CAPACITANCE

PART - I : SUBJECTIVE QUESTIONS

SECTION (A) : DEFINITION OF CAPACITANCE
A 1. When 30PC charge is given to an isolated conductor of capacitance 5PF. Find out following
(i) Potential of the conductor
(ii) Energy stored in the electric field of conductor
(iii) If this conductor is now connected to another isolated conductor by a conducting wire (at large
distance) of total charge 50 PC and capacity 10 PF then
(a) find out common potential of both the conductors.
(b) Find out heat dissipated during the process of charge distribution.
(c) Find out ratio of final charges on conductors.
(d) Find out final charges on each conductor.
#A 2. Plate A of a parallel air filled capacitor is connected to a nonconducting
spring having force constant k and plate B is fixed. If a charge + q is
placed on plate A and charge – q on plate B then find out extension in
the spring in equilibrium. Assume area of plate is ‘A’.

SECTION (B) : CIRCUITS WITH CAPACITOR AND USE OF KCL AND KVL
B 1. A capacitance C, a resistance R and an emf H are connected in series at t = 0. What is the maximum value of
(a) the potential difference across the resistor,
(b) the current in the circuit,
(c) the potential difference across the capacitor,
(d) the energy stored in the capacitors.
(e) the power delivered by the battery and
(f) the power converted into heat.

B 2. Find the final charges on the four capacitor of capacitance

1PF, 2PF, 3PF and 4PF shown in figure. (Assuming initially they
are uncharged). Also find the current through the battery.

#B 3. (i) Find the charges on the three capacitors connected to a battery as shown in figure. Take
C1= 1.0 PF, C2 = 2.0 PF, C3 = 3.0 PF and V = 20 volt.
(ii) Find out work done by the battery during the process of charging
(iii) Find out total energy stored in the capacitors .

B 4. Find the potential difference VA – VB between the points A and B shown in each part of the figure.
 CAPACITANCE
B 5. Three uncharged capacitors of capacitance C1 = 1PF, C2 = 2PF and
C3 = 3PF are connected as shown in figure to one another and to points
A, B and D potentials fA = 10 V, fB = 25 V and fD = 20 V, Determine the
potential (f 0) at point O.

B 6. Five capacitors are connected as shown in the figure. Initially

S is opened and all capacitors are uncharged. When S is
closed, steady state is obtained. Then find out potential
difference between the points M and N.

SECTION (C) : COMBINATION OF CAPACITORS

C 1. It is required to construct a 5 PF capacitor which can be connected across a 250 V battery. Capacitors of
capacitance 5 PF are available but they can withstand only 50 V. Design a combination which can yield the
desired result using minimum number of capacitors.

C 2. If you have several 2.0 PF capacitors, each capable of withstanding 200 volts without breakdown, how
would you assemble a combination having minimum number of capacitors and an equivalent capacitance
of; (a) 0.40 PF or of (b) 1.2 PF, capable of withstanding 1000 volts.

C 3. Take the potential of the point B as shown in figure to be zero.

(a) Find the potentials at the point C and D.
(b) If an uncharged capacitor is connected between C and D,
what charge will appear in this capacitor?

C 4. The particle P shown in the figure has a mass of 10 mg and a charge of

– 0.01 PC. Each horizontal plate has a surface area 100 cm 2 one side.
What potential difference V should be applied to the combination to hold
the particle P in equilibrium? (g = 9.8 m/s2)

C 5. Find the capacitance between the point A and B of the assemblies.

C 6. (i) Find the equivalent capacitance of the infinite ladder shown in

the figure between the points A and B.
(ii) If now each capacitor is replaced by a capacitor which is triple
in capacitance then repeat the question.

