potential energy of an electron when the electron is moved from the positive
terminal of the 9 Volt battery to the negative terminal? The voltage across the battery terminals when
there is no current is called the EMF. Originally the term “EMF” stood for “electromotive force” but this is an
outdated term since the EMF is work per charge (not force)! The SI units of emf are therefore just Volts.

d. What is the role of the battery in this circuit? Power supplies are sometimes called “the source of EMF”.
• The battery stores conduction electrons. The electrons are then released to the capacitors.
• The battery does work on the conduction electrons using chemical energy in the battery to increase the
electrical potential energy of the electrons.
• The battery does work on the conduction electrons converting the chemical energy in the battery to
decrease the electrical potential energy of the electrons.
e. Move the voltmeter to measure the voltage across the capacitor. Change the resistance to 1Ω. Discharge
the capacitor and watch the capacitor charge. Measure the voltage across the charged capacitor. What
changes when you decrease the resistance?

E F
A A
3. Build the circuit shown with two capacitors 𝐶< = 0.2 𝐹
and 𝐶1 = 0.1 𝐹 and two batteries ℰ< = 9𝑉 and ℰ1 = G
3𝑉. To discharge both capacitors simultaneously you A
must first hit the “pause” button at the bottom of the
0.2𝐹 0.1𝐹
simulation. Click on each capacitor and discharge them.
Then hit “play” to recharge the capacitors.
D 3𝑉 9𝑉
a. Only voltage differences matter. As a reference A
point we choose point 𝐻 as zero volts.. Keep the
black lead at point 𝐻 and move the red lead to
measure the voltages at the different points. C B A H
Include units in all measurements. A A

𝑉= 𝑉> 𝑉? 𝑉@ 𝑉! 𝑉A 𝑉B
Physics 212 - Module 1 Hands On Activities Packet Shazoof Mohammed

b. What is the voltage difference between two points E F

(such as A and B or C amd D) connected directly by A A
conducting wires? G
A
0.2𝐹 0.1𝐹

D 3𝑉 9𝑉
A

C B A H
A A
c. Move the black and red leads to measure the voltage difference across each battery and each
capacitor. The voltage across the battery terminals when there is no current is called the emf.

𝑉= − 𝑉C 𝑉? − 𝑉> 𝑉! − 𝑉@ 𝑉B − 𝑉A

Make sure your table for voltage differences agree with your table in part (a).
d. Based on the table above, what is true of the sum of voltage changes around a closed loop?

This result is general and called Kirchoff’s Loop Rule.

e. Calculate the charge on each capacitor in the circuit shown.

𝑄< = 𝑄1 =

f. Two capacitors are connected in series if they are connected one after another without a branch point
in between.1 Based on your results for (e), what can you say about the charge on capacitors in series?

1
A branch point is a place where a single wire splits into two or more wires.
Physics 212 - Module 1 Hands On Activities Packet Shazoof Mohammed

Activity 3.7 – Capacitor Simulation Lab

Materials: ● Web browser
After this activity you should know: • capacitance of a parallel plate capacitor. • potential energy stored in a
capacitor. • how a capacitor charges •. how to find the power dissipated by a circuit element. • the meaning
of dielectric strength and dielectric breakdown.
1. Parallel Plate Capacitor is a capacitor with an especially simple geometry
consisting of identical flat plates arranged parallel to each other and separated
by a gap. We will use a PhET simulation to explore the properties of a parallel 𝐴 𝐴
plate capacitor.
a. Goto https://phet.colorado.edu/sims/html/capacitor-lab-
basics/latest/capacitor-lab-basics_en.html. Double click on the light bulb on
the right.
You should now be in the PhET capacitor simulation. Click on “Top Plate
𝑑
Charge” and “Stored Energy” to show bar graphs of the charge on the top
plate and the electrical potential eneryg stored in the capacitor. Click on
“Electric field” so you can view the electric field lines between the capacitor.
b. Click on and slide the titled green arrow to increase the area of the plates. What happens to the
capacitance of the capacitor, i.e., does it increase, decrease, or is unchanged?

c. Use the vertical green arrow to increase the gap between the plates. What happens to the capacitance?

d. Return the plate area to its smallest value. Move the voltmeter leads so the red lead touches the top
capacitor plate and the black lead touches the bottom capacitor plate. The voltmeter reads the voltage
difference between the red and black leads: 𝑉-8)9#DE = 𝑉-89 − 𝑉:*)2;
Use the yellow slide bar to increase the voltage of the battery. What happens to the charge on the top
plate, the electric field between the plates, the voltage across the capacitor, the capacitance, and the
energy stored in the capacitor as you increase the battery voltage? (Determine whether each quantity
increases, decreases, or is unchanged.)

