Physics Classes by Saurabh Prajapati Contact: 9250671714

CHAPTER 02
ELECTRIC POTENTIAL AND CAPACITANCE
Previous Year’s Questions
Very Short Answer Type Questions (𝟏 mark) (ii) When a dielectric is placed in the presence of external

1. Define capacitance of a capacitor [All India 𝟐𝟎𝟏𝟔] field, an induced electric field appears in the dielectric in

Ans: Capacitance is defined as the ability of a conductor to store the opposite direction of external electric field.

c electric charge in it.

2. Define an equipotential surface [Delhi 𝟐𝟎𝟏𝟑,𝟐𝟎𝟏𝟔]

Ans: Equipotential surfaces are the surfaces which have equal value
c of electric potential at all points on the surfaces. 7. A point charge +Q is placed at a point O as shown in the

3. What is the geometrical shape of equipotential surfaces due figure. Is the potential difference 𝑽𝑨 − 𝑽𝑩 positive, negative or

to a single isolated charge? [Delhi 𝟐𝟎𝟏𝟑] zero? [Delhi 𝟐𝟎𝟏𝟔]

Ans: The shape of the equipotential surface due to a single isolated

c charge is a concentric sphere.
Ans: As we know,
4. Two charges of 𝟓𝝁𝑪 and −𝟓𝝁𝑪 are placed at points A and B 𝑸 𝟏 𝟏
c 𝑽𝑨 − 𝑽𝑩 = ( − )
𝟐 𝒄𝒎 apart. Depict an equipotential surface of the system. 𝟒𝝅𝝐𝟎 𝒓𝑨 𝒓𝑩
Ans: [Delhi 𝟐𝟎𝟏𝟑𝑪] Here, 𝒓𝑨 < 𝒓𝑩
c 𝟏
>
𝟏
𝒓𝑨 𝒓𝑩
𝟏 𝟏
( − )>𝟎
𝒓𝑨 𝒓𝑩

Since Q is positive, 𝑽𝑨 − 𝑽𝑩 is also positive

8. Why there is no work done in moving a charge from one

point to another on an equipotential surface?
For the given system, equipotential surface will be a plane
[Foreign 𝟐𝟎𝟏𝟐]
normal to line AB joining the two charges and passing
Ans: As work done in moving charge from one point to another is
through its mid-point O on any point on this plane, the value
c given by
of potential is zero.
𝑾 = 𝒒∆𝑽
On an equipotential surface the potential difference is zero.
Short Answer Type Questions (𝟐 mark) Thus, no work is done in moving a charge from one point to
5. “For any charge configuration, equipotential surface through another on an equipotential surface.
a point is normal to the electric field.” Justify. [Delhi 𝟐𝟎𝟏𝟒]
9. Derive the expression for the electric potential at any point
As the work done in moving a charge from one point to
along the axial line of an electric dipole? [Delhi 𝟐𝟎𝟎𝟖]
another is given by
Ans: Consider an electric dipole consisting of two charges q and -
𝑾 = 𝑭𝒔𝒄𝒐𝒔𝜽
The work done in moving a charge from one point to another c q separated by a distance 𝟐𝒂.

on an equipotential surface is zero. This is possible only when

𝒄𝒐𝒔𝜽 = 𝟏 i.e. 𝜽 = 𝟗𝟎°. The electric field lines gives the direction
of force thus electric field lines are normal to the
equipotential surfaces.
Potential at P due to −𝐪 charge, 𝑽𝟏
6. Explain the difference in the behaviour of a (i) conductor and −𝒒
𝑽𝟏 =
(ii) dielectric in the presence of external electric field. 𝟒𝝅𝝐𝟎 (𝒙 + 𝒂)

[Delhi 𝟐𝟎𝟏𝟓] Potential at P due to 𝐪 charge, 𝑽𝟐

𝒒
Ans: (i) When a conductor is placed in an electric field, charge 𝑽𝟐 =
𝟒𝝅𝝐𝟎 (𝒙 − 𝒂)
c distribution takes place. This distribution is in such a way
Net Potential due to dipole
that the electric field is zero inside the conductor.
𝑽 = 𝑽𝟏 + 𝑽𝟐
−𝒒 𝒒
𝑽= +
p 𝟒𝝅𝝐𝟎 (𝒙 + 𝒂) 𝟒𝝅𝝐𝟎 (𝒙 − 𝒂)
p

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ELECTRIC POTENTIAL AND CAPACITANCE
𝒒 −𝟏 𝟏 Ans:
𝑽= [ + ]
𝟒𝝅𝝐𝟎 (𝒙 + 𝒂) (𝒙 − 𝒂)
c
𝒒 𝟏 𝟏
𝑽= [ − ]
𝟒𝝅𝝐𝟎 (𝒙 − 𝒂) (𝒙 + 𝒂)
𝒒 (𝒙 + 𝒂) − (𝒙 − 𝒂)
𝑽= [ ]
𝟒𝝅𝝐𝟎 𝒙𝟐 − 𝒂𝟐
𝒒 𝒙+𝒂−𝒙+𝒂
𝑽= [ ]
𝟒𝝅𝝐𝟎 𝒙𝟐 − 𝒂𝟐
𝒒 𝟐𝒂
𝑽= [ ]
𝟒𝝅𝝐𝟎 𝒙𝟐 − 𝒂𝟐
15. Plot a graph comparing the variation of potential V and
𝟏 𝒑
𝑽= . … … … … … [𝒑 = 𝒒(𝟐𝒂)] electric field E due to a point charge q as a function of
𝟒𝝅𝝐𝟎 (𝒙𝟐 − 𝒂𝟐 )
distance r from the point charge.
10. Why is the potential inside a hollow spherical charged [Foreign 𝟐𝟎𝟏𝟎, Delhi 𝟐𝟎𝟏𝟐]
conductor is constant and has the same value as on its Ans:
surface? [Foreign 𝟐𝟎𝟏𝟐] c
Ans: As electric field at any point is equal to negative of the
c potential gradient i.e.
𝒅𝑽
𝑬=−
𝒅𝒓
But inside a conductor 𝑬 = 𝟎 , So potential gradient i.e.
(𝒅𝑽/𝒅𝒓) = 𝟎 which implies that electric potential i.e. V is
constant.
Hence there is no potential difference between any two points
16. What is the amount of work done in moving a point charge
around a circular arc of radius r at the centre of which
inside or on the surface of conductor. Thus, the value of
another point charge is located? [All India 𝟐𝟎𝟏𝟑𝑪]
electric potential is constant throughout the volume of the
Ans: The work done is moving a charge along any circular path is
conductor.
c zero. So, to move a point charge Q around a circular arc of
11. Can electric field exist tangential to an equipotential surface?
radius 'r' at the centre of which another point charge 'q' is
Give reason. [All India 𝟐𝟎𝟏𝟔]
located, no work has to be done.
Ans: As 𝑾 = 𝑭𝒔𝒄𝒐𝒔𝜽, and as electric field lines gives the direction
c of the electric force. If the electric field lines are tangential, 17. N small conducting liquid droplets each of radius r, are
then 𝜽 = 𝟎°. Thus, work will be done in moving a charge on charged to a potential V each. These Droplets coalesce to form
the surface, whereas on equipotential surface we know that a single large drop without any charge leakage. Find the
work done is zero. potential in the large drop. [Delhi 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟎]
Ans: Let q be the charge on each droplet, then
12. Write two important characteristics of equipotential surfaces.
c 𝟏 𝒒
[All India 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟎] 𝑽=
𝟒𝝅𝜺𝟎 𝒓
Ans: Two important characteristics of equipotential surfaces are:
Volume of big drop = N × Volume of small drop
c ➢ No work is required to be done in moving a charge from 𝟒 𝟒
𝝅𝑹𝟑 = 𝑵 × 𝝅𝒓𝟑 𝑹 → 𝑹𝒂𝒅𝒊𝒖𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝒃𝒊𝒈𝒈𝒆𝒓 𝒅𝒓𝒐𝒑
one point to another point on the equipotential surface. 𝟑 𝟑
➢ Equipotential surface through a point is normal to the 𝑹 = 𝑵𝟏/𝟑 𝒓
electric field at that point. Let 𝑸 = 𝑵𝒒 be the charge on bigger drop
Potential of larger drop
13. Draw the equipotential surfaces due to an electric dipole. 𝟏 𝑸 𝟏 𝑵𝒒
𝑽′ = =
Locate the points where the potential due to the dipole is 𝟒𝝅𝜺𝟎 𝑹 𝟒𝝅𝜺𝟎 𝑵𝟏/𝟑 𝒓

zero. [All India 𝟐𝟎𝟎𝟗𝑪, 𝟐𝟎𝟏𝟏𝑪, 𝟐𝟎𝟏𝟑] 𝑽′ =

𝟏 𝑵𝟐/𝟑 𝒒
Ans: 𝟒𝝅𝜺𝟎 𝒓𝟑
c 𝑽′ = 𝑵𝟐/𝟑 𝑽

18. When a parallel plate capacitor is connected across a dc

battery, explain briefly how the capacitor gets charged.
[All India 𝟐𝟎𝟏𝟗]
Ans: The electric current will flow through the circuit. As the
c charges reach the plate, the insulating gap between the plates
does not allow the charges to move further, hence positive
The axis between the two dipoles, perpendicular to the plane
charges gets deposited on one side of the plate and the
is where the potential due to the dipole is zero.
negative charges get deposited on the other side of the plate.
14. Draw equipotential surfaces due to an isolated point charge
As the voltage begins to develop, the electric charges begin to
(−𝒒) and depict the electric field lines. [Delhi 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟎]
resist the deposition of further charge.
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 ELECTRIC POTENTIAL AND CAPACITANCE
19. Draw equipotential surface: 𝑨𝒔 𝑪 =
𝑨𝜺𝟎
𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑽 = 𝑬𝒅
𝒅
(a) In case of a single point charge and Substituting value in equation (i)
(b) In a constant electric field in 𝒛-direction. 𝟏 𝑨𝜺𝟎
𝑼= × (𝑬𝒅)𝟐
Why is the equipotential surface about a single charge are not 𝟐 𝒅
equidistant? [All India 𝟐𝟎𝟏𝟔] 𝟏
𝑼 = 𝑽 × 𝜺 𝟎 × 𝑬𝟐 … … … … {𝑽𝒐𝒍𝒖𝒎𝒆, 𝑽 = 𝑨𝒅}
𝟐
Ans: (a)
𝑼 𝟏
= 𝜺 × 𝑬𝟐
c 𝑽 𝟐 𝟎
Energy stored per unit volume, 𝒖 = 𝑼/𝑽
𝟏
𝒖= 𝜺 𝑬𝟐
𝟐 𝟎