C 7. Consider the situation shown in the figure. The switch S is open for a long time and then closed.
(a) Find the charge flown through the battery when the switch S is closed.
(b) Find the work done by the battery.
(c) Find the change in energy stored in the capacitors.
(d) Find the heat developed in the system.
 CAPACITANCE
SECTION (D) : EQUATION OF CHARGING AND DISCHARGING
D 1. A capacitor of capacitance 100 PF is connected across a battery of emf 6.0 V through a resistance of 20 k:
for 4.0 s. The battery is then replaced by a thick wire. What will be the charge on the capacitor 4.0 s after the
battery is disconnected ?
D 2. The electric field between the plates of a parallel–plate capacitance 2.0 PF drops to one third of its initial
value in 4.4 Ps when the plates are connected by a thin wire. Find the resistance of the wire.
D 3. A capacitor is connected to a 12 V battery through a resistance of 10:. It is found that the potential difference
across the capacitor rises to 4.0 V in 1Ps. Find the capacitance of the capacitor.
D 4. A 5.0 PF capacitor having a charge of 20 PC is discharged through a wire of resistance 5.0 :. Find the heat
dissipated in the wire between 25 to 50 Ps after the connections are made.
D 5. A capacitor of capacity 1 PF is connected in a closed series circuit with a resistance of 107 ohms, an
open key and a cell of 2 V with negligible internal resistance:
(i) When the key is switched on at time t = 0, find;
(a) The time constant for the circuit.
(b) The charge on the capacitor at steady state.
(c) Time taken to deposit charge equal to half that at steady state.
(ii) If after complete charging the capacitor, the cell is shorted by zero resistance at time t = 0, find
the charge on the capacitor at t = 50 s.
E 1. The two parallel plates of a capacitor have equal and opposite charges Q. The dielectric has a dielectric
constant K and resistivity U. Show that the "leakage" current carried by the dielectric is given by the
Q
relationship i = .
K o U

E 2. The parallel plates of a capacitor have an area 0.2 m 2 and are 10- 2 m apart. The original potential
difference between them is 3000 V, and it decreases to 1000 V when a sheet of dielectric is inserted
between the plates filling the full space. Compute: (Î 0 = 9 x 10 -12 S. ,. units)
(i) Original capacitance C0. (ii) The charge Q on each plate.
(iii) Capacitance C after insertion of the dielectric. (iv) Dielectric constant K.
(v) Permittivity Î of the dielectric.
(vi) The original field E0 between the plates.
(vii) The electric field E after insertion of the dielectric.
#E 3. A parallel plate isolated condenser consists of two metal plates of area A and separation 'd'. A slab of
thickness 't' and dielectric constant K is inserted between the plates with its faces parallel to the
plates and having the same surface area as that of the plates. Find the capacitance of the system. If
K = 2, for what value of t/d will the capacitance of the system be 3/2 times that of the condenser with
air filling the full space? Calculate the ratio of the energy in the two cases and account for the energy
change (assuming charge to be constant).
#E 4. Hard rubber has a dielectric constant of 2.8 and a dielectric strength of 18 x 106 volt/meter. If it is used
as the dielectric material filling the full space in a parallel plate capacitor. What minimum area may the
plates of the capacitor have in order that the capacitance be 7.0 x 10 2 PF and that the capacitor be
able to withstand a potential difference of 4000 volts.
E 5. Two parallel plate air capacitors each of capacitance C were connected in series to a battery with
e.m.f. H. Then one of the capacitors was filled up with uniform dielectric with relative permittivity k. How
many times did the electric field strength in that capacitor decrease? What amount of charge flows
through the battery?

