4.09 Notes answers.

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4.09 NOTES – CAPACITANCE – ANSWERS

1. 𝑄 = 𝐶 𝑉 = 27  10-6  36 = 9.72  10-4 C

2(a) 𝑄 = 𝐶 𝑉 = 200  10-6  30 = 6  10-3 C

2(b) 𝐸 = ½ 𝑄 𝑉 = ½  6  10-3  30 = 0.090 J or 9.0  10-2 J

3. Left-hand graph: gradient = 𝑄/𝑉 = capacitance.

Right-hand graph: gradient = 𝑉/𝑄 = 1/capacitance

4(a) Area = area of triangle = ½ base  height = ½ 𝑄 𝑉

{Note that the left-hand graph gives capacitance (easily) yet the right-hand graph gives energy.
Irritating, but you need to know to use only the right-hand graph for energy.}

4(b) Substituting 𝑄 = 𝐶 𝑉 gives 𝐸𝑛𝑒𝑟𝑔𝑦 = ½ 𝑄 𝑉 = ½ (𝐶𝑉) 𝑉 = ½ 𝐶 𝑉 2

𝑄 𝑄2
Substituting 𝑉 = 𝑄/𝐶 gives 𝐸𝑛𝑒𝑟𝑔𝑦 = ½ 𝑄 𝑉 = ½ 𝑄 ( )= ½
𝐶 𝐶

5(a) 𝑄 = 𝐶 𝑉 = 50  10-3  40 = 2 C

5(b) 𝐸 = ½ 𝑄 𝑉 = ½  2  40 = 40 J

5(c) 𝑊 = 𝑄 𝑉 = 2  40 = 80 J

5(d) It has been dissipated as internal energy (allow ‘heat’) in the resistance of the circuit.
This is one issue with using capacitors as energy storage devices: you waste 50% of the energy
when charging the capacitor up in the first place.
Reducing resistance won’t help as it increases the current, actually causing more power loss
(𝑃 = 𝐼 2 𝑅) but for less time as the capacitor charges faster. The energy loss is always 50%.

6(a) Importantly, there is no charge flow between the plates.

The electrons flow from the left-plate of the capacitor towards the + terminal, through the supply
and out through the – terminal and onto the right plate of the capacitor.
The effect is to build up negative charge on the right-hand plate (excess electrons) and positive
charge on the left-hand plate (deficit of electrons).

6(b) It gets harder to move electrons from the left to right plate as they are repelled by the negative
charge on the right plate and attracted back to the positive charge on the left plate.

6(c) The overall charge on the two plates together is zero. Capacitors such as this don’t so much
‘store’ charge as temporarily separate it.

6(d) Electrons flow from the negative to positive plate, passing through the resistor.

6(e) Electrons are repelled from the negative plate and attracted to the positive plate. As they move,
the charge on both plates drops and the two forces reduce, making electrons flow more slowly.

6(f) 1 trillion electrons passes through the external circuit when both charging and discharging.
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7(a) 𝑄 = 𝐶 𝑉 = 3  12 = 36 C

7(b) (i) 12 V PD across resistor = PD across capacitor, acting as a ‘power supply’

(ii) 𝐼 = 𝑉/𝑅 = 12  10 = 1.2 A

7(c) (i) 𝑄 remaining = ½  36 = 18 C

(ii) 𝑉 = 𝑄/𝐶 = 18  3 = 6 V Or: 𝑄 ∝ 𝑉 and as 𝑄 has halved, so has 𝑉
(iii) 𝐼 = 𝑉/𝑅 = 6  10 = 0.6 A

7(d) (i) 𝑄 remaining = ½  18 = 9 C

(ii) 𝑉 = 𝑄/𝐶 = 9  3 = 3 V
(iii) 𝐼 = 𝑉/𝑅 = 3  10 = 0.3 A

The above just puts Q6(d) onto a mathematical footing. As a capacitor discharges then the PD across
the capacitor drops, causing a smaller PD across the circuit resistance and thus reducing current.

8(a) Try to get at least 3 points to plot a curve whenever you can.
Plot 12 V at 𝑡 = 0; 6 V at 𝑡 = 10 seconds; 3 V at 𝑡 = 20 seconds and 1.5 V at 30 seconds.
Then join the dots

8(b) If 𝑅 is 1.5  larger then so is the half-life.

