Giancoli Physics Quiz Chapter 24
Giancoli Physics Quiz Chapter 24
Giancoli Physics Quiz Chapter 24
Question 1 If the voltage between the plates of a parallel-plate capacitor is doubled, the capacitance
of the capacitor
is doubled.
is tripled.
quadruples.
remains the same.
is halved.
Explanation: Remember that you can only change the capacitance by changing the area A, the separation
distance d and or the medium between the plates. Increasing the voltage will result in increasing the charge
q to maintain a constant q/V ratio which is the capacitance.
Question 2 A parallel-plate capacitor is charged by a battery and then the battery is removed and a
dielectric of constant K is used to fill the gap between the plates. Inserting the dielectric changes the
energy stored by a factor of
K - 1.
K.
1/K.
1 (no change).
2.
Explanation: The capacitor was charged to some charge q. Since you removed the capacitor (isolated) from
the circuit, it will no longer accept new charges and it cannot lose any of the stored charges. Adding a
dielectric block between the plates will result in reducing the voltage and electric field by a factor K while
increasing the permittivity and capacitance by the same factor K. The energy equation involving C and V is
U = (1/2) CV2. The new energy is then (KC)(V/K)2. The new energy is reduced by a factor 1/K.
Question 3 A dielectric is inserted between the plates of an isolated parallel-plate capacitor that
carries a charge Q. What happens to the potential energy stored in the capacitor?
The potential energy of the capacitor increases or decreases depending on the value of the dielectric
constant of the capacitor.
The potential energy of the capacitor decreases.
The potential energy of the capacitor remains the same.
The potential energy of the capacitor increases.
More information is needed to answer the question.
Explanation: This is pretty much the same as the one before. Since K is never less than 1 (should be more
than 1). The potential energy for an ISOLATED Capacitor (no extra charges are allowed in) should decrease.
Question 4 If the voltage between the plates of a parallel-plate capacitor is doubled, the charge on
the capacitor
is tripled.
quadruples.
is halved.
remains the same.
is doubled.
Explanation: This is NOT an isolated capacitor and the charge is allowed to change. The capacitor itself
remains physically the same (and the medium between the plates remains the same). Therefore, the
capacitance C should remain the same. C = Q/V should be constant. Doubling V will double Q. Be careful,
the conditions stated here must be all met.
Question 5 Capacitors in series share the same charge and capacitors in parallel share the same
voltage.
True
False
Explanation: Absolutely.
Question 6 Three identical capacitors are connected in series to a battery. If a total charge of Q flows
from the battery, how much charge does each capacitor carry?
3Q
9Q
Q
Q/3
Q/9
Explanation: In series, the charge is the same across each capacitor.
Question 7 As more and more capacitors are connected in parallel, the equivalent capacitance of the
combination increases.
True
False
Explanation: Capacitance values when in parallel just add up. The equivalent capacitance should be larger
than the largest.
Question 11 Three capacitors C1, C2, and C3 are connected to a battery as shown in Fig. 24-3. The
three capacitors have equal capacitances. Which capacitor stores the most potential energy?
FIGURE 24-3
C2
C3
C1
C2 or C3. They store the same amount of energy
All three capacitors store the same amount of energy.
Explanation: No physical change is taking place so the capacitances will remain the same. U = ()CV 2. C is
the same for all three identical capacitors, so the one that sees the largest voltage drop across will store the
most energy. Capacitor C1 sees the same voltage as the battery. Capacitors C2 and C3 in series on a
separate branch will share the batterys voltage (two drops that add up to V). Therefore, capacitor C1 sees
the largest voltage across and would store the most energy.
Question 12 Three identical capacitors are connected in parallel to a battery. If a total charge of Q
flows from the battery, how much charge does each capacitor carry?
9Q
Q/3
Q
Q/9
3Q
Explanation: In parallel, we know that q=q1+q2+q3+ This means that each would carry Q/3 (because
theyre identical).
Question 13 If the voltage applied to a parallel-plate capacitor is doubled, the electric field between
the plates
is tripled.
remains the same.
is doubled.
quadruples.
is halved.
Explanation: V = Ed (E is the electric field and d is the separation distance between the two plates). This is a
linear equation. If V doubles then E doubles.
Question 14 Fig. 24-2 shows three capacitors connected to a battery. The capacitances are such
that C1 = 2C2 and C1 = 3C3. Which capacitor stores the smallest amount of charge?
FIGURE 24-2
C1
C2
C3
C2 or C3
All three capacitors store the same amount of charge.
Explanation: These capacitors are connected in series. The charge carried by each MUST be the same. The
voltage drops across will be different to reflect different q/V ratios in order to obtain different Cs.
Question 15 The energy stored in a capacitor will be equal to the work done to charge it.
True
False
Explanation: The capacitor is a storage device that store energy to be used later.
Question 16 Fig. 24-1 shows 3 capacitors, of equal capacitance C, connected to a battery of voltage
V. What is the equivalent capacitance of this combination?
FIGURE 24-1
2C/3
C/2
C/3
3C
3C/2
Explanation:
The two capacitors on the right are connected in parallel. Ceq1 = C+C = 2C. Now this equivalent
capacitance is in series with the top capacitor (1/Ceq2)= 1/(C)+1/(2C) = 3/(2C) or Ceq1 = 2C/3
Question 19 A capacitor consists of a set of two parallel plates of area A separated by a distance d.
The capacitor plates carry charges +Q and -Q. If the separation between the plates is doubled, the
potential difference between the plates will
be cut in half.
be cut in fourth.
quadruple.
double.
not change.
Explanation: Doubling the separation distance d (physical change) reduces the capacitance to half its
original value. C = oA/d (d is in the doubled in the denominator). C = q/V. With the charge remaining
constant (+Q and Q) and not allowed to change (isolated), then V should double (V inversely proportional
to C). The trick in this question is to figure out that the capacitor is isolated (no change in Qs).
Question 20 As more and more capacitors are connected in series, the equivalent capacitance of
the combination increases.
True
False