22. Derive a relation between the potential gradient and electric

field strength. [All India 𝟐𝟎𝟏𝟓]
(b) Ans: Let us consider a positive test charge (𝒒𝟎) displaced through
c a small displacement 𝒅𝐫⃗.
The force on this charge due to electric field is
⃗⃗ = −𝒒𝟎 𝑬
𝑭 ⃗⃗⃗
The work done by electric field during the displacement 𝒅𝒓
⃗⃗
⃗⃗
𝒅𝑾 = 𝑭. 𝒅𝒓 ⃗
⃗⃗
⃗⃗ = −𝒒𝟎 𝑬. 𝒅𝒓
⃗⃗
The equipotential surface about a single charge is not The work done by the test charge 𝒒𝟎
equidistant because V is inversely proportional to r. Also, the 𝒅𝑾 = 𝒒𝟎 𝒅𝑽

equipotential surfaces about a single charge are not Comparing both the equations

equidistant because electric field due to a single charge is not 𝒒𝟎 𝒅𝑽 = −𝒒𝟎 ⃗𝑬 ⃗⃗. 𝒅𝒓
⃗⃗
⃗
⃗⃗ ⃗⃗
constant. 𝒅𝑽 = −𝑬. 𝒅𝒓
𝒅𝑽
⃗𝑬
⃗⃗ = −
20. A parallel plate capacitor is charged to a potential difference, ⃗⃗
𝒅𝒓
𝒅𝑽
V by a DC source. The capacitor is then disconnected from ⃗⃗⃗| = −
|𝑬
|𝒅𝒓⃗⃗|
the source. If the distance between the plates is doubled, state
𝒅𝑽
with reason how the following will change? 𝑬=−
𝒅𝒓
= −(𝒑𝒐𝒕𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒂𝒍 𝒈𝒓𝒂𝒅𝒊𝒆𝒏𝒕)

(a) Electric field between the plates

23. Two closely spaced equipotential surfaces A and B with
(b) Capacitance
potentials 𝑽 and 𝑽 + 𝜹𝑽, (where 𝜹𝑽 is the change in 𝑽), are
(c) Energy stored in the capacitor. [Delhi 𝟐𝟎𝟏𝟎]
kept 𝜹𝒍 distance apart as shown in the figure. Deduce the
Ans: (a) As electric field between two plates depends only on the
relation between the electric field and the potential gradient
c surface charge density and is independent of the
between them. Write the two important conclusions
distance, since there is no change in surface charge
concerning the relation between the electric field and electric
density the electric field remains constant.
potentials. [Delhi 𝟐𝟎𝟏𝟒𝑪]
(b) As capacitance is inversely proportional to the distance
between the plates thus if distance between the plates is
doubled then the capacitance of the capacitor becomes
half.
(c) As voltage supply is disconnected so no further charge
will accumulate so the value of charge becomes constant
As, the energy stored is given by Ans: Consider that a unit +ve charge is moved perpendicularly
𝟏 𝑸𝟐 c from surface B to surface A against the electric field then
𝑼=
𝟐 𝑪 work done
Thus, energy stored is inversely proportional to the
𝑾 = 𝒒𝟎 ∆𝑽
capacitance so energy stored will become double when
𝑾 = 𝒒𝟎 (𝑽𝑩 − 𝑽𝑨 )
distance becomes doubled
𝑾 = 𝒒𝟎 (𝑽 + 𝜹𝑽 − 𝑽)
𝑾 = 𝒒𝟎 𝜹𝑽
Long Answer Type Questions (𝟑 marks) The work done by the electric field during the displacement
21. Obtain the expression for the energy stored per unit volume 𝑾 = 𝑭. 𝒔 = −𝒒𝟎 𝑬. 𝜹𝒓
in a charged parallel plate capacitor. Comparing both the equations
[All India 𝟐𝟎𝟎𝟖, Delhi 𝟐𝟎𝟏𝟒] 𝒒𝟎 𝜹𝑽 = −𝒒𝟎 𝑬. 𝜹𝒓
Ans: The energy stored in a capacitor is given by 𝜹𝑽 = −𝑬. 𝜹𝒓
c 𝟏 𝟐
𝑬=−
𝜹𝑽
𝑼= 𝑪𝑽
𝟐 𝜹𝒓
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ELECTRIC POTENTIAL AND CAPACITANCE
24. (a) Two-point charges +𝑸𝟏 and −𝑸𝟐 are placed r distance 𝑼=𝟎+
𝟏 𝒒𝟏 𝐪𝟐
+
𝟏
[
𝒒𝟏 𝐪𝟑 𝒒𝟐 𝐪𝟑
+ ]
𝟒𝝅𝝐𝟎 𝒓 𝐫𝟏𝟐 𝟒𝝅𝝐𝟎 𝒓 𝐫𝟏𝟑 𝐫𝟐𝟑
apart. Obtain the expression for the amount of work done
𝟏 𝒒𝟏 𝐪𝟐 𝒒𝟏 𝐪𝟑 𝒒𝟐 𝐪𝟑
to place a third charge 𝑸𝟑 at the midpoint of the line 𝑼= [
𝟒𝝅𝝐𝟎 𝐫𝟏𝟐
+
𝐫𝟏𝟑
+
𝐫𝟐𝟑
]
joining the two charges.
26. Deduce the expression for the potential energy of a system of
(b) At what distance from charge on the line joining the two
two-point charges 𝒒𝟏 and 𝒒𝟐 brought from infinity to the
charges will this work done be zero. [Delhi 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟎]
points with positions 𝒓𝟏 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒓𝟐 respectively in presence of
Ans: (a) Consider O to be the point where amount of work done
external electric field E. [Delhi 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟎]
c is to be calculated
Ans: In presence of external electric field
𝒓/2 𝑸𝟑 c
𝑸𝟏 𝑶 −𝑸𝟐

𝒓
Potential at mid-point where 𝑸𝟑 is to be placed
𝒌𝑸𝟏 𝒌𝑸𝟐
𝑽= −
𝒓/𝟐 𝒓/𝟐
𝟐𝒌𝑸𝟏 𝟐𝒌𝑸𝟐
𝑽= −
𝒓 𝒓 Work done in bringing a point charge 𝒒𝟏 from infinity
Work done to bring charge 𝑸𝟑
𝑾𝟏 = 𝒒 𝟏 𝑽
𝑾 = 𝑸𝟑 𝑽
Work done in bringing a point charge 𝒒𝟐 from infinity
𝟐𝒌𝑸𝟏 𝟐𝒌𝑸𝟐
𝑾 = 𝑸𝟑 ( − ) 𝑾𝟐 = 𝒒 𝟐 𝑽
𝒓 𝒓
𝟐𝒌𝑸𝟑 Work done on 𝒒𝟐 against the field due to 𝒒𝟏
𝑾= (𝑸𝟏 − 𝑸𝟐 ) 𝒌𝒒𝟏 𝒒𝟐
𝒓 𝑾𝟑 =
𝒓𝟏𝟐
(b) Let P be the point where the work done will be zero
Potential energy of this system
𝒙
𝑼 = 𝐖𝟏 + 𝐖𝟐 + 𝐖𝟑
𝒌𝒒𝟏 𝒒𝟐
𝑸𝟏 𝑷 −𝑸𝟐 𝑼 = 𝒒𝟏 𝑽 + 𝒒𝟐 𝑽 +
𝒓𝟏𝟐
𝒓
27. Derive an expression for the potential energy of an electric
The work done at point P is zero that means the potential
dipole in a uniform electric field. Explain conditions for stable
difference at P must be zero
and unstable equilibrium. [Delhi 𝟐𝟎𝟏𝟗]
Potential at P due to 𝑸𝟏 = Potential at P due to 𝑸𝟐
Ans: The work done by the external torque to rotate the dipole
𝒌𝑸𝟏 𝒌𝑸𝟐 𝛉𝟐
= c 𝑾 = ∫ 𝛕 𝐝𝛉
𝒙 𝒓−𝒙
𝛉𝟏
𝑸𝟏 𝑸𝟐
= 𝛉𝟐
𝒙 𝒓−𝒙 𝑾 = ∫ 𝒑𝑬𝒔𝒊𝒏𝛉𝐝𝛉
𝑸𝟏 (𝒓 − 𝒙) = 𝑸𝟐 𝒙 𝛉𝟏
𝛉𝟐
𝑸𝟏 𝒓 − 𝑸𝟏 𝒙 = 𝑸𝟐 𝒙 𝑾 = 𝒑𝑬 ∫ 𝒔𝒊𝒏𝛉𝐝𝛉
𝛉𝟏
𝑸𝟐 𝒙 + 𝑸𝟏 𝒙 = 𝑸𝟏 𝒓 𝑾 = 𝒑𝑬 [−𝒄𝒐𝒔𝜽𝟐 − (−𝒄𝒐𝒔𝜽𝟏 )]
(𝑸𝟐 + 𝑸𝟏 )𝒙 = 𝑸𝟏 𝒓 𝑾 = 𝒑𝑬 [𝒄𝒐𝒔𝜽𝟏 − 𝒄𝒐𝒔𝜽𝟐 ]
𝑸𝟏 𝒓 Change in potential energy of electric dipole, when it rotates
𝒙=
(𝑸𝟐 + 𝑸𝟏 )
from 𝛉𝟏 to 𝛉𝟐
25. Find out the expression for the potential energy of a system ∆𝐔 = −𝐖 = −𝐩𝐄 [𝐜𝐨𝐬𝛉𝟏 − 𝐜𝐨𝐬𝛉𝟐 ]

of three charges 𝒒𝟏 , 𝒒𝟐 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒒𝟑 located at 𝒓𝟏 , 𝒓𝟐 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒓𝟑 with Let us assume that the dipole is initially oriented normal to

respect to the common origin O. [Delhi 𝟐𝟎𝟏𝟎𝑪] the direction of electric field and brought to the orientation

Ans: Consider the point charges located as shown in figure. making an angle 𝛉 with the field direction, then work done
in rotating the dipole from 𝛉𝟏 = 𝟗𝟎𝟎 to 𝛉𝟐 = 𝛉
c
𝑼 = 𝑾 = −𝒑𝑬 [𝒄𝒐𝒔𝜽𝟏 − 𝒄𝒐𝒔𝜽𝟐 ]
= −𝒑𝑬 [𝒄𝒐𝒔𝟗𝟎𝟎 − 𝒄𝒐𝒔𝜽]
𝑼 = −𝒑𝑬𝒄𝒐𝒔𝜽
⃗⃗⃗
⃗⃗. 𝑬
𝑼 = −𝒑

