4.09 PPQ answers.

docx Page 1 of 2 Classwork PPQ

PAST PAPER QUESTIONS – CAPACITORS

Q1 [= FuP Jan 2009 Q1(b) renumbered]

1(a) 𝑉 = 𝑄/𝐶 = 100  10-9  (0.77  10-9) ✓ or 100  0.77 as nano terms cancel
𝑉 = 130 V ✓ (129.9 V) (2)

1(b) Charge 𝑄0 drops to 𝑄0 /𝑒 in one time constant ✓ {The easy way}

𝑄0 /𝑒 = 100 nC  𝑒 = 36.8 nC at time 𝜏 = 100 μs ✓
𝑅 = 𝜏/𝐶 = 100  10-6  (0.77  10-9) = 1.30  105 Ω ✓ Allow ECF for value of 𝜏
OR
Clear use of 𝑄 = 𝑄𝑜 𝑒 –𝑡/𝑅𝐶 ✓
100 × 10−6
Correct read-offs and substitution e.g. 36 = 100 𝑒 − 𝑅𝐶 ✓
Solve to find 𝑡 = 1.30  105 Ω
OR
Tangent drawn at 𝑡 = 0 ✓ {Gradient of 𝑄 − 𝑡 graph = current; this finds initial current 𝐼0 }
Gradient = current to find an answer of around 1  10-3 A ✓
𝑅 = 𝑉0 /𝐼0 = 130  (1  10-3) = 1.30  105 Ω ✓ accept answers in range 120 - 137 kΩ (3)

1(c) Faster discharge, starting at 100 nC, always decreasing and always below original curve ✓
Time to halve about 0.3 of original and sensible shape ✓ (2)
{𝜏 = 𝑅 𝐶 and so decreasing the capacitance from 0.77 nF to 0.22 nF decreases 𝜏 by a factor
of 2/7 or 29%. The half-life will drop by the same proportion.
To be really accurate: the graph shows original half-life to be about 70 μs. New half life will be
20 μs. Halve the 100 μC initial charge every 20 μs, plotting enough points to draw an accurate
curve.}

Q2 [= FuP June 2007 Q3 slightly adapted]

{This question shows an old practical approach to finding 𝐶. This is no longer on the specification, but
the Examiners might include a variant on this question as they must have some ‘unfamiliar’ applications
on exam papers. There’s also some good physics in the question so it’s generally useful.}

2(a) 𝐶 = 𝜏/𝑅 = 2.2  10-4  220 = 1.0  10-6 F or 1.0 μF ✓ condone 1 SF here (1)

2(b) 𝑇 = 1/𝑓 = 1  400 ✓

𝑇 = 2.5  10-3 s ✓ or 2.5 ms (2)

𝑡 𝑡
2(c) (i) 𝑉 = 𝑉0 𝑒 − 𝑅𝐶 or 𝑉 = 𝑉0 𝑒 − 𝜏 used ✓
1.25 × 10−3
−
Correctly substituted values ✓ E.g. 𝑉 = 12  𝑒 2.2 ×10−4

𝑉 = 0.041 V ✓ (0.0409 V) (3)

(ii) Reasonable assumption because 0.34% 𝑉 left or 𝑡 > 11 time constants ✓

Allow ECF for incorrect 𝑇 or 𝑉 if good reasoning shown ✓ (1)

(iii) 𝑄 = 𝐶 𝑉 = 1.0  10-6  12 = 12 μC ✓ Allow ECF for 𝐶 from (a)

𝐼 = 𝑄/𝑡 = 12  10-6  (2.5  10-3) ✓ It discharges once every 𝑇
𝐼 = 4.8  10-3 A ✓ (3)
{An old ‘moving needle’ ammeter can’t keep up with the variation at 400 Hz and would just vibrate in
place, showing an average current as in (iii). You then run these calculations in reverse to find 𝐶.}
4.09 PPQ answers.docx Page 2 of 2 Classwork PPQ

Q3 [= Fup Jan 2006 Q3(b)]

3(a) 𝑄 = 𝐶 𝑉 = 0.25  9 ✓
𝑄 = 2.25 C (unit essential) ✓ Allow 2.3 C (2)

3(b) Energy = ½ 𝐶 𝑉 2 = ½  0.25  92 ✓ Or use of ½ 𝑄 𝑉 or ½ 𝑄2 /𝐶

Energy = 10(.1) J ✓ Allow ECF for 𝑄 if used (2)

𝑡
3(c) 𝑉 = 𝑉𝑜 𝑒 −𝑡/𝑅𝐶 or 𝑉 = 𝑉0 𝑒 − 𝜏 ✓
0.1 = 9 e − t / (8.5 x 0.25) ✓
𝑡 = 9.6 (9.56) s ✓ (3)

Q4 [= FuP Jan 2007 Q7 adapted – the bit about capacitor B was very dull…]
4(a) Single correct measurement for half-life of 4.4 to 4.6 s ✓
Second value in range 4.4 to 4.8 s and find average value ✓ (2)
{Or: instead of finding one half-life, find a ‘quarter life’ and divide this time by two.
40 V drops to 10 V in a time 𝑡 = 9.2 seconds ✓ so half-life = 9.2  2 = 4.6 seconds ✓}

4(b) Use of 𝑇½ = 𝑙𝑛(2) 𝑅𝐶 ✓

𝐶 = 4.5  (𝑙𝑛(2)  10  103) = 6.5  10-4 F ✓ Allow answer consistent with (a)
OR
𝑉0 = 40 V drops to 𝑉 = 40  𝑒 = 14.7 V in time 𝑡 = 6.4 seconds = one time constant ✓
𝐶 = 𝜏/𝑅 = 6.4  (10  103) = 6.4  10-4 F ✓ Allow answer consistent with measured 𝜏
OR
𝑡 𝑡
𝑉 = 𝑉0 𝑒 − 𝑅𝐶 or 𝑉 = 𝑉0 𝑒 − 𝜏 used with correctly substituted values ✓
Solve to find value of 𝐶 of about 6.5  10-4 F ✓ (2)

Q5 [= WFNE B Jan 2006 Q2]

5(a) 𝐸 ∝ 𝑉 2 (or 𝐸 = ½ 𝐶 𝑉 2 ) ✓ {So if 𝐸 drops to ¼ then 𝑉 must have dropped to ½ }
PD after 25 s = 12  2 = 6 V ✓ (2)
{The hard way:
Initial 𝐸 = ½ 𝐶 𝑉 2 = ½  680  10-6  122 = 4.896  10-2 so new 𝐸 = 1.224  10-2 J ✓
𝑉 = √2𝐸/𝐶 and solve to find 𝑉 = 6 V ✓}

𝑡
5(b) (i) Use of 𝑉 = 𝑉𝑜 𝑒 −𝑡/𝑅𝐶 or 𝑉 = 𝑉0 𝑒 − 𝜏 ✓
Substitute and solve e.g. 6 = 12 e − 25/RC to find 𝜏 = 𝑅𝐶 = 36(.1) s ✓ (2)

(ii) 𝑅 = 𝜏/𝐶 = 36.1  (680  10-6) ✓

𝑅 = 5.3(0)  104 Ω ✓ (2)