𝑄 𝐶

,,⃗l
l𝑬 𝑈!

Δ𝑉
Physics 212 - Module 1 Hands On Activities Packet Shazoof Mohammed

e. Set the battery at is maximum voltage. Increase the area of the capacitor. What happens to above
quantities as you increase the area?

𝑄 𝐶

,,⃗l
l𝑬 𝑈!

Δ𝑉

f. Now with the area fixed, increase the gap between the plates. What happens to the above quantities as
you increase the gap size? You may need to move the voltmeter probes to make sure they maintain
contact with the top and bottom plate.

𝑄 𝐶

,,⃗l
l𝑬 𝑈!

Δ𝑉

g. Why did the voltage difference across the capacitor not change in the last two experiment (e) and (f)?

h. Return the gap size and area to their minimum values. At the top of the circuit is a switch (black circles).
Move the switch to the middle position so that the capacitor is no longer connected to the battery.
Make sure the voltmeter leads are touching the top and bottom capacitor plates. Change the voltage of
the battery. Why is the voltage across the capacitor not affected?

i. Increase the gap size. What happens to the following quantites when the gap size increases? You may
need to move the voltmeter probes to make sure they maintain contact with the top and bottom plate.
𝑄 𝐶

l𝐸,⃗ l 𝑈!

Δ𝑉
Physics 212 - Module 1 Hands On Activities Packet Shazoof Mohammed

j. Why did the charge remain the same in this case?

k. Now throw the switch over to the right so the capacitor is connected to the light bulb. How does the
capacitor discharge, i.e., where do the charges go?

l. What happens to the energy stored in the capacitor as the capacitor discharges through the light bulb?

2. Capacitance of a Parallel Plate Capacitor. We will now derive the

capacitance of a parallel plate capacitor. We will do so by assuming a
charge 𝑄 and −𝑄 on the plates and then determining the voltage difference
in terms of 𝑄. The ratio will give the capacitance. +𝑄 −𝑄
a. Assume a charge 𝑄 on plates of area 𝐴 with a gap of width 𝑑. What is
𝐸
the magnitude of the electric field across the plates in terms of 𝑄, 𝐴, 𝑑
and physical constants? 𝐴 𝐴
𝑑

b. Since the electric field is uniform, it is easy to determine the voltage difference between the plates.
What is the magnitude of the voltage across the plates Δ𝑉2 in terms of 𝑄, 𝐴, 𝑑 and physical constants?

c. Use 𝐶 = 𝑄/Δ𝑉2 to determine the capacitance of a parallel plate capacitor.

Physics 212 - Module 1 Hands On Activities Packet Shazoof Mohammed

Check that this expression is consistent with your first set of simulation experiments 1b and 1c.

d. What happens to the capacitance of this capacitor if you double the charge on the capacitor? Please
explain your answer.
.

e. What happens to the capacitance if you triple the area and double the gap width?

3. Energy stored in a capacitor: One application for capacitors is to store energy. Capacitors have the
advantage over batteries in that they can deliver charge must faster than batteries can and also can be
charged and discharged many more times than rechargeable batteries before degrading.
The stored electrical potential energy is:
1 1
𝑈 = 𝑄Δ𝑉2 = 𝐶(Δ𝑉2 )1 .
2 2
What is the energy stored in a capacitor with capacitance of 8 𝑚𝐹 and a voltage difference of 12 V?

4. Dielectric Breakdown. Capacitors are labeled with their

capacitance (3300µF, 1000µF, etc) and a breakdown voltage
(25V, 16V, etc). This is the maximum voltage that can be
placed on the capacitor. If voltage exceeds the breakdown
voltage, the electric field in the insulating gap may cause
some electrons in the insulator to become mobile making
the material a conductor. This leads to a spark across the
gap and damage to the capacitor. The electric field at which
an insulating material breaks down is called the dielectric
strength.
The dielectric strength of humid air is 1,500,000 𝑉/𝑚. Assume a lightning strikes occurs from the bottom of
a cloud at 500 m to the ground. What is the voltage difference between the cloud and the ground? Treat
the electric field as uniform betwen the cloud and the ground.
Physics 212 - Module 1 Hands On Activities Packet Shazoof Mohammed