E 6. A parallel-plate capacitor of plate area A and plate separation d is charged to a potential difference V and then
the battery is disconnected. A slab of dielectric constant K is then inserted between the plates of the
capacitor so as to fill the whole space between the plates. Find the work done on the system in the process
of inserting the slab.
 CAPACITANCE
PART - II : OBJECTIVE QUESTIONS
* Problems are multiple choice questions.
SECTION (A) : DEFINITION OF CAPACITANCE
A 1. The radii of two metallic spheres are 5 cm and 10 cm and both carry equal charge of 75PC. If the two spheres
are shorted then charge will be transferred–
(A) 25 PC from smaller to bigger (B) 25 PC from bigger to smaller
(C) 50 PC from smaller to bigger (D) 50 PC from bigger to smaller
#A 2. Two isolated charged metallic spheres of radii R1 and R2 having charges Q1 and Q2 respectively are connected
to each other, then there is:
(A) No change in the energy of the system
(B) An increase in the energy of the system
(C) Always a decrease in the energy of the system
(D) A decrease in energy of the system until q1 R2 = q2 R1
A 3. (i) A parallel plate capacitor is charged up to a potential of 300 volts. Area of the plates is 100 cm 2 and
spacing between them is 2 cm. If the plates are moved apart to a distance of 5 cm without
disconnecting the power source, then electric field inside the capacitor is
(H 0 = 9 × 10 –12 C 2 N –1 m –2):
(A) 1.5 × 103 V/m (B) 3 × 103 V/m
4
(C) 1.2 × 10 V/m (D) 6 × 10 3 V/m
(ii) Change in energy of the capacitor is :
(A) 6 × 10–8 J (B) – 12.15 × 10–8 J
(C) 12.15 × 10–8 J (D) – 24.3 × 10 –8 J
(iii) If the space is increased after disconnecting the power source, then electric field inside the capacitor
is :
(A) 6 × 103 V/m (B) 3 × 103 V/m
4
(C) 1.2 × 10 V/m (D) 1.5 × 10 4 V/m
(iv) Change in energy of the capacitor in this case is :
(A) 30.4 × 10 –8 J (B) – 12.15 × 10 –8 J
–8
(C) 6 × 10 J (D) – 30.4 × 10 –8 J

#A 4. A parallel plate capacitor is charged and then isolated. On increasing the plate separation–
Charge Potential Capacity
(A) remains constant remains constant decreases
(B) remains constant increases decreases
(C) remains constant decreases increases
(D) increases increases decreases

SECTION (B) : CIRCUITS WITH CAPACITOR AND USE OF KCL AND KVL
B 1. The work done in increasing the potential difference of a condenser from 20V to 40V is W. The work done in
increasing its potential difference from 40V to 50V will be–
3W W
(A) 4W (B) (C) 2W (D)
4 2
B 2. The magnitude of charge in steady state on either of the plates of condenser C in the adjoining circuit is-

CER 2 CER 2 CER 1

(A) CE (B) (R  r ) (C) (R  r ) (D) (R  r )
1 2 2
 CAPACITANCE
B 3*. In the circuit shown in figure the switch is closed at t = 0.
A long time after closing the switch
(A) voltage drop across the capacitor is E
E
(B) current through the battery is
R1  R 2
2
1 § R2 E ·
(C) energy stored in the capacitor is C ¨¨ ¸¸
2 © R1  R 2 ¹
(D) current through the capacitor becomes zero
B 4. The plate separation in a parallel plate condenser is d and plate area is A. If it is charged to V volt & battery
is disconnected then the work done in increasing the plate separation to 2d will be–
2
3 H 0 AV H 0 AV 2 2H 0 AV 2 H 0 AV 2
(A) (B) (C) (D)
2 d d d 2d

B 5. In the adjoining diagram, (assuming the battery to be ideal) the condenser

C will be fully charged to potential V if -

(A) S1 and S2 both are open

(B) S1 and S2 both are closed
(C) S1 is closed and S2 is open
(D) S1 is open and S2 is closed.
B 6*. When a charged capacitor is connected with an uncharged capacitor, then which of the following is/are
correct option/options.
(A) the magnitude of charge on the charged capacitor decreases.
(B) a steady state is obtained after which no further flow of charge occurs.
(C) the total potential energy stored in the capacitors remains conserved.
(D) the charge conservation is always true.