Plot 12 V at 𝑡 = 0; 6 V at 𝑡 = 15 seconds; 3 V at 𝑡 = 30 seconds

8(c) If 𝐶 halves then so does the half-life.

The 12V initial PD will halve every 5 seconds – lots of points!

12

10

8
PD / V

4 B

2
A

0 C
0 5 10 15 20 25 30
Time / s

Looking at the graphs:

If you increase the resistance (graph B) then the capacitor discharges more slowly. The circuit
current is less and charge moves more slowly between the capacitor plates.
If you decrease capacitance (graph C) then the capacitor discharges faster. A smaller capacitor
stores less charge, so current takes away a larger percentage of the stored charge.
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You may have slightly different read-offs from me – please don’t worry about it.
9(a) 12 V to 6 V = 8.6 – 0.0 = 8.6 seconds
10 V to 5 V = 11.0 – 2.3 = 8.7 seconds
4 V to 2 V = 22.5 – 13.8 = 8.7 seconds

9(b) 12 V to 4 V = 13.8 – 0.0 = 13.8 seconds

9 V to 3 V = 17.5 – 3.6 = 13.9 seconds
6 V to 2 V = 22.5 – 8.7 = 13.8 seconds

9(c) 𝑉5 /𝑉0 = 8.1  12.0 = 0.68

𝑉10 /𝑉5 = 5.4  8.1 = 0.67
𝑉15 /𝑉10 = 3.7  5.4 = 0.69

You are used to the idea of a half-life from GCSE radioactivity but there is nothing special about a factor
of 2.
If I were trying to prove that a curve showed an exponential decrease then I’d probably use method (c)
as I can easily re-use values from one calculation to the next.
No one way is best. Pick a method you like and stick with it from now on.

10(a) (i) The charge drops by a factor of 𝑒 every time constant, so remaining charge = 𝑄/𝑒.
(ii) The charge has dropped by a factor of 𝑒 three times: 𝑄  𝑒  𝑒  𝑒 = 𝑄/𝑒 3

10(b) You have a choice of energy equations that you can use, but they will all agree.
1
If you choose 𝐸 = 𝑄 𝑉 then both 𝑄 and 𝑉 drop by a factor of 𝑒, so energy drops by 𝑒 2.
2
1 1
If you choose 𝐶 𝑉 2 or 𝑄2 /𝐶 then 𝐶 doesn’t change but 𝑉 2 and 𝑄2 both drop by 𝑒 2 .
2 2

11. 𝑇½ = ln(2) 𝑅𝐶 = 𝑙𝑛(2)  4.5  106  290  10-9 = 0.90(45) seconds

The half-life equation for capacitance isn’t on your formula sheet, but radioactive decay has a
half-life equation that you can use as a prompt to remember this equation if you want to use it.
You’ll learn a lot of half-life tricks in radioactivity. Once you’ve done so then it’s worth thinking
whether you’d like to use them with capacitance as well.
It’s definitely not necessary to do so, but some students find it helpful.

12(a) 𝐼𝑜 = 𝑉0 /𝑅 = 30  (40  103) = 7.5  10-4 A

12(b) (i) 𝜏 = 𝑅𝐶 = 40  103  250  10-6 = 10 seconds

𝑡 𝑡 15
)
(ii) 𝐼 = 𝐼𝑜 𝑒 −(𝑅𝐶 = 𝐼𝑜 𝑒 −𝜏 = 7.5  10-4  𝑒 −10 = 7.5  10-4  𝑒 −1.5 = 1.67  10-4 A

The advantages of calculating 𝜏 first are:

𝑡
)
- easier substitution than using the 𝑒 −(𝑅𝐶 substitution
- it allows a sanity check. The time of 15 seconds is 1.5 time constants. In one time constant,
current would drop by a factor of 𝑒 or 2.7, so in 1.5 time constants it should drop to roughly
1/3 or 1/4 of the original value. The answer of 1.67  10-4 looks sensible.
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13(a) 𝐼𝑜 = 𝑉𝑜 /𝑅 = 240  (15  103) = 0.016 A

13(b) 𝜏 = 𝑅𝐶 = 15  103  400  10-6 = 6

𝑡 𝑡
𝑉 = 𝑉0 𝑒 −𝜏 becomes 100 = 240 𝑒 −6
𝑡
Dividing both sides by 240 0.417 = 𝑒 −6

Using 𝑙𝑛 to get rid of 𝑒 𝑙𝑛(0.417) = −𝑡/6

𝑡 = − 𝑙𝑛(0.417)  6 = 5.25 seconds

You can solve this in different ways, but the easiest approach for most non-mathematicians is to
use 𝑙𝑛 only once you’ve exposed the 𝑒. Use logarithms as a last resort!