28. An infinitely large thin plane sheet has a uniform surface

charge density +𝝈. Obtain the expression for the amount of
𝑼 = 𝐖𝟏 + 𝐖𝟐 + 𝐖𝟑 work done in bringing a point charge q from Infinity to a
Work done in bringing the charge 𝒒𝟏 from infinty to a
point distant r, in front of the charge plane sheet.
particular location where there is no electric potential
[Delhi 𝟐𝟎𝟏𝟕]
present is zero. Ans: The electric field due to a large thin plate sheet is given by
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 ELECTRIC POTENTIAL AND CAPACITANCE
𝝈 𝛔 𝒅 𝒅
𝑬= 𝑽= [ + ]
𝜺𝟎 𝝐𝟎 𝟐 𝟐𝑲
Also, electric field is given by 𝑸𝒅 𝟏 𝑸
∆𝑽 𝑽= [𝟏 + ] … … … … … … {𝝈 = }
𝟐𝑨𝝐𝟎 𝑲 𝑨
𝑬=−
∆𝒓 𝑸𝒅 𝑲 + 𝟏
∆𝑽 = −𝑬. ∆𝒓 𝑽= [ ]
𝟐𝑨𝝐𝟎 𝑲
As charge is brought from infinity to a point r so the ∆𝒓 = ∞ 𝑸𝒅
∆𝑽 = ∞ 𝑽= [𝑲 + 𝟏]
𝟐𝑨𝝐𝟎 𝑲
Now work done in bringing a point charge q Capacitance of this capacitor
𝑾 = 𝒒∆𝑽 𝑸
𝑾=∞ 𝑪=
𝑽
𝐐
29. Derive the expression for the capacitance of a parallel plate 𝐂=
𝑸𝒅
[𝑲 + 𝟏]
capacitor having plate area A and plate separation d. 𝟐𝑨𝝐𝟎 𝑲
𝟐𝑲𝑨𝝐𝟎
[Delhi 𝟐𝟎𝟏𝟒] 𝐂=
𝒅[𝑲 + 𝟏]
Ans: Consider a parallel plate capacitor having surface charge
c density of 𝛔 on each plate. The intensity of the electric field 31. Two identical parallel plate capacitors 𝑪𝟏 and 𝑪𝟐 have
between the plates can be given by capacitance C each. The space between their plates is now
𝝈 filled with dielectrics as shown. If the two capacitors still have
𝑬= … … … … … … … (𝒊)
𝝐𝟎
equal capacitance, obtain the relation between dielectric
Now let the potential difference between the two plates be
constants 𝑲, 𝑲𝟏 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑲𝟐 . [Foreign 𝟐𝟎𝟏𝟏]
V volt.
𝑽 = 𝑬𝒅
Substituting value of E from above equation (i)
𝝈
𝑽= 𝒅
𝝐𝟎
𝑸
𝑺𝒖𝒃𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒕𝒖𝒕𝒆, 𝝈 =
𝑨
𝑸
𝑽= 𝒅
𝑨𝝐𝟎
Capacitance,
Ans: The capacitance of both the capacitors are same 𝑪𝟏 = 𝑪𝟐
𝑸
𝑪= c Capacitance of capacitor filled with dielectric K
𝑽
𝑸 d 𝑲𝑨𝜺𝟎
𝑪= × 𝑨𝝐𝟎 𝑪𝟏 =
𝑸𝒅 𝒅
𝑨𝝐𝟎 Now capacitance of capacitor filled with dielectrics 𝑲𝟏 and
𝑪=
𝒅 𝑲𝟐 . This capacitor will become two capacitors connected in
parallel
30. A slab of material of dielectric constant K has the same area
𝑲𝟏 𝑨𝜺𝟎 𝑲𝟐 𝑨𝜺𝟎
as that of the plates of a parallel plate capacitor but has the 𝑪𝟐 =
𝟐𝒅
+
𝟐𝒅
thickness 𝒅/𝟐, where d is the separation between the plates. 𝑨𝜺𝟎
𝑪𝟐 = (𝑲𝟏 + 𝑲𝟐 )
Find out the expression for its capacitance when the slab is 𝟐𝒅

inserted between the plates of the capacitor. As 𝑪𝟏 = 𝑪𝟐

𝑲𝑨𝜺𝟎 𝑨𝜺𝟎
[All India 𝟐𝟎𝟏𝟑, Delhi 𝟐𝟎𝟏𝟑] = (𝑲𝟏 + 𝑲𝟐 )
𝒅 𝟐𝒅
Ans: Consider a dielectric slab of thickness 𝒕 = 𝒅/𝟐 is introduced 𝑲𝑨𝜺𝟎 𝑨𝜺𝟎
= (𝑲𝟏 + 𝑲𝟐 )
c between the plates. 𝒅 𝟐𝒅
𝑲𝟏 + 𝑲𝟐
𝑲=
𝟐

32. A parallel plate capacitor of capacitance C is charged to a

potential V. It is then connected to another uncharged
capacitor having the same capacitance. Find out the ratio of
the energy stored in the combined system to that stored
initially in the single capacitor. [All India 𝟐𝟎𝟏𝟒, Delhi 𝟐𝟎𝟏𝟗]
Ans: Energy stored in a capacitor is given by
c 𝟏 𝟏 𝑸𝟐 𝟏 𝟐
The effective field inside dielectric is 𝑼=
𝟐
𝑸𝑽 =
𝟐 𝑪
= 𝑪𝑽
𝟐
𝛔
𝑬=
𝝐𝟎 𝑲 Initially energy stored in capacitor

Now let the potential difference between the two plates be 𝑼 = 𝑼𝟏 + 𝑼𝟐

V volt. 𝟏 𝑸𝟐
𝑼= +𝟎
𝑽 = 𝐄𝟎 (𝒅 − 𝒕) + 𝑬𝒕 𝟐 𝑪

𝛔 𝛔 𝒅 𝟏 𝑸𝟐
𝑽= (𝒅 − 𝒅/𝟐) + … … … … … {𝒕 = 𝒅/𝟐} 𝑼=
𝝐𝟎 𝝐𝟎 𝑲 𝟐 𝟐 𝑪

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ELECTRIC POTENTIAL AND CAPACITANCE
When capacitor is connected to uncharged identical capacitor 𝑼′ < 𝑼

the charge remains the same, but the effective capacitance Thus, total energy after the combination is less than that

becomes 𝑪 = 𝑪 + 𝑪 = 𝟐𝑪
′ stored initially in the single capacitor.

Energy stored after the combination 35. If two similar large plates, each of area A having surface
𝟏 𝑸𝟐
𝑼′ = charge densities +𝝈 and −𝝈 are separated by a distance d in
𝟐 𝑪′
′
𝟏 𝑸𝟐 air, find the expressions for
𝑼 =
𝟐 𝟐𝑪 (a) Field at points between the two plates and on the outer
Ratio of the energy stored, side of the plates. Specify the direction of the field in
𝑼′ 𝟏
= each case.
𝑼 𝟐
(b) The potential difference between the plates.
33. You are given an air-filled parallel plate capacitor 𝑪𝟏 . The (c) The capacitance of the capacitor so formed.
space between its plates is now filled with slabs of dielectric
[All India 𝟐𝟎𝟏𝟔]
constants 𝑲𝟏 and 𝑲𝟐 as shown in 𝑪𝟐 . Find the capacitance of
Ans: (a) According to Gauss’s Law
the capacitor 𝑪𝟐 if the area of the plates is A and distance
c Electric field due to a thin plane sheet of charge is given
between the plates is d. [Foreign 𝟐𝟎𝟏𝟏]
by
𝝈
𝑬=
𝟐𝝐𝟎

𝑲𝟏 𝑲𝟐

d
d/2
Ans: Capacitance of capacitor filled with air
𝑨𝜺𝟎
c 𝑪𝟏 =
𝒅 As the thin sheets carry equal charge density +𝝈 and −𝝈
Now capacitance of capacitor filled with dielectrics 𝑲𝟏 and 𝑬𝟏 = 𝑬𝟐
𝑲𝟐 . This capacitor will become two capacitors connected in Net electric field due to two sheets given above in
Series different regions. The directions of the electric fields due
𝟏 𝟏 𝟏
= + to both plates are shown in the figure
𝑪𝟐 𝑪 𝑪′
Net electric field in the outer regions I and III
𝟏 𝒅 𝒅
= + 𝑬 = 𝑬𝟐 − 𝑬𝟏
𝑪𝟐 𝑲𝟏 𝑨𝜺𝟎 𝑲𝟐 𝑨𝜺𝟎
𝑬=𝟎
𝟏 𝒅 𝟏 𝟏
= ( + ) Net electric field in between the plates (Region II)
𝑪𝟐 𝑨𝜺𝟎 𝑲𝟏 𝑲𝟐
𝑬 = 𝑬𝟐 + 𝑬𝟏
𝟏 𝒅 𝑲𝟐 + 𝑲𝟏 𝝈 𝝈
= ( ) 𝑬= +
𝑪𝟐 𝑨𝜺𝟎 𝑲𝟏 𝑲𝟐 𝟐𝝐𝟎 𝟐𝝐𝟎
𝑨𝜺𝟎 𝑲𝟏 𝑲𝟐 𝝈
𝑪𝟐 = ( ) 𝑬= 𝒕𝒐𝒘𝒂𝒓𝒅𝒔 𝒓𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕
𝒅 𝑲𝟐 + 𝑲𝟏 𝝐𝟎
𝑲𝟏 𝑲𝟐 (b) Now let the potential difference between the two plates
𝑪𝟐 = 𝑪𝟏 ( )
𝑲𝟐 + 𝑲𝟏
be V volt.
34. A fully charged parallel plate capacitor is connected across 𝑽 = 𝑬𝒅