Activity 3.8 – Parallel and Series Capacitors

After this activity you should know: • recognize when capacitors are connected in series and in parallel • know
the relation for the voltage drops across parallel capacitors and series capacitors. ● know the relation for the
charge on parallel capacitors and for series capacitors. ● know the effective capacitance for parallel and series
capaciors. ● Be able to solve for the charge and voltage drops for parallel and series capacitor circuits.
1. Parallel Capacitors: Capacitors are connected in parallel if their high voltage ends are connected together
and their low voltage ends are connected together. For example, the three capacitors shown are connected
in parallel.2
The three capacitors 𝐶< , 𝐶1 and 𝐶F can be replaced by a
single equivalent capacitor 𝐶8$ . Here we determine the
properties of the capacitors connected in parallel and the 𝜖
equivalent capacitance.
a. What is the relation between the voltage drops across
the individual capacitors connected in parallel and the 𝐶$ 𝐶# 𝐶"
voltage drop across the equivalent capacitor? Choose
one.
• The voltage drops across each individual capacitor is
the same as the voltage drop across the equivalent
capacitor: Δ𝑉< = Δ𝑉1 = Δ𝑉F = Δ𝑉8$ .
• The sum of the voltage drops of the individual
capacitors is the same as the voltage drops across
the equivalent capacitor: Δ𝑉8$ = Δ𝑉< + Δ𝑉1 + Δ𝑉F . 𝜖

b. What is the relation between the charge on the 𝐶%&

individual capacitors connected in parallel and the
charge on the equivalent capacitor? Choose one.
• The charge on each individual capacitors is the same as the charge on the equivalent capacitor:
𝑄< = 𝑄1 = 𝑄F = 𝑄8$ .
• The sum of the charges on the individual capacitors is the same as the charge on the equivalent
capacitor: 𝑄8$ = 𝑄< + 𝑄1 + 𝑄F .

c. What is true of the equivalent capacitance for capacitors connected in parallel? Choose one.

/ / / /
● 𝐶8$ = 𝐶< + 𝐶1 + 𝐶F ●
0GH
=0 +0 +0
I J K

d. What is true of the equivalent capacitance of capacitors in parallel?

• The equivalent capacitance is larger than the largest individual capacitor.
• The equivalent capacitance is smaller than the smallest individual capacitor.
• The equivalent capacitance is equal to the average capacitance of the individual capacitors.

2
Note that the terms “parallel capacitors” and “parallel plate capacitors” do not describe the same thing.
Physics 212 - Module 1 Hands On Activities Packet Shazoof Mohammed

e. Let 𝐶< = 2 𝜇𝐹, 𝐶1 = 6 𝜇𝐹 and 𝐶F = 12 𝜇𝐹 and the

EMF be 30 Volts. Reminder: the EMF is the voltage of 𝜖
the power supply.
I. Determine the equivalent capacitance of 𝐶$ 𝐶# 𝐶"
the circuit.

𝐶$#"

II. Use your knowledge of capacitors connected in parallel to determine the charge and voltage drops
across each capacitor and for the equivalent capacitor. Complete the table below. Show work.

Check that the basic capacitance relation 𝑄 = 𝑐𝛥𝑉 is obeyed for each column and that the charge on the
equivalent capacitor is equal to the sum of charges on the individual capacitors connected in parallel.
𝐶< 𝐶1 𝐶F 𝐶<1F

capacitance

voltage across

charge on

f. What is the total electric potential energy stored in the capacitors? Hint: there’s an easy way and a hard
way to do this.
Physics 212 - Module 1 Hands On Activities Packet Shazoof Mohammed

2. Series Capacitors: Capacitors are connected in series if they are joined end to end with the low voltage end
of one capacitor connected to the high voltage end of the next capacitor. Capacitors are connected in series
only if there are no junction point between one capacitor and the next. (A junction point is a point where
the circuit splits or recombines.) Series capacitors can also be replaced by a single equivalent capacitor.
a. What is the relation between the voltage drops across the individual
capacitors connected in series and the voltage drop across the
equivalent capacitor?
• The voltage drops across each individual capacitor is the same as
the voltage drop across the equivalent capacitor: Δ𝑉< = Δ𝑉1 = 𝜖 𝐶$
Δ𝑉F = Δ𝑉8$ .
• The sum of the voltage drops across the individual capacitors is the 𝐶#
same as the voltage drop across the equivalent capacitor: Δ𝑉8$ =
Δ𝑉< + Δ𝑉1 + Δ𝑉F .
𝐶"

b. What is the relation between the charge on the individual capacitors

connected in series and the charge on the equivalent capacitor?
• The charge on each individual capacitors is the same as the charge
on the equivalent capacitor: 𝑄< = 𝑄1 = 𝑄F = 𝑄8$ .
• The sum of the charges on the individual capacitors is the same as
the charge on the equivalent capacitor: 𝑄8$ = 𝑄< + 𝑄1 + 𝑄F .

c. What is true of the equivalent capacitance for capacitors connected in 𝜖

series?
/ / /
● 𝐶8$ = 𝐶< + 𝐶1 + 𝐶F ●
0GH
=0 +0 +
I J 𝐶%&
/
0K

d. What is true of the equivalent capacitance of capacitors in series?