14(a) 𝐼0 = 𝑉0 /𝑅 = 6  (100  103) = 6  10-5 A

14(b) An exponential decay will fall by consistent ratios in consistent time intervals.
Either: check to see if there’s a consistent half-life, or see if the PD falls by a consistent ratio in
constant time gaps.
I’ll take the latter approach, using 10 second intervals.
In the first 10 seconds, 𝑉 falls by a factor of 3.8  6 = 0.63
In the next 10 seconds, it falls by a factor of 2.4  3.8 = 0.63
In the next 10 seconds, it falls by 1.55  2.4 = 0.65
The drop is consistent (allowing for small errors reading from the graph).

14(c) (i) The easy way first:

In one time constant, the PD drops by a factor of 𝑒 from 6.0 V to 6  𝑒 = 2.2 V.
Reading from the graph, this takes 22 seconds.

Next easiest:
The half-life (from 6.0 V to 3.0 V) is 15 seconds.
Half-life = 𝑙𝑛(2)  time constant
Time constant = 15  𝑙𝑛(2) = 21.6 seconds

The painful way:

𝑡
𝑉 = 𝑉0 𝑒 −𝜏
15
Using (e.g.) the fall to 3 V in 15 seconds 3 = 6 𝑒− 𝜏
15
0.5 = 𝑒 − 𝑇
𝑙𝑛(0.5) = − 15/𝑡
𝑡 = − 15  𝑙𝑛(0.5) = 21.6 seconds

(ii) 𝜏 = 𝑅 𝐶 so 𝐶 = 𝜏/𝑅 = 22  (100  103) = 2.2.  10-4 F

𝑡
{The really painful way to do (ii) is to use 𝑉 = 𝑉0 𝑒 −𝑅𝐶 then read off values for 𝑉 and 𝑉0 and
solve for 𝐶. Please don’t do this unless you must as there’s a lot of room for error.}
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15(a) The gap becomes 12 V  2 = 6 V. Current value = 12 – 6 = 6 V

15(b) The gap becomes 12 V  22 = 3 V. Current value = 12 – 3 = 9 V

15(c) The gap becomes 12 V  23 = 1.5 V. Current value = 12 – 1.5 = 10.5 V

{The value of PD is approaching 12 V in an exponential decay fashion, with the gap between it
and 12 V shrinking consistently.}

16. You can do this in different ways. I’m going to find 𝜏 first and calculate PD.
𝜏 = 𝑅𝐶 = 15  103  200  10-6 = 3 seconds
𝑡
𝑉 = 𝑉0 (1 − 𝑒 −𝜏 ) = 12 (1 – 𝑒-(53)) = 12  0.811 = 9.73 V
{Sanity check: 5 seconds is almost 2 time constants, so maybe 2 half-lives or a little more. The
gap between 0 V and 12 V will have dropped by a factor of 4 from 12 V to a gap of about 3 V.
An actual value of 9 V or so looks about right.}
𝑄 = 𝐶 𝑉 = 200  10-6  9.73 = 1.95  10-3 C
𝑡
You could find the final charge 𝑄 = 𝐶 𝑉 for the full 12 V and then use 𝑄 = 𝑄0 (1 − 𝑒 −𝑅𝐶 ) instead.

17(a) A bigger area of plate provides more room for electrons to spread out i.e. to store charge.
This part of the equation should be intuitive.

17(b) 𝐶 = 𝑄/𝑉 and 𝐶 = 𝐴 𝜀𝑜 /𝑑

Combining these gives 𝑄/𝑉 = 𝐴 𝜀0 /𝑑
𝐴 = 𝑄𝑑/𝜀0 𝑉 = 1  10-6  5  10-3  (8.85  10-12  12) = 47 m2
OR
Find 𝐶 = 𝑄/𝑉 = 1  10-6  12 = 8.33  10-8 F, then substitute into 𝐴 = 𝐶 𝑑/𝜀0 .

18. 𝐶 = 𝐴 𝜀0 𝜀𝑟 /𝑑 = (0.025  1.2)  8.85  10-12  8  (0.5  10-3) = 4.248  10-9 C