an uncharged identical capacitor. Show that the total energy Substituting value of 𝑬 from above equation
𝝈
of combination is less than that stored initially in the single 𝑽= 𝒅
𝝐𝟎
capacitor. [All India 𝟐𝟎𝟏𝟓]
(c) Capacitance of the capacitor thus formed,
Ans: Let the fully charged capacitor C has charge Q, 𝑸
𝑪=
c 𝟏 𝑸𝟐 𝑽
𝑼=
𝟐 𝑪 𝝈𝑨
𝑪= × 𝝐𝟎 … … … … … … … … {𝑸 = 𝝈𝑨}
When capacitor is connected to uncharged identical capacitor 𝝈𝒅
𝑨𝝐𝟎
the charge remains the same, but the effective capacitance 𝑪=
𝒅
becomes 𝑪′ = 𝑪 + 𝑪 = 𝟐𝑪
36. A parallel plate capacitor of capacitance C is charged to V
Energy stored after the combination
𝟏 𝑸𝟐 volt by a battery. After some time the battery is disconnected
𝑼′ =
𝟐 𝑪′ and the distance between the plates is doubled. Now a slab
𝟏 𝑸𝟐 𝟏 𝑸𝟐 of dielectric constant 𝟏 < 𝑲 < 𝟐 is introduced to fill the space
𝑼′ = =
𝟐 𝟐𝑪 𝟒 𝑪 between the plates. How will the following be affected?
𝟏
𝑼′ = 𝑼 (a) the electric field between the plates of the capacitor
𝟐
Page | 6
 ELECTRIC POTENTIAL AND CAPACITANCE
(b) the energy stored in the capacitor (b) Potential energy to associate the charges,
Justify your answer in each case. [All India 𝟐𝟎𝟏𝟗] 𝑼 = 𝑼𝑨𝑩 + 𝑼𝑩𝑪 + 𝑼𝑪𝑨
Sol: (a) The electric field between the plates is given by 𝒌(𝒒)(−𝟒𝒒) 𝒌(−𝟒𝒒)(𝟐𝒒) 𝒌(𝟐𝒒)(𝒒)
𝑼= + +
𝝈 𝒍 𝒍 𝒍
c 𝑬=
𝜺𝟎 𝟐𝒌𝒒𝟐
Electric field has no effect when distance between the 𝑼= + [−𝟐 − 𝟒 + 𝟏]
𝒍
plates is doubled but when a dielectric constant is 𝟐𝒌𝒒𝟐
𝑼= + [−𝟓]
introduced 𝒍
𝝈 𝟏𝟎𝒌𝒒𝟐
𝑬′ = 𝑼=−
𝑲𝜺𝟎 𝒍
Thus, electric field becomes 𝟏/𝑲 times the initial electric Work done to separate the charges = -(P.E. required to
field associate the charges)
(b) The energy stored in the capacitor is given by 𝟏𝟎𝒌𝒒𝟐
𝑾=
𝟏 𝑸𝟐 𝒍
𝑼=
𝟐 𝑪
38. A cube of side 𝟐𝟎 𝒄𝒎 is kept in a region
As battery is disconnected the charge will remains same.
as shown in the figure. An electric field
When the distance between the plates is doubled the ⃗⃗ exists in the region such that the
⃗𝑬
capacitance becomes half and when a dielectric is
potential at a point is given by 𝑽 =
introduced in between it its capacitance gets increased
𝟏𝟎𝒙 + 𝟓 where V is volt and 𝒙 is in m.
𝑺
by K times, New capacitance becomes 𝑪′ = 𝑲𝑪/𝟐
Find the
𝟏 𝑸𝟐 𝟏 𝑸𝟐
𝑼′ = = (a) electric field E and
𝟐 𝑪′ 𝟐 𝑲𝑪/𝟐
(b) total electric flux through the cube [Delhi 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟎]
𝟏 𝟐𝑸𝟐
𝑼′ = Sol: Given,
𝟐 𝑲𝑪
Thus energy stored will becomes 𝟐/𝑲 times the original c Potential, 𝑽 = 𝟏𝟎𝒙 + 𝟓
energy stored. Side of square, 𝒂 = 𝟐𝟎 𝒄𝒎
(a) Electric field,
Numericals 𝑬=−
𝒅𝑽
=−
𝒅
(𝟏𝟎𝒙 + 𝟓)
𝒅𝒙 𝒅𝒙
37. (a) Three-point charges 𝒒, −𝟒𝒒 and 𝟐𝒒 are placed at the
𝑬 = −𝟏𝟎 𝑵𝑪−𝟏
vertices of an equilateral triangle ABC of side 𝒍 as shown This electric field will act along 𝒙-axis
in the fig. Obtain the expression for the magnitude (b) As electric field acts along 𝒙-direction only so there will
of resultant electric force acting be flux from the left surface and right surface only. As
on the charge q. electric field is constant so the flux from left face and
(b) Also find out the amount of the right face will be same, but each flux is opposite to one
work done to separate the charges another, so the total flux will be zero.
at infinite distance, if 𝒍 = 𝟏𝟎 𝒄𝒎 𝝓 = 𝝓𝑳 + 𝝓𝑳 = 𝟎
and 𝒒 = 𝟏. 𝟔 × 𝟏𝟎−𝟏𝟎 𝑪. [Delhi 𝟐𝟎𝟏𝟖]
39. The magnitude of electric field in a region varies with the
Sol: Given, 𝑭𝑨𝑪 distance r (in m) as 𝑬 = 𝟏𝟎𝒓 + 𝟓, By how much does the
c 𝒒𝑨 = 𝒒, 𝒒𝑩 = −𝟒𝒒 𝒒𝑪 = 𝟐𝒒
𝟏𝟐𝟎° electric potential increase in moving from point at 𝒓 = 𝟏𝒎 to
(a) Force on A due to B and C a point at 𝒓 = 𝟏𝟎𝒎. [Delhi 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟎]
𝑭𝑨𝑩
𝒌(𝒒)(𝟒𝒒) 𝟒𝒌𝒒𝟐 Sol: Given,
𝑭𝑨𝑩 = = 𝟐
𝒍𝟐 𝒍
c Electric Field, 𝑬 = 𝟏𝟎𝒓 + 𝟓
𝒌(𝒒)(𝟐𝒒) 𝟐𝒌𝒒𝟐 𝒓𝟏 = 𝟏 𝒎 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒓𝟐 = 𝟏𝟎 𝒎
𝑭𝑨𝑪 = = 𝟐
𝒍𝟐 𝒍 𝒓𝟐

𝑭𝑨𝑩 = 𝟐𝑭𝑨𝑪 𝑽 = − ∫ 𝑬. 𝒅𝒓
𝒓𝟏

Magnitude of the resultant force is given by

𝟏𝟎
𝑽 = − ∫ (𝟏𝟎𝒓 + 𝟓). 𝒅𝒓
𝟏
𝑭= √𝑭𝟐𝑨𝑩 + 𝑭𝟐𝑨𝑪 + 𝟐𝑭𝑨𝑩 𝑭𝑨𝑪 𝒄𝒐𝒔𝟏𝟐𝟎° 𝟏𝟎 𝟏𝟎
𝑽 = − ∫ 𝟏𝟎𝒓. 𝒅𝒓 − ∫ 𝟓. 𝒅𝒓
𝟏 𝟏
𝟏 𝟏𝟎
𝑭 = √𝟒𝑭𝟐𝑨𝑪 + 𝑭𝟐𝑨𝑪 + 𝟐 × 𝟐𝑭𝑨𝑪 𝑭𝑨𝑪 × (− ) 𝟏𝟎𝒓𝟐
𝟐 𝑽 = −| | − |𝟓𝒓|𝟏𝟎
𝟏
𝟐 𝟏
𝟏𝟎(𝟏𝟎)𝟐 𝟏𝟎(𝟏)𝟐
𝑭 = √𝟒𝑭𝟐𝑨𝑪 + 𝑭𝟐𝑨𝑪 − 𝟐𝑭𝟐𝑨𝑪 = √𝟑𝑭𝟐𝑨𝑪 𝑽 = −[ − ] − [𝟓(𝟏𝟎) − 𝟓(𝟏)]
𝟐 𝟐
𝑭 = √𝟑𝑭𝑨𝑪 𝟏𝟎𝟎𝟎 𝟏𝟎
𝑽 = −[ − ] − [𝟓𝟎 − 𝟓]
𝟐𝒌𝒒𝟐 𝟐 𝟐
𝑭 = √𝟑 × 𝟐
𝒍 𝑽 = −[𝟓𝟎𝟎 − 𝟓] − [𝟓𝟎 − 𝟓]
𝟐
𝟐√𝟑𝒌𝒒 𝑽 = −𝟒𝟗𝟓 − 𝟒𝟓
𝑭=
𝒍𝟐 𝑽 = −𝟓𝟒𝟎 𝑽
Page | 7
ELECTRIC POTENTIAL AND CAPACITANCE
40. Calculate the potential at a point 𝟗 𝒄𝒎 away from a charge 43. A dipole is present in an electrostatic field of magnitude
𝟒 × 𝟏𝟎 −𝟕
𝑪. Hence obtain the work done in bringing a charge 𝟏𝟎𝟔 𝑵/𝑪. If the work done in rotating it, from its position of
of 𝟐 × 𝟏𝟎 𝑪 from infinity to that point.
−𝟗
[All India 𝟐𝟎𝟏𝟐] stable equilibrium to its position of unstable equilibrium, is
Sol: Given, 𝟐 × 𝟏𝟎−𝟐𝟑 𝑱, Find the magnitude of the dipole moment of this
c 𝒒 = 𝟒 × 𝟏𝟎−𝟕 𝑪 dipole. [All India 𝟐𝟎𝟏𝟎𝑪]
𝒒𝟎 = 𝟐 × 𝟏𝟎−𝟗 𝑪
Sol: Given,
𝒓 = 𝟗 𝒄𝒎
c Electric Field, 𝑬 = 𝟏𝟎𝟔 𝑵/𝑪
Electric potential,
𝒌𝒒 Work Done, 𝑾 = 𝟐 × 𝟏𝟎−𝟐𝟑 𝑱
𝑽=
𝒓 In stable equilibrium 𝜽𝟏 = 𝟎° C
𝟗 × 𝟏𝟎𝟗 × 𝟒 × 𝟏𝟎−𝟕 In Unstable equilibrium 𝜽𝟐 = 𝟏𝟖𝟎°
𝑽=
𝟗 × 𝟏𝟎−𝟐
As work done in rotating a dipole is
𝑽 = 𝟒 × 𝟏𝟎𝟒 𝑽
𝑾 = 𝒑𝑬 [𝒄𝒐𝒔𝜽𝟏 − 𝒄𝒐𝒔𝜽𝟐 ]
Work done in bringing a charge of 𝟐 × 𝟏𝟎−𝟗 C
𝑾 = 𝒑 × 𝟏𝟎𝟔 × [𝒄𝒐𝒔 𝟎° − 𝒄𝒐𝒔 𝟏𝟖𝟎°]
𝑾 = 𝒒𝟎 𝑽 = 𝟐 × 𝟏𝟎−𝟗 × 𝟒 × 𝟏𝟎𝟒
𝟐 × 𝟏𝟎−𝟐𝟑 = 𝒑 × 𝟏𝟎𝟔 × [𝟏 − (−𝟏)]
𝑾 = 𝟖 × 𝟏𝟎−𝟓 𝑱
𝟐 × 𝟏𝟎−𝟐𝟑 = 𝒑 × 𝟏𝟎𝟔 × [𝟏 + 𝟏]
41. Calculate the work done to dissociate the 𝟐 × 𝟏𝟎−𝟐𝟑 = 𝒑 × 𝟏𝟎𝟔 × 𝟐
system of three charges placed on the 𝟐 × 𝟏𝟎−𝟐𝟑
𝒑=
vertices of a triangle as shown. 𝟐 × 𝟏𝟎𝟔