B 7. A parallel plate condenser of capacity C is connected to a battery and is charged to potential V. Another
condenser of capacity 2C is connected to another battery and is charged to potential 2V. The charging
batteries are removed and now the condensers are connected in parallel in such a way that the positive plate
of one is connected to negative plate of another. The final energy of this system is–
25CV 2 3CV 2 9CV 2
(A) zero (B) (C) (D)
6 2 2

SECTION (C) : COMBINATION OF CAPACITORS

C 1. ,n the following figure, the charge on each condenser in the steady state will be–

(A) 3PC (B) 6PC (C) 9PC (D) 12PC

C 2. In the adjoining circuit, the capacity between the points A and B will be-

(A) C (B) 2C (C) 3C (D) 4C

 CAPACITANCE
C 3. The resultant capacity between the points A and B in the adjoining circuit will be-

(A) C (B) 2C (C) 3C (D) 4C

C 4. The effective capacity in the following figure between the points P and Q will be–

(A) 3PF (B) 5PF (C) 2PF (D) 1PF

C 5. The equivalent capacitance between the terminals X and Y in the figure shown will be–

(A) 100 pf (B) 200 pf (C) 300 pf (D) 400 pf

C 6. The charge on the condenser of capacitance 2PF in the following circuit will be –

(A) 4.5 PC (B) 6.0 PC (C) 7 PC (D) 30 PC

SECTION (D) : EQUATION OF CHARGING AND DISCHARGING

D 1. A 3 mega ohm resistor and an uncharged 1 PF capacitor are connected in a single loop circuit with a
constant source of 4 volt. At one second after the connection is made what are the rates at which;
(i) the charge on the capacitor is increasing.
(A) 4(1  e 1/ 3 ) P C/s (B) 4e 1/ 3 P C/s

4 1/ 3 4
(C) e P C/s (D) (1  e 1 / 3 ) J/s
3 3
 CAPACITANCE
(ii) energy is being stored in the capacitor.
16 16
(A) (1  e 1/ 3 )e 1/ 3 PJ/s (B) (1  e 2 / 3 ) PJ/s
3 3
16  2 / 3
(C) e PJ/s (D) None of these
3
(iii) joule heat is appearing in the resistor.
16 1/ 3 1 1/ 3
(A) e P J/s (B) e P J/s
3 2
16 2 / 3 16
(C) (e ) P J/s (D) (1  e 1/ 3 ) 2 P J/s
3 3
(iv) energy is being delivered by the source.
(A) 16(1 e1/ 3 ) P C/s (B) 16P C/s

16 1/ 3 16
(C) e P C/s (D) (1  e1/ 3 ) J/s
3 3
#D 2*. The charge on the capacitor in two different RC circuits 1 and 2 are plotted as shown in figure.

Choose the correct statement(s) related to the two circuits.

(A) Both the capacitors are charged to the same magnitude of charge
(B) The emf's of cells in both the circuits are equal.
(C) The emf's of the cells may be different
(D) The emf E 1 is more than E2

#D 3*. The instantaneous charge on a capacitor in two discharging RC circuits is plotted with respect to time
in figure. Choose the correct statement(s) (where E1 and E2 are emf of two DC sources in two different
charging circuits).

R1 C 2
(A) R 1C1 > R2 C2 (B) R  C (C) R1 > R2 if E1 = E2 (D) C 2 > C1 if E1 = E2
2 1

D 4. The plates of a capacitor of capacitance 10 PF, charged to 60 PC, are joined together by a wire of resistance
10 : at t = 0, then
(i) the charge on the capacitor in the circuit at t = 0 is :
(A) 120 PC (B) 60 PC (C) 30 PC (D) 44 PC
(ii) the charge on the capacitor in the circuit at t = 100 Ps is :
(A) 120 PC (B) 60 PC (C) 22 PC (D) 18 PC
(iii) the charge on the capacitor in the circuit at t = 1.0 ms is :
(A) 0.003 PC (B) 60 PC (C) 44 PC (D) 18 PC
 CAPACITANCE
D 5. An uncharged capacitor of capacitance 8.0 PF is connected to a battery of emf 6.0 V through a resistance of
24 :, then
(i) the current in the circuit just after the connections are made is :
(A) 0.25 A (B) 0.5 A (C) 0.4 A (D) 0 A
(i) the current in the circuit at one time constant after the connections are made is :
(A) 0.25 A (B) 0.09 A (C) 0.4 A (D) 0 A