• The equivalent capacitance is larger than the largest individual capacitor.
• The equivalent capacitance is smaller than the smallest individual capacitor.
• The equivalent capacitance is equal to the average capacitance of the individual capacitors.
Physics 212 - Module 1 Hands On Activities Packet Shazoof Mohammed

e. Let 𝐶< = 2 𝜇𝐹, 𝐶1 = 6 𝜇𝐹 and 𝐶F = 12 𝜇𝐹 and the emf be 30

Volts.
i. Determine the equivalent capacitance for this circuit. 𝜖 𝐶$

𝐶#

𝐶"
ii. Use your knowledge of capacitors connected in series to
determine the charge and voltage drops across each capacitor
and for the equivalent capacitor. Complete the table below.
Show work. 𝜖

𝐶$#"

Check that the basic relation 𝑄 = 𝑐𝛥𝑉 is obeyed for each column and that the voltage drop across the
equivalent capacitor is equal to the sum of voltage drops across the individual capacitors connected in
series.
𝐶< 𝐶1 𝐶F 𝐶<1F

capacitance

voltage across

charge on

3. Capacitors in parallel do not need to be drawn in parallel nor do capacitors in series need to be drawn on a
line. Three capacitors are connected in the different ways shown in the diagrams. State whether all three
capacitors are in (1) series, (2) parallel or (3) neither.

𝜖 𝜖
𝜖
Physics 212 - Module 1 Hands On Activities Packet Shazoof Mohammed

Activity 3.9 – Capacitor Combinations

After this activity you should know: • solve circuits involving capacitors that are neither all in parallel nor all in
series.
Capacitors cannot always be combined into one capacitor in one
step. Usually one needs to combine capacitors in multiple steps.
1. Four capacitors are connected to a 30 Volt EMF as shown
with 𝐶< = 6 𝜇𝐹, 𝐶1 = 2 𝜇𝐹, 𝐶F = 10 𝜇𝐹 and 𝐶L = 4 𝜇𝐹. What is
ℰ 𝐶<
the charge on, and voltage drop across, each capacitor?
a. Start by finding the equivalent capacitance in steps. Note that
𝐶1 𝐶F
𝐶1 and 𝐶F are in parallel. Combine these two capacitors into a
single equivalent capacitor 𝐶1F . Determine 𝐶1F and redraw the
circuit with 𝐶< , 𝐶1F , and 𝐶L . 𝐶L

b. Now 𝐶1F can be combined with 𝐶< and 𝐶L

into a single capacitor.

c. Since the circuit is reduced to a single capacitor connected to a single EMF, the voltage across
the equivalent capacitor must be equal to the EMF. Use this and the properties of parallel and
series capacitors to complete the table below. Show work. Make sure that 𝑄 = 𝐶Δ𝑉 for each
column.

𝐶< 𝐶1 𝐶F 𝐶L 𝐶1F 𝐶<1FL

C

Δ𝑉
𝑄
Physics 212 - Module 1 Hands On Activities Packet Shazoof Mohammed

2. Three capacitors 𝐶< < 𝐶1 < 𝐶F are connected to an EMF as shown.

Rank the charges 𝑄< , 𝑄1 , and 𝑄F on the capacitors from largest to ℰ 𝐶<
smallest. Place an equal sign between any charges that are equal. Hint:
use what you know about charges on parallel and series capacitors.
𝐶1

𝐶F

LARGEST: :SMALLEST
B A
3. Four capacitors are connected to an EMF as shown with 𝐶< =
20 𝜇𝐹, 𝐶1 = 4 𝜇𝐹, 𝐶F = 3 𝜇𝐹, and 𝐶L = 4 𝜇𝐹. The voltage 𝐶1
𝐶<
across 𝐶1 is 20 V.
a. What is the equivalent capacitance of the circuit? Redraw ℰ
𝐶F
circuit at each step.