Here, 𝒒 = 𝟏. 𝟔 × 𝟏𝟎−𝟏𝟎 𝑪 [Delhi 𝟐𝟎𝟏𝟑𝑪] 𝒑 = 𝟏𝟎−𝟐𝟗 𝑪𝒎

Sol: Given, 44. Calculate the amount of work done in turning an electric
c 𝒒 = 𝟏. 𝟔 × 𝟏𝟎−𝟏𝟎 𝑪 dipole of dipole moment 𝟑 × 𝟏𝟎−𝟖 𝑪-m from its position of
(a) Potential energy to associate the charges,
unstable equilibrium to the position of stable equilibrium, in a
𝑼 = 𝑼𝑨𝑩 + 𝑼𝑩𝑪 + 𝑼𝑪𝑨
uniform electric field of intensity 𝟏𝟎𝟑 𝑵/𝑪. [Foreign 𝟐𝟎𝟏𝟑]
𝒌(𝒒)(−𝟒𝒒) 𝒌(−𝟒𝒒)(𝟐𝒒) 𝒌(𝟐𝒒)(𝒒)
𝑼= + + Sol: Given,
𝒍 𝒍 𝒍
c Electric Field, 𝑬 = 𝟏𝟎𝟑 𝑵/𝑪
𝟐𝒌𝒒𝟐
𝑼= + [−𝟐 − 𝟒 + 𝟏] Dipole Moment, 𝒑 = 𝟑 × 𝟏𝟎−𝟖 𝑪-m
𝒍
𝟐𝒌𝒒𝟐
In Unstable equilibrium 𝜽𝟏 = 𝟏𝟖𝟎°
𝑼= + [−𝟓]
𝒍 In Stable equilibrium 𝜽𝟐 = 𝟎°
𝟏𝟎𝒌𝒒𝟐
𝑼=− As work done in rotating a dipole is
𝒍
𝑾 = 𝒑𝑬 [𝒄𝒐𝒔𝜽𝟏 − 𝒄𝒐𝒔𝜽𝟐 ]
Work done to dissociate the charges = -(P.E. required to
𝑾 = 𝟑 × 𝟏𝟎−𝟖 × 𝟏𝟎𝟑 × [𝒄𝒐𝒔 𝟏𝟖𝟎° − 𝒄𝒐𝒔 𝟎°]
associate the charges)
𝟏𝟎𝒌𝒒𝟐 𝟏𝟎 × 𝟗 × 𝟏𝟎𝟗 × (𝟏. 𝟔 × 𝟏𝟎−𝟏𝟎 )𝟐 𝑾 = 𝟑 × 𝟏𝟎−𝟓 × [−𝟏 − 𝟏]
𝑾= =
𝒍 𝟏𝟎 × 𝟏𝟎−𝟐 𝑾 = 𝟑 × 𝟏𝟎−𝟓 × [−𝟐]
𝟏𝟎 × 𝟗 × 𝟏𝟎𝟗 × 𝟐. 𝟓𝟔 × 𝟏𝟎−𝟐𝟎 𝑾 = −𝟔 × 𝟏𝟎−𝟓 𝑱
𝑾=
𝟏𝟎 × 𝟏𝟎−𝟐
𝑾 = 𝟐𝟑. 𝟎𝟒 × 𝟏𝟎−𝟗 45. In a parallel plate capacitor with air between the plates, each
𝑾 = 𝟐. 𝟑𝟎𝟒 × 𝟏𝟎 −𝟖
𝑱 plate has an area of 𝟔 × 𝟏𝟎−𝟑 𝒎𝟐 and the separation between
the plates is 𝟑 𝒎𝒎
42. An electric dipole of length 𝟐 𝒄𝒎 when placed with its axis
a) Calculate the capacitance of the capacitor.
making an angle of 𝟔𝟎° with a uniform electric field,
b) If this capacitor is connected to 𝟏𝟎𝟎 V supply, what would
experiences a torque of 𝟖√𝟑 𝑵-m. Calculate the potential
be the charge on each plate?
energy of the dipole if it has a charge of ±𝟒𝒏𝑪.
c) How would charge on the plates be affected if a 𝟑 𝒎𝒎
Sol: Given,
thick mica sheet of 𝑲 = 𝟔 is inserted between the plates
c Length of dipole = 𝟐 𝒄𝒎
while the voltage supply remains connected?
Torque experienced, 𝝉 = 𝟖√𝟑 𝑵𝒎
[Foreign 𝟐𝟎𝟏𝟒]
Charge on dipole, 𝒒 = 𝟒𝒏𝑪 = 𝟒 × 𝟏𝟎−𝟗 C
Sol: Given,
Angle of dipole with electric field, 𝜽 = 𝟔𝟎°
c Area of plates, A = 𝟔 × 𝟏𝟎−𝟑 𝒎𝟐
As 𝝉 = 𝒑𝑬 𝒔𝒊𝒏𝜽
Distance between the plates, d = 𝟑 𝒎𝒎 = 𝟑 × 𝟏𝟎−𝟑 𝒎
𝝉 𝟖√𝟑 𝟖√𝟑
𝒑𝑬 = = =
𝒔𝒊𝒏𝜽 𝒔𝒊𝒏 𝟔𝟎° √𝟑/𝟐
= 𝟏𝟔 (a) Capacitance of the capacitor
𝑨𝝐𝟎 𝟔 × 𝟏𝟎−𝟑 × 𝟖. 𝟖𝟓𝟒 × 𝟏𝟎−𝟏𝟐
Now potential energy of the dipole is 𝑪= =
𝒅 𝟑 × 𝟏𝟎−𝟑
𝑼 = −𝒑𝑬 𝒄𝒐𝒔𝜽
𝑪 = 𝟏𝟕. 𝟕 × 𝟏𝟎−𝟏𝟐 𝑭
𝑼 = −𝟏𝟔 × 𝒄𝒐𝒔 𝟔𝟎°
𝑪 = 𝟏𝟕. 𝟕 𝐩𝐅
𝟏
𝑼 = −𝟏𝟔 ×
𝟐 (b) If this capacitor is connected to 𝟏𝟎𝟎 𝑽 supply, then
𝑼 = −𝟖 𝑱 charge on each plate is given by
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 ELECTRIC POTENTIAL AND CAPACITANCE
𝑸 = 𝑪𝑽 = 𝟏𝟕. 𝟕 × 𝟏𝟎−𝟏𝟐 × 𝟏𝟎𝟎 [Delhi 𝟐𝟎𝟎𝟗]
𝑸 = 𝟏𝟕. 𝟕 × 𝟏𝟎−𝟏𝟎
𝑸 = 𝟏. 𝟕𝟕 × 𝟏𝟎−𝟗 𝑪

(c) If a 𝟑 𝒎𝒎 thick sheet of dielectric constant 𝟔 is

introduced between the plates
Charge between the plates, (a) Charge on each capacitor.
𝑸 𝟏. 𝟕𝟕 × 𝟏𝟎−𝟗 (b) Equivalent capacitance of the network
𝑸′ = =
𝑲 𝟔
(c) Energy stored in the network of capacitors.
𝑸′ = 𝟎. 𝟐𝟗𝟓 × 𝟏𝟎−𝟗 𝑪
Sol: Given,
46. Two parallel plate capacitor, X and Y have the same area of c 𝑪𝟏 = 𝑪𝟐 = 𝑪𝟑 = 𝟔𝝁𝑭
plates and same separation between them. X has air between 𝑽 = 𝟏𝟐 𝑽
the plates while Y contains a dielectric medium of 𝝐𝒓 = 𝟒. (a) Capacitor 𝑪𝟏 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑪𝟐 are in series, so their equivalent
capacitance is
𝑪𝟏 × 𝑪𝟐 𝟔 × 𝟔
𝑪𝟏𝟐 = =
𝑪𝟏 + 𝑪𝟐 𝟔 + 𝟔
𝟑𝟔
𝑪𝟏𝟐 =
𝟏𝟐
𝑪𝟏𝟐 = 𝟑 𝝁𝑭
(a) Calculate capacitance of each capacitor if equivalent Charge on capacitor 𝑪𝟏 and 𝑪𝟐 are same as they are in
capacitance of the combination is 𝟒𝝁𝑭. series
(b) Calculate the potential difference between the plates of 𝑸𝟏 = 𝑸𝟐 = 𝑪𝟏𝟐 𝑽 = 𝟑 × 𝟏𝟐 = 𝟑𝟔 𝝁𝑪
X and Y. Charge on capacitor 𝑪𝟑 is
(c) What is the ratio of electrostatic energy stored in X and 𝑸𝟑 = 𝑪𝟑 𝑽 = 𝟔 × 𝟏𝟐 = 𝟕𝟐 𝝁𝑪
Y? [Delhi 𝟐𝟎𝟎𝟗, 𝟐𝟎𝟏𝟔] (b) Capacitor 𝑪𝟏𝟐 and 𝑪𝟑 are in parallel. So equivalent
Sol: Given, capacitance of combination is

c Equivalent capacitance of the capacitor, C = 𝟒𝝁𝑭 𝑪 = 𝑪𝟏𝟐 + 𝑪𝟑 = 𝟑 + 𝟔 = 𝟗𝝁𝑭

(a) Let the capacitance of the capacitor X and Y are (c) Energy stored in the network
𝑪𝑿 = 𝒙 𝟏 𝟏
𝑼 = 𝑪𝑽𝟐 = (𝟗 × 𝟏𝟎−𝟔 ) × (𝟏𝟐)𝟐
𝟐 𝟐
𝑪𝒀 = 𝟒𝒙 (𝝐𝒓 = 𝟒)
𝟏
As capacitance s are in series 𝑼 = × (𝟗 × 𝟏𝟎−𝟔 ) × 𝟏𝟒𝟒
𝟐
𝟏 𝟏 𝟏
= + 𝑼 = 𝟔𝟒𝟖 × 𝟏𝟎−𝟔
𝑪 𝑪𝑿 𝑪𝒀
𝑼 = 𝟔. 𝟒𝟖 × 𝟏𝟎−𝟒 𝑱
𝟏 𝟏 𝟏
= +
𝟒 𝒙 𝟒𝒙 48. Find the Equivalent capacitance between A and B in the
𝟏 𝟒+𝟏 𝟓 combination given below each capacitor is of 𝟐 𝝁𝑭
= =
𝟒 𝟒𝒙 𝟒𝒙
capacitance.
𝟏 𝟓
=
𝟒 𝟒𝒙
𝒙 = 𝟓 𝝁𝑭

Capacitance of capacitor X is 𝟓 𝝁𝑭 if a dc source of 𝟕 𝑽 is connected across AB, how much charge