#D 6. An uncharged capacitor of capacitance C is connected to a battery of emf H at t = 0 through a resistance R, then

(i) the maximum rate at which energy is stored in the capacitor is :

H2 H2 H2 2H 2
(A) (B) (C) (D)
4R 2R R R
(ii) time at which the rate has this maximum value is
1
(A) 2CR ln2 (B) CR ln2 (C) CR ln2 (D) 3CR ln2
2
D 7. An uncharged capacitor of capacitances 12.0 PF is connected to a battery of emf 6.00 V and internal
resistance 1.00 : through resistanceless leads. At 12.0 Ps after the connections are made :
(i) the current in the circuit is :
(A) 4.42 A (B) 6 A (C) 2.21 A (D) 0 A
(ii) the power delivered by the battery is :
(A) 26.4 W (B) 13.2 W (C) 4.87 W (D) 0
(iii) the power dissipated in heat is :
(A) 26.4 W (B) 13.2 W (C) 4.87 W (D) 0
(iv) the rate at which energy stored in the capacitor is increasing is :
(A) 26.4 W (B) 13.2 W (C) 4.87 W (D) 8.37 W
D 8. The charge on each of the capacitors 0.20 ms after the
switch S is closed in figure is :

(A) 24 PC
(B) 16.8 PC
(C) 10.37 PC
(D) 4.5 PC
D 9. Capacitor C1 of the capacitance 1 microfarad and capacitor C2 of capacitance 2 microfarad are separately
charged fully by a common battery. The two capacitors are then separately allowed to discharge through
equal resistors at time t = 0. [ IIT' 1989]
(A) the current in each of the two discharging circuits is zero at t = 0.
(B) the current in the two discharging circuits at t = 0 are equal but zero.
(C) the current in the two discharging circuits at t = 0 are unequal
(D) capacitor C1 loses 50% of its initial charge sooner than C2 loses 50% of its initial charge

SECTION (E) : CAPACITOR WITH DIELECTRIC

E 1. The distance between the plates of a parallel plate condenser is d. If a copper plate of same area but
d
thickness is placed between the plates then the new capacitance will become-
2
(A) half (B) double (C) one fourth (D) unchanged
E 2. On placing a dielectric slab between the plates of an isolated charged condenser its–
Capacity Charge Potential Difference Energy stored Electric field
(A) decreases remains decreases increases increases
unchanged
(B) increases remains increases increases decreases
unchanged
(C) increases remains decreases decreases decreases
unchanged
(D) decreases remains decreases increases remains
unchanged unchanged
 CAPACITANCE
E 3*. The terminals of a battery of emf V are connected to the two plates of a parallel plate capacitor. If the
space between the plates of the capacitor is filled with an insulator of dielectric constant K, then :
(A) the electric field in the space between the plates do not change
(B) the capacitance of the capacitor increases
(C) the charge stored in the capacitor increases
(D) the electrostatic energy stored in the capacitor decreases
E 4*. The plates of a parallel plate capacitor with no dielectric are connected to a voltage source. Now a
dielectric of dielectric constant K is inserted to fill the whole space between the plates with voltage
source remaining connected to the capacitor.
(A) the energy stored in the capacitor will become K times
(B) the electric field inside the capacitor will decrease to K-times
(C) the force of attraction between the plates will increase to K 2 – times
(D) the charge on the capacitor will increase to K -times
E 5. In the adjoining diagram two identical capacitors C1 and C2 are connected
to a battery. Air is filled between the plates of C1 and a dielectric is filled
between the plates of C2, then -
(A) q1 < q2 (B) q1 > q2
(C) q1 = q2 (D) None of these
E 6. A parallel plate condenser is connected to a battery of e.m.f. 4 volt. If a plate of dielectric constant 8 is
inserted into it, then the potential difference on the condenser will be-
(A) 1/2 V (B) 2V (C) 4V (D) 32V
E 7. In the above problem if the battery is disconnected before inserting the dielectric, then potential difference will
be-
(A) 1/2 V (B) 2V (C) 4V (D) 32V
E 8. A parallel plate condenser with plate separation d is charged with the help of a battery so that U 0 energy is
stored in the system. A plate of dielectric constant K and thickness d is placed between the plates of
condenser while battery remains connected. The new energy of the system will be-
U0 U0
(A) KU0 (B) K2U0 (C) (D) 2
K K
E 9. In the above problem if the battery is disconnected before placing the plate, then new energy will be–
U0 U0
(A) K2U0 (B) 2 (C) (D) KU0
K K
E 10. A parallel plate capacitor without any dielectric has capacitance C 0. A dielectric slab is made up of two
dielectric slabs of dielectric constants K and 2K and is of same dimensions as that of capacitor plates
and both the parts are of equal dimensions arranged serially as shown. If this dielectric slab is introduced
(dielectric K enters first) in between the plates at constant speed, then variation of capacitance with
time will be best represented by:

(A) (B) (C) (D)

 CAPACITANCE

PART - I : SUBJECTIVE QUESTIONS

1. Both the capacitors shown in figure are made of square plates of edge a.
The separations between the plates of the capacitors are d1 and d2 as
shown in the figure. A potential difference V is applied between the points
a and b. An electron is projected between the plates of the lower capacitor
along the central line. With what minimum speed should the electron be
projected so that it does not collide with any plate? Consider only the
electric forces.

2. Each plate of a parallel plate air capacitor has an area S. What amount of work has to be performed to
slowly increase the distance between the plates from x 1 to x2 if:
(i) the charge of the capacitor, which is equal to q or
(ii) the voltage across the capacitor, which is equal to V, is kept constant in the process.

3. An electric circuit is as shown in the figure. The cells are of negligible

internal resistances. Find : (in steady state)

(i) The currents in 3 : resistance and the cell of 8 volt.

(ii) The charge on the capacitor.

4. In steady state,
(i) find the charge on the capacitor shown in figure.
(ii) Find out values of i1, i2 , i3 , i4 and i5

5. A capacitor of capacitance 2.0 PF is charged to a potential difference of 12 V. It is then connected to an

uncharged capacitor of capacitance 4.0 PF as shown in figure.
Find (a) the charge on each of the two capacitors after the
connection, (b) the electrostatic energy stored in each of the two
capacitors and (c) the heat produced during the charge transfer
from one capacitor to the other.

6. Find the potential difference between the points A and B

and between the points B and C of figure in steady state.

7. A part of circuit in a steady state along with the currants flowing in

the branches, the values of resistance etc., is shown in the figure.
Calculate the energy stored in the capacitor C (4PF) [JEE' 1986, 4M]
 CAPACITANCE
8. Calculate the steady state current in the 2 : resistor shown in the circuit (see figure). The internal resistance
of the battery is negligible and the capacitance of the condenser C is 0.2 mF [JEE' 1991; 2M]

9. In the given circuit :

E1 = 3E2 = 2E3 = 6 volt R1 = 2R4 = 6 ohm
R3 = 2R2 = ohm c = 5 µF.
Find the current in R3 and the energy stored in the capacitor.

10. A capacitor is made of a flat plate of area A and a second plate having a
stair-like structure as shown in figure. The width of each stair is a and the
height is d. Find the capacitance of the assembly.

11. Find the equivalent capacitances of the combinations shown in the figure between the indicated points.

12. A finite ladder is constructed by connecting several sections of

1 PF, 2 PF capacitor combinations as shown in the figure. It is
terminated by a capacitor of capacitance C. What value should
be chosen for C, such that the equivalent capacitance of the
ladder between the points A and B becomes independent of
the number of sections in between?

13. The particle P shown in the figure has a mass of 10 mg and a

charge of – 0.01 PC. Each horizontal plate has a surface area
100 cm2 one side. What potential difference V should be applied
to the combination to hold the particle P in equilibrium?