𝐶L

b. What is the EMF? You may (but do not need to) make a table
similar to the first problem to help organize your calculation.

c. What would a voltmeter read if the COM lead is at A and the V lead is at B? In other words, what is
𝑉> − 𝑉= ?

d. What is the total energy stored in the capacitors? Do it the easy way!
Physics 212 - Module 1 Hands On Activities Packet Shazoof Mohammed

Activity 3.10 – Capacitor with Dielectrics

After this activity you should know: • how a dielectric affects the capacitance, electric field, charge on and
voltage difference across a capacitor. ● Difference between changing a capacitor when it is unhooked from the
circuit and when it remains attached directly across an EMF.
1. A parallel plate capacitor has a charge 𝑄0 and a voltage +𝑄' + + + + + + + + + +
difference Δ𝑉0 . The gap is air-filled with an electric field 𝐸0 .
𝐸' Δ𝑉'
The capacitor is then disconnected from the circuit so that there
is no path for the electrons to move from one plate to another.
An insulator of dielectric constant 𝜅 > 1 is then inserted to fill −𝑄' - - - - - - - - - -
the entire gap.

The electric field in the gap will cause the charges in the
+𝑄' + + + + + + + + + +
dielectric to separate slightly. This leaves an excess layer of - - - - - -
negative charges on the top of the insulator and an excess layer
𝐸' - - 𝐸-()*- - - 𝐸′
- - - Δ𝑉′
of positive charges at the bottom surface of the insulator. This
induced surface charge creates an induced electric field + + + + + +
opposite the direction of the original electric field. −𝑄' - - - - - - - - - -

a. The new net electric field is ,𝑬

,⃗M = 𝑬
,,⃗𝒐 + 𝑬
,,⃗#D9O289 . Which
is true of 𝐸′, the magnitude of the new net field?
Choose one.

• 𝐸 M = 𝜅𝐸0 (since 𝜅 > 1, this implies the net electric field is larger than the original
electric field).
• 𝐸 M = 𝐸0 (the net electric field is the same as the original electric field)
• 𝐸 M = 𝐸0 /𝜅 (the net electric field is smaller than the original field.)

b. Which is true of the new voltage difference Δ𝑉′ across the plates?

• Δ𝑉 M = 𝜅Δ𝑉0 ● Δ𝑉 M = Δ𝑉0 ● Δ𝑉 M =
Δ𝑉0 /𝜅

c. Since the capacitor has been disconnected from the rest of the circuit, the charge cannot change: 𝑄M =
𝑄0 . What is the true of the capacitance 𝐶′ of the dielectric filled capacitor compared to 𝐶0 , the original
capacitance?

● 𝐶 M = 𝜅𝐶0 ● 𝐶′ = 𝐶0 ● 𝐶′ = 𝐶0 /𝜅

2. In order to make a parallel plate capacitor with the largest capacitance, one should use

● Small plates with a narrow air-filled gap. ● Small plates with a narrow paper filled gap.
● Small plates with a wide air-filled gap. ● Small plates with a wide paper filled gap.
● Large plates with a narrow air-filled gap. ● Large plates with a narrow paper filled gap.
● Large plates with a wide air-filled gap. ● Large plates with a wide paper filled gap.
Physics 212 - Module 1 Hands On Activities Packet Shazoof Mohammed

3. Consider the case where the capacitor remains connected to the EMF
while the dielectric is inserted. Note that the result that 𝐶 M = 𝜅𝐶5)2 is
true in general.
A parallel plate capacitor with an air filled gap is connected to an EMF 𝜅=3
and charged to 𝑄0 and voltage difference Δ𝑉0 . With the EMF still
connected, a ceramic with 𝜅 = 3 is placed into the gap.
1. What is true of the voltage difference Δ𝑉′ after the dielectric is inserted?
● Δ𝑉 M = 3Δ𝑉0 ● Δ𝑉 M = Δ𝑉0 ● Δ𝑉 M =
Δ𝑉0 /3
2. What is true of the charge on the capacitor 𝑄′ after the dielectric is inserted?
● 𝑄M = 3𝑄 ● 𝑄′ = 𝑄 ● 𝑄′ = 𝑄0 /3
4. Three capacitors are connected to an EMF as shown. The capacitors are identical except that the first two
have air-filled caps and the last capacitor has a ceramic with 𝜅 = 3 entirely filling the gap. The capacitance
of the ceramic filled capacitor is 6 𝜇𝐹 and the voltage across that capacitor is 4 Volts.
a. Determine equivalent capacitance of the circuit.

b. Determine the EMF.

c. Determine the total energy stored in the circuit. Hint: there is an easier and harder way to do
this!