Capacitance of capacitor Y is 𝟒 × 𝟓 = 𝟐𝟎 𝝁𝑭 is drawn from the source and what is the energy stored in
(b) The combination is connected to a 𝟏𝟐 𝑽 battery the network? [Delhi 𝟐𝟎𝟏𝟕]
Total charge stored, Q = 𝑪𝑽 = 𝟒 × 𝟏𝟐 = 𝟒𝟖 𝝁𝑪 Sol: Given,
𝑸 𝟒𝟖 c 𝑪𝟏 = 𝑪𝟐 = 𝑪𝟑 = 𝑪𝟒 = 𝑪𝟓 = 𝟐 𝝁𝑭
𝑷𝒐𝒕𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒂𝒍 𝒂𝒄𝒓𝒐𝒔𝒔 𝑿, 𝑽𝒙 = = = 𝟗. 𝟔 𝑽
𝑪𝒙 𝟓 Potential across AB = 𝟕𝑽
𝑸 𝟒𝟖 Capacitors 𝑪𝟐 , 𝑪𝟑 and 𝑪𝟒 are in parallel, equivalent
𝑷𝒐𝒕𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒂𝒍 𝒂𝒄𝒓𝒐𝒔𝒔 𝒀, 𝑽𝒚 = = = 𝟐. 𝟒 𝑽
𝑪𝒚 𝟐𝟎
capacitance of these capacitors are
(c) Ratio of energy stored in X and Y 𝑪 = 𝑪𝟐 + 𝑪𝟑 + 𝑪𝟒
𝑸𝟐 𝑪 = 𝟐 + 𝟐 + 𝟐 = 𝟔 𝝁𝑭
𝑼𝒙 𝟐𝑪𝒙 𝑪𝒚 𝟐𝟎
= 𝟐 = = Now the capacitors 𝑪𝟏 , 𝑪𝟓 and 𝑪 are in series
𝑼𝒀 𝑸 𝑪𝒙 𝟓 𝟏 𝟏 𝟏 𝟏
𝟐𝑪𝒚 = + +
𝑪𝒆𝒒 𝑪𝟏 𝑪𝟓 𝑪
𝑼𝒙 𝟒
= 𝟏 𝟏 𝟏 𝟏
𝑼𝒀 𝟏 = + +
𝑪𝒆𝒒 𝟐 𝟐 𝟔
𝑼𝒙 : 𝑼𝒚 = 𝟒: 𝟏
𝟏 𝟑+𝟑+𝟏 𝟕
= =
47. Three identical capacitors 𝑪𝟏 , 𝑪𝟐 and 𝑪𝟑 of capacitance 𝟔𝝁𝑭 𝑪𝒆𝒒 𝟔 𝟔
𝟔
each are connected to a 𝟏𝟐 𝑽 battery as shown. Find 𝑪𝒆𝒒 = 𝝁𝑭
𝟕

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ELECTRIC POTENTIAL AND CAPACITANCE
49. In the figure given below, find the difference between the final energy stored in the combined
system and the initial energy stored in the single capacitor.
[All India 𝟐𝟎𝟏𝟎, Foreign 𝟐𝟎𝟏𝟐]
Sol: When a capacitor of 𝟐𝟎𝟎 𝒑𝑭 is connected to a 𝟑𝟎𝟎 𝑽 battery,
c the charge stored in it will be
𝑸 = 𝑪𝑽 = 𝟐𝟎𝟎 × 𝟏𝟎−𝟏𝟐 × 𝟑𝟎𝟎
𝑸 = 𝟔 × 𝟏𝟎−𝟖
Initially, Energy stored in the capacitor
(a) Equivalent capacitance of the network between points A
𝟏 𝟏
and B. Given 𝑪𝟏 = 𝑪𝟓 = 𝟒 𝝁𝑭, 𝑪𝟐 = 𝑪𝟑 = 𝑪𝟒 = 𝟐 𝝁𝑭 𝑼𝒊 = 𝑪𝑽𝟐 = (𝟐𝟎𝟎 × 𝟏𝟎−𝟏𝟐 ) × (𝟑𝟎𝟎)𝟐
𝟐 𝟐
(b) Maximum charge supplied by the battery, and 𝑼𝒊 = 𝟏𝟎𝟎 × 𝟏𝟎−𝟏𝟐 × 𝟗𝟎𝟎𝟎𝟎
(c) Total energy stored in the network. [Delhi 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟎] 𝑼𝒊 = 𝟗 × 𝟏𝟎−𝟔 𝑱
Sol: Given, Now this capacitor is connected to another uncharged

c 𝑪𝟏 = 𝑪𝟓 = 𝟒 𝝁𝑭, 𝑪𝟐 = 𝑪𝟑 = 𝑪𝟒 = 𝟐 𝝁𝑭 capacitor of 𝟏𝟎𝟎 𝒑𝑭

(a) Capacitors 𝑪𝟏 , 𝑪𝟐 and 𝑪𝟒 , 𝑪𝟓 are short circuited. So 𝑪𝒐𝒎𝒎𝒐𝒏 𝒑𝒐𝒕𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒂𝒍, 𝑽 =
𝑻𝒐𝒕𝒂𝒍 𝑪𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒈𝒆
𝑻𝒐𝒕𝒂𝒍 𝑪𝒂𝒑𝒂𝒄𝒊𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆
equivalent capacitance of the capacitor is only 𝑪𝟑 .
𝑪 = 𝑪𝟑 = 𝟐 𝝁𝑭 𝟔 × 𝟏𝟎−𝟖
𝑽=
(b) Maximum charge supplied by the battery (𝟐𝟎𝟎 + 𝟏𝟎𝟎) × 𝟏𝟎−𝟏𝟐
𝑸 = 𝑪𝑽 = 𝟐 × 𝟓 = 𝟏𝟎 𝝁𝑪 𝟔 × 𝟏𝟎−𝟖
𝑽= = 𝟐𝟎𝟎 𝑽
(c) Total energy stored in the network 𝟑 × 𝟏𝟎−𝟏𝟎
𝟏 𝟐 𝟏 Finally energy stored in the capacitor
𝑼= 𝑪𝑽 = (𝟐 × 𝟏𝟎−𝟔 ) × (𝟓)𝟐 𝟏 𝟏
𝟐 𝟐 𝑼𝒇 = 𝑪𝑽𝟐 = (𝟑𝟎𝟎 × 𝟏𝟎−𝟏𝟐 ) × (𝟐𝟎𝟎)𝟐
𝟐 𝟐
𝑼 = 𝟐𝟓 × 𝟏𝟎−𝟔
𝑼 = 𝟐. 𝟓 × 𝟏𝟎−𝟓 𝑱 𝑼𝒇 = 𝟏𝟓𝟎 × 𝟏𝟎−𝟏𝟐 × 𝟒𝟎𝟎𝟎𝟎
𝑼𝒇 = 𝟔 × 𝟏𝟎−𝟔 𝑱
50. The equivalent capacitance of the combination of two
Difference between initial energy and final energy,
capacitors between A and B in the given figure is 𝟒𝝁𝑭.
∆𝑼 = 𝑼𝒇 − 𝑼𝒊 = 𝟗 × 𝟏𝟎−𝟔 − 𝟔 × 𝟏𝟎−𝟔
∆𝑼 = 𝟑 × 𝟏𝟎−𝟔 𝑱

(a) Calculate capacitance of the capacitor C. 52. Four capacitors of values 𝟔𝝁𝑭, 𝟔𝝁𝑭, 𝟔𝝁𝑭 and 𝟐𝝁𝑭 are
(b) Calculate charge on each capacitor if a 𝟏𝟐 𝑽 battery is connected to a 𝟔 𝑽 battery as shown in the figure. Determine.

connected across terminals A and B.

(c) What will be the potential drop across each capacitor?
[Delhi 𝟐𝟎𝟎𝟗𝑪]
Sol: Given,
c Equivalent capacitance, 𝑪𝒆𝒒 = 𝟒 𝝁𝑭
𝑪𝟏 = 𝟐𝟎 𝝁𝑭
𝑪𝟐 = 𝑪 𝝁𝑭
Potential across AB = 𝟏𝟐 𝑽 (a) Equivalent capacitance of the network.

(a) In series combination (b) The charge on each capacitor. [Delhi 𝟐𝟎𝟏𝟎𝑪]
𝟏
=
𝟏
+
𝟏 Sol: Given,
𝑪𝒆𝒒 𝑪𝟏 𝑪𝟐
c Capacitors 𝟔𝝁𝑭, 𝟔𝝁𝑭, 𝟔𝝁𝑭 and 𝟐𝝁𝑭
𝟏 𝟏 𝟏
= + (a) The three 𝟔𝝁𝑭 capacitors are connected in series, so
𝑪𝒆𝒒 𝟐𝟎 𝑪
equivalent capacitance of these three capacitors
𝟏 𝟏 𝟏 𝟏 𝟏 𝟏 𝟏 𝟑
− = = + + =
𝟒 𝟐𝟎 𝑪 𝑪 𝟔 𝟔 𝟔 𝟔
𝟏 𝟓−𝟏 𝟒 𝟏 𝟑 𝟏
= = = =
𝑪 𝟐𝟎 𝟐𝟎 𝑪 𝟔 𝟐
𝑪 = 𝟓 𝝁𝑭 𝑪 = 𝟐 𝝁𝑭
(b) In series combination charge remains same
Now this capacitance C and 𝟐𝝁𝑭 are connected in
𝑸 = 𝑪𝒆𝒒 𝑽 = 𝟒 × 𝟏𝟐 = 𝟒𝟖 𝝁𝑪
parallel, so equivalent capacitance of the capacitance is
(c) Potential drop across each capacitor
𝑪𝒆𝒒 = 𝑪 + 𝟐 = 𝟐 + 𝟐 = 𝟒 𝝁𝑭
𝑸 𝟒𝟖
𝑷𝒐𝒕𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒂𝒍 𝒂𝒄𝒓𝒐𝒔𝒔 𝑪𝟏 , 𝑽𝟏 = =
𝑪𝟏 𝟐𝟎
= 𝟐. 𝟒 𝑽 (b) Charge on each capacitor

𝑸 𝟒𝟖 The potential across 𝑪𝒆𝒒 and C will be same as they both

𝑷𝒐𝒕𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒂𝒍 𝒂𝒄𝒓𝒐𝒔𝒔 𝑪𝟐 , 𝑽𝟐 = = = 𝟗. 𝟔 𝑽
𝑪𝟐 𝟓 are in parallel. As all the three 𝟔𝝁𝑭 capacitors are
connected in series, so they all have some charge
51. A capacitor of 𝟐𝟎𝟎 𝒑𝑭 is charged by a 𝟑𝟎𝟎 𝑽 battery. The
𝑸 = 𝑪𝒆𝒒 𝑽 = 𝟒 × 𝟔 = 𝟐𝟒 𝝁𝑪
battery is then disconnected, and the charge capacitor is
The charge on 𝟐𝝁𝑭
connected to another uncharged capacitor of 𝟏𝟎𝟎 𝒑𝑭. Find the 𝑸′ = 𝑪′𝑽 = 𝟐 × 𝟔 = 𝟏𝟐 𝝁𝑪

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 ELECTRIC POTENTIAL AND CAPACITANCE
53. Find the equivalent capacitance of the network shown in the 𝑸 = 𝑪𝑽 = 𝟑𝟔𝟎 𝝁𝑪 …………..(i)
figure, when each capacitor is of 𝟏 𝝁𝑭. When the ends X and When voltage is reduced by 𝟏𝟐𝟎 𝑽
Y are connected to a 𝟔 𝑽 battery, find out (i) the charge and 𝑸′ = 𝑪(𝑽 − 𝟏𝟐𝟎) = 𝟏𝟐𝟎 𝝁𝑪 …………..(ii)
(ii) the energy stored in the network. 𝑸′ = 𝑪𝑽 − 𝟏𝟐𝟎𝑪 = 𝟏𝟐𝟎
= 𝟑𝟔𝟎 − 𝟏𝟐𝟎𝑪 = 𝟏𝟐𝟎
= 𝟑𝟔𝟎 − 𝟏𝟐𝟎 = 𝟏𝟐𝟎 𝑪
𝟐𝟒𝟎
𝑪= = 𝟐 𝝁𝑭
𝟏𝟐𝟎
From equation (i)
𝑪𝑽 = 𝟑𝟔𝟎
[All India 𝟐𝟎𝟏𝟓]
𝟐 × 𝑽 = 𝟑𝟔𝟎
Sol: Given, 𝑽 = 𝟏𝟖𝟎 𝑽
c Capacitance of all capacitors 𝑪 = 𝟏 𝝁𝑭 (b) If voltage is increased by 𝟏𝟐𝟎 𝑽
Potential difference across XY, 𝑽 = 𝟔𝑽 𝑸′′ = 𝑪(𝑽 + 𝟏𝟐𝟎)
𝑸′′ = 𝟐(𝟏𝟖𝟎 + 𝟏𝟐𝟎)
(a) The given circuit can be rearranged as shown below
𝑸′′ = 𝟐(𝟑𝟎𝟎)
𝑸′′ = 𝟔𝟎𝟎 𝝁𝑪

55. A 𝟏𝟐 𝒑𝑭 capacitor is connected to a 𝟓𝟎 𝑽 battery. How much

electrostatic energy is stored in the capacitor? If another
capacitor of 𝟔 𝒑𝑭 is connected in series with it with the same
battery connected across the combination. Find the charge
This form is known as Wheatstone bridge. As the bridge stored and the potential difference across each capacitor.
is balanced, so capacitor between points A and B can be [Delhi 𝟐𝟎𝟏𝟕]
removed. Sol: Given,
Equivalent capacitance of the capacitor c Capacitance of the capacitor, 𝑪𝟏 = 𝟏𝟐 𝒑𝑭
Energy stored in this capacitor
𝟏 𝟏
𝑼 = 𝑪𝑽𝟐 = × 𝟏𝟐 × 𝟏𝟎−𝟏𝟐 × (𝟓𝟎)𝟐
𝟐 𝟐
𝑼 = 𝟔 × 𝟏𝟎−𝟏𝟐 × 𝟐𝟓𝟎𝟎
𝑼 = 𝟏. 𝟓 × 𝟏𝟎−𝟖 𝑱
If another capacitor of 𝑪𝟐 = 𝟔 𝒑𝑭 is connected in series, then
equivalent capacitance
The two capacitors on left side and the two capacitors 𝑪𝒆𝒒 =
𝑪𝟏 × 𝑪𝟐 𝟏𝟐 × 𝟔
=
𝑪𝟏 + 𝑪𝟐 𝟏𝟐 + 𝟔
on right are in series and then the equivalent of these is
𝟏𝟐 × 𝟔
in parallel combination 𝑪𝒆𝒒 = = 𝟒 𝒑𝑭
𝟏𝟖
𝑪×𝑪 𝑪×𝑪
𝑪𝒆𝒒 = +
𝑪+𝑪 𝑪+𝑪 charge stored in the capacitor
𝑪×𝑪 𝑪×𝑪 𝑸 = 𝑪𝒆𝒒 𝑽 = 𝟒 × 𝟓𝟎 = 𝟐𝟎𝟎 𝒑𝑪
𝑪𝒆𝒒 = +
𝟐𝑪 𝟐𝑪 Potential difference across 𝟏𝟐 𝒑𝑭 capacitor
𝑪 𝑪 𝑸 𝟐𝟎𝟎
𝑪𝒆𝒒 = + 𝑽𝟏 = = = 𝟏𝟔. 𝟔𝟕 𝑽
𝟐 𝟐 𝑪𝟏 𝟏𝟐
𝑪𝒆𝒒 = 𝑪 Potential difference across 𝟏𝟐 𝒑𝑭 capacitor
𝑸 𝟐𝟎𝟎
Charge stored in the network 𝑽𝟐 = = = 𝟑𝟑. 𝟑𝟑 𝑽
𝑪𝟐 𝟔
𝑸 = 𝑪𝒆𝒒 × 𝑽 = 𝟏 × 𝟔
𝑸 = 𝟔 𝝁𝑭 56. Figure shows two identical capacitors 𝑪𝟏 and 𝑪𝟐 each of 𝟐𝝁𝑭
(b) Energy stored in the network capacitance, connected to a battery of 𝟓 𝑽. Initially switch ‘S’
𝟏 𝟏
𝑼 = 𝑪𝒆𝒒 𝑽𝟐 = (𝟏 × 𝟏𝟎−𝟔 ) × (𝟔)𝟐 is closed. After some time S is left open and dielectric slabs
𝟐 𝟐
of dielectric constant 𝑲 = 𝟓 are inserted to fill completely the
𝑼 = 𝟏𝟖 × 𝟏𝟎−𝟔
space between the plates of the two capacitors. How will the
54. A capacitor of unknown capacitance is connected across a (i) charge and (ii) potential difference between the plates of
battery of V volts. The charge stored in it is 𝟑𝟔𝟎 𝝁𝑪. When
the capacitors be affected after the slabs are inserted?
potential across the capacitor is reduced by 𝟏𝟐𝟎𝑽, the charge
[Delhi 𝟐𝟎𝟏𝟏]
stored in it becomes 𝟏𝟐𝟎 𝝁𝑪.
(a) Calculate the potential V and the unknown capacitance
C.
(b) What will be the charge stored in the capacitor, if the
voltage applied had increased by 𝟏𝟐𝟎 𝑽? [Delhi 𝟐𝟎𝟏𝟑]
Sol: (a) Let the unknown capacitance be C. when C is connected
c to a battery of V volts then charge stored is
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ELECTRIC POTENTIAL AND CAPACITANCE
Sol: When switch ‘S’ is closed potential difference across each 𝒙𝟐 × 𝟏𝟎−𝟏𝟐 − 𝟓𝟎𝒙 × 𝟏𝟎−𝟏𝟐 = 𝟒𝟓𝟎 × 𝟏𝟎−𝟏𝟐
𝒙𝟐 − 𝟓𝟎𝒙 − 𝟒𝟓𝟎 = 𝟎
c capacitor is 𝟓 𝑽
−𝒃 ± √𝒃𝟐 − 𝟒𝒂𝒄
𝑽𝟏 = 𝑽𝟐 = 𝟓 𝑽 𝒙=
𝟐𝒂
Here capacitance 𝟓𝟎 ± √𝟐𝟓𝟎𝟎 − 𝟒 × 𝟏 × 𝟒𝟓𝟎
𝒙=
𝑪𝟏 = 𝑪𝟐 = 𝑪 = 𝟐 𝝁𝑭 𝟐×𝟏
Charge stored in the capacitor 𝟓𝟎 ± √𝟕𝟎𝟎 𝟓𝟎 ± 𝟐𝟔. 𝟒𝟓
𝒙= =
𝟐 𝟐
𝑸𝟏 = 𝑪𝟏 𝑽𝟏 = 𝟐 × 𝟓 = 𝟏𝟎 𝝁𝑪 𝟓𝟎 + 𝟐𝟔. 𝟒𝟓 𝟓𝟎 − 𝟐𝟔. 𝟒𝟓
𝑸𝟐 = 𝑪𝟐 𝑽𝟐 = 𝟐 × 𝟓 = 𝟏𝟎 𝝁𝑪 𝒙= 𝒐𝒓
𝟐 𝟐
When switch ‘S’ is opened and inserting a dielectric material 𝒙 = 𝟑𝟖. 𝟐𝟐 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝟏𝟏. 𝟕𝟕
The values of the two capacitances are
of dielectric constant 𝑲 = 𝟓 . New capacitance of the
𝑪𝟏 = 𝟑𝟖. 𝟐𝟐 𝝁𝑭
capacitors become 𝑪𝟐 = 𝟏𝟏. 𝟕𝟕 𝝁𝑭
𝑪′𝟏 = 𝑪′𝟐 = 𝑲𝑪 = 𝟓 × 𝟐 𝝁𝑭 = 𝟏𝟎 𝝁𝑭
The potential difference across 𝑪𝟏 remains constant 𝑽′𝟏 = 𝟓 𝑽
58. Find the ratio of the potential differences that must be
applied across the parallel and the series combination of two
Charge stored in the capacitor, 𝑸′𝟏 = 𝑪′𝟏 𝑽′𝟏 = 𝟏𝟎 × 𝟓 = 𝟓𝟎 𝝁𝑪
capacitors 𝑪𝟏 and 𝑪𝟐 with their capacitances in the ratio 𝟏: 𝟐
The charge on capacitor remains same as before as its so that the energy stored, in the two cases, becomes the same.
potential is cut off, 𝑸′𝟐 = 𝟏𝟎 𝝁𝑪 [All India 𝟐𝟎𝟏𝟔]
Potential difference across this capacitor becomes, Sol: Given,
𝑸′𝟐 𝟏𝟎 𝑪𝟏 𝟏
𝑽′𝟐 = ′ = =𝟏𝑽 c =
𝑪𝟐 𝟏𝟎 𝑪𝟐 𝟐

57. Two capacitors of unknown capacitances 𝑪𝟏 and 𝑪𝟐 are 𝑪𝟐 = 𝟐𝑪𝟏

For parallel combination,
connected first in series and then in parallel across a battery
𝑪𝑷 = 𝑪𝟏 + 𝑪𝟐 = 𝑪𝟏 + 𝟐𝑪𝟏 = 𝟑𝑪𝟏
of 𝟏𝟎𝟎 𝑽. If the energy stored in the two combinations is
Energy stored in this combination
𝟎. 𝟎𝟒𝟓 𝑱 and 𝟎. 𝟐𝟓 𝑱 respectively, determine the value of 𝑪𝟏 and
𝟏 𝟑
𝑪𝟐 . Also calculate the charge on each capacitor in parallel 𝑼= 𝑪 𝑽𝟐 = 𝑪 𝑽𝟐 … … … … … . . (𝒊)
𝟐 𝑷 𝑷 𝟐 𝟏 𝑷
combination. [Delhi 𝟐𝟎𝟏𝟓] For Series combination,
Sol: Given, 𝑪𝟏 𝑪𝟐 𝟐(𝑪𝟏 )𝟐 𝟐(𝑪𝟏 )𝟐 𝟐𝑪𝟏
𝑪𝑺 = = = =
c Potential difference, 𝑽 = 𝟏𝟎𝟎 𝑽 𝑪𝟏 + 𝑪𝟐 𝑪𝟏 + 𝟐𝑪𝟏 𝟑𝑪𝟏 𝟑
Energy in series combination, 𝑼𝑺 = 𝟎. 𝟎𝟒𝟓 𝑱 Energy stored in this combination

Energy in parallel combination, 𝑼𝑷 = 𝟎. 𝟐𝟓 𝑱 𝟏 𝟏 𝟐𝑪𝟏 𝟐 𝟏

𝑼= 𝑪 𝑽𝟐 = × 𝑽 = 𝑪 𝑽𝟐 … … … … … . . (𝒊𝒊)
𝟐 𝑺 𝑺 𝟐 𝟑 𝑺 𝟑 𝟏 𝑺
In series combination
As Energy stored in parallel combination is equal to energy
Equivalent capacitance is given by
stored in series combination
𝑪𝟏 × 𝑪𝟐
𝑪𝒆𝒒 = 𝟑 𝟏
𝑪𝟏 + 𝑪𝟐 𝑪 𝑽𝟐 = 𝑪 𝑽𝟐
𝟏 𝟐 𝟏 𝑷 𝟑 𝟏 𝑺
𝑼𝑺 = 𝑪𝒆𝒒 𝑽𝟐 𝑽𝟐𝑷 𝟐
𝟐 =
𝟏 𝑪𝟏 𝑪𝟐 𝑽𝟐𝑺 𝟗
𝟎. 𝟎𝟒𝟓 = × (𝟏𝟎𝟎)𝟐
𝟐 𝑪𝟏 + 𝑪𝟐 𝑽𝑷 √𝟐
𝑪𝟏 𝑪𝟐 =
𝟎. 𝟎𝟗𝟎 = × 𝟏𝟎𝟒 𝑽𝒔 𝟑
𝑪𝟏 + 𝑪𝟐
𝑪𝟏 𝑪𝟐 The ratio of the potential differences is √𝟐: 𝟑
= 𝟎. 𝟎𝟗𝟎 × 𝟏𝟎−𝟒 … … … … … … … (𝒊)
𝑪𝟏 + 𝑪𝟐
59. Two identical capacitors of 𝟏𝟐 𝒑𝑭 each are connected in series
In parallel Combination
across a battery of 𝟓𝟎 𝑽. How much electrostatic energy is
Equivalent combination is given by
𝑪𝒆𝒒 = 𝑪𝟏 + 𝑪𝟐 stored in the combination? If these were connected in parallel
𝟏 across the same battery, how much energy will be stored in
𝑼𝑷 = 𝑪𝒆𝒒 𝑽𝟐
𝟐
𝟏 the combination now? Also find the charge drawn from the
𝟎. 𝟐𝟓 = × (𝑪𝟏 + 𝑪𝟐 ) × (𝟏𝟎𝟎)𝟐
𝟐 battery in each case. [Delhi 𝟐𝟎𝟏𝟕]
𝟎. 𝟓𝟎 = (𝑪𝟏 + 𝑪𝟐 ) × 𝟏𝟎𝟒
𝑪𝟏 + 𝑪𝟐 = 𝟎. 𝟓𝟎 × 𝟏𝟎−𝟒 … … … … … … … (𝒊𝒊) Sol: Given,
Substituting this value in equation (i), we get c 𝑪𝟏 = 𝑪𝟐 = 𝟏𝟐 𝒑𝑭
𝑪𝟏 𝑪𝟐 Potential difference, 𝑽 = 𝟓𝟎 𝑽
= 𝟎. 𝟎𝟗𝟎 × 𝟏𝟎−𝟒
𝟎. 𝟓𝟎 × 𝟏𝟎−𝟒 In series combination
𝑪𝟏 𝑪𝟐 = 𝟎. 𝟎𝟒𝟓 × 𝟏𝟎−𝟖 𝑪𝟏 × 𝑪𝟐 𝟏𝟐 × 𝟏𝟐 𝟏𝟐 × 𝟏𝟐
𝟎. 𝟎𝟒𝟓 × 𝟏𝟎−𝟖 𝑪𝒔 = = = = 𝟔 𝒑𝑭
𝑪𝟐 = 𝑪𝟏 + 𝑪𝟐 𝟏𝟐 + 𝟏𝟐 𝟐𝟒
𝑪𝟏
Substituting this value in eqn. (i) Energy stored in this combination
𝟎. 𝟎𝟒𝟓 × 𝟏𝟎−𝟖 𝟏 𝟏
𝑪𝟏 + = 𝟎. 𝟓𝟎 × 𝟏𝟎−𝟒 𝑼 = 𝑪𝒔 𝑽𝟐 = × 𝟔 × 𝟏𝟎−𝟏𝟐 × (𝟓𝟎)𝟐
𝑪𝟏 𝟐 𝟐
(𝑪𝟏 )𝟐 + 𝟎. 𝟎𝟒𝟓 × 𝟏𝟎−𝟖 = 𝟎. 𝟓𝟎 × 𝟏𝟎−𝟒 𝑪𝟏 𝑼 = 𝟑 × 𝟏𝟎−𝟏𝟐 × 𝟐𝟓𝟎𝟎
Let 𝑪𝟏 = 𝒙 𝝁𝑭 𝑼 = 𝟕𝟓 × 𝟏𝟎−𝟏𝟎 𝑱
(𝒙 × 𝟏𝟎−𝟔 )𝟐 − 𝟎. 𝟓𝟎 × 𝟏𝟎−𝟒 (𝒙 × 𝟏𝟎−𝟔 ) = 𝟎. 𝟎𝟒𝟓 × 𝟏𝟎−𝟖
Page | 12
 ELECTRIC POTENTIAL AND CAPACITANCE
Charge drawn by the battery,
𝑸𝑺 = 𝑪𝑺 𝑽 = 𝟔 × 𝟏𝟎−𝟏𝟐 × 𝟓𝟎 = 𝟑𝟎𝟎 × 𝟏𝟎−𝟏𝟐
𝑸𝑺 = 𝟎. 𝟑 × 𝟏𝟎−𝟗 = 𝟎. 𝟑 𝒏𝑪
In parallel combination
𝑪𝒆𝒒 = 𝑪𝟏 + 𝑪𝟐 = 𝟏𝟐 + 𝟏𝟐 = 𝟐𝟒 𝒑𝑭
Energy stored in this combination
𝟏 𝟏
𝑼 = 𝑪𝒆𝒒 𝑽𝟐 = × 𝟐𝟒 × 𝟏𝟎−𝟏𝟐 × (𝟓𝟎)𝟐
𝟐 𝟐
𝑼 = 𝟏𝟐 × 𝟏𝟎−𝟏𝟐 × 𝟐𝟓𝟎𝟎
𝑼 = 𝟑 × 𝟏𝟎−𝟖 𝑱
Charge drawn by the battery,
𝑸𝑷 = 𝑪𝑷 𝑽 = 𝟐𝟒 × 𝟏𝟎−𝟏𝟐 × 𝟓𝟎 = 𝟏𝟐𝟎𝟎 × 𝟏𝟎−𝟏𝟐
𝑸𝑷 = 𝟏. 𝟐 × 𝟏𝟎−𝟗 = 𝟏. 𝟐 𝒏𝑪

60. Two identical parallel plate capacitors A and B are connected

to a battery of V volt with the switch ‘S’ closed .The switch
is now open and the free space between the plates of the
capacitors is filled with a dielectric of dielectric constant 𝑲
Find the ratio of the total electrostatic energy stored in both
capacitors before and after the introduction of dielectric.
[All India 𝟐𝟎𝟏𝟕]

Sol: When Switch is closed, the identical capacitors being

c connected in parallel will have the same potential. Thus
charge stored in them will
𝑸𝑨 = 𝑸𝑩 = 𝑪𝑽
Equivalent capacitance, 𝑪𝒆𝒒 = 𝑪𝟏 + 𝑪𝟐 = 𝑪 + 𝑪 = 𝟐𝑪

Energy stored in the network

𝟏 𝟏
𝑼= 𝑪 𝑽𝟐 = × 𝟐𝑪 × 𝑽𝟐 = 𝑪𝑽𝟐
𝟐 𝒆𝒒 𝟐
After switch is opened and dielectric is introduced with a
material of dielectric constant K. The capacitance of each
capacitor will be 𝑲𝑪
Now the potential for capacitor A remains same
Final energy of capacitor A
𝟏 𝟏 𝑲𝑪𝑽𝟐
𝑼𝑨 = 𝑪𝑨 𝑽𝟐 = × 𝑲𝑪 × 𝑽𝟐 =
𝟐 𝟐 𝟐
But the potential across capacitor B will change i.e.
𝑸𝑩 𝑪𝑽 𝑽
𝑽= = =
𝑲𝑪 𝑲𝑪 𝑲
Final energy of capacitor B
𝟏 𝟏 𝑽 𝟐 𝑲𝑪𝑽𝟐 𝑪𝑽𝟐
𝑼𝑩 = 𝑪𝑨 𝑽𝟐 = × 𝑲𝑪 × ( ) = =
𝟐 𝟐 𝑲 𝟐𝑲𝟐 𝟐𝑲
Total energy of both capacitors
𝑲𝑪𝑽𝟐 𝑪𝑽𝟐
𝑼′ = 𝑼𝑨 + 𝑼𝑩 = +
𝟐 𝟐𝑲
𝑲𝟐 𝑪𝑽𝟐 + 𝑪𝑽𝟐
𝑼′ =
𝟐𝑲
(𝑲𝟐 + 𝟏)𝑪𝑽𝟐
𝑼′ =
𝟐𝑲
Ratio of the total electrostatic energy stored in both
capacitors before and after the introduction of dielectric.
𝑼′ (𝑲𝟐 + 𝟏)𝑪𝑽𝟐 𝟏
= × 𝟐
𝑼 𝟐𝑲 𝑪𝑽
𝑼′ (𝑲𝟐 + 𝟏)
=
𝑼 𝟐𝑲

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