14. The figure shows two identical parallel plate capacitors connected
to a battery with the switch S closed. The switch is now opened
and the free space between the switch is now opened and the free
space between the plates of the capacitors is filled with a dielec-
tric of dielectric constant (or relative permittivity) 3. Find the ratio
of the total electrostatic energy stored in both capacitors before
and after the introduction of the dielectric. [JEE' 1983; 6M]
 CAPACITANCE
15. A parallel plate capacitor is filled with a dielectric up to one half of the distance be-
tween the plates. The manner in which the potential between the plates varies with
distance is illustrated in the figure. Which half (1 or 2) of the space between the plates
is filled with the dielectric and what will be the distribution of the potential after the
dielectric is taken out of the capacitor provided that;
(a) The charges on the plates are conserved or
(b) The potential difference across the capacitor is constant.
16. Consider the situation shown in figure. The width of each
plate is b. The capacitor plates are rigidly clamped in the
laboratory and connected to a battery of emf H. All surface
are frictionless. Calculate the extension in the spring in
equilibrium (spring is nonconducting).
17. Figure shown two parallel plate capacitors with fixed plates and connected to two batteries. The separation
between the plates is the same for the two capacitors. The plates are rectangular in shape with width b and
lengths A1 and A2 the seperation between plates is d. The left half of the dielectric slab has a dielectric
constant K1 and the right half (K2 ! K1). EMF of the right battery is greater then left battery. Neglecting any
friction, find the extension in spring in equilibrium (spring is nonconducting).

18. Consider the situation shown in figure. The plates of the capacitor have
plate area A and are clamped in the laboratory. The dielectric slab of mass
m is released from rest with length a inside the capacitor. Neglecting any
effect of friction or gravity, show that the slab will execute periodic motion
and find its time period.

19. Parallel plate capacitor is constructed using three different dielectric

materials as shown in the figure. The parallel plates, across which a
potential difference is applied are of area A and are separated by a
distance d, find the capacitance across P and Q.

20. The capacitance of a parallel plate capacitor with plate area A and
separation d, is C. The space between the plates is filled with two
wedges of dielectric constant K1 and K2 respectively (figure). Find
the capacitance of the resulting capacitor. [JEE' 1996; 2M]

21. Two square metal plates of side 1 m are kept 0.01 m apart like a parallel plate capacitor in air in such a way
that one of their edges is perpendicular to an oil surface in a tank filled with an insulating oil. The plates are
then lowered vertically into the oil at a speed of 0.001 ms–1. Calculate the current drawn from the battery
during the process. (Dielectric constant of oil = 1], (H0 = 8.85 × 10–12 C2 N–1 m–1) [JEE' 1996; 2M]

22. Two parallel plate capacitors A and B have the same separation d = 8.85 × 10–4 m between the plates. The
plate areas of A and B are 0.04 m2 and 0.02 m2 respectively. A slab of dielectric constant (relative permittivity)
K = 9 has dimensions such that it can exactly fill the space between the plates of capacitor B.
 CAPACITANCE
(i) The dielectric slab is placed inside A as shown in figure (a), A is then charged to a potential difference of
110 V. Calculate the capacitance of A and the energy stored in it.
(ii) The battery is disconnected and then the dielectric slab is removed from A. Find the work done by the
external agency in removing the slab from A.
(iii) The same dielectric slab is now placed inside B, filling it completely. The two capacitors A and B are then
connected as shown in figure (c). Calculate the energy stored in the system.

23. The capacitance between the adjacent plates shown in figure is 50 nF.
A charge of 1.0 PC is placed on the middle plate. (a) What will be the
charge on the outer surface of the upper plate ? (b) Find the potential
difference developed between the upper and the middle plates.
24. Consider the situation of the previous problem. If 1.0 PC is placed on the upper plate instead of the middle,
what will be the potential difference between (a) the upper and the middle plates and (b) the middle and the
lower plates ?
25. A spherical capacitor is made of two conducting spherical shells of radii a and b. The space
between the shells is filled with a dielectric of dielectric constant K upto a radius c as shown
in figure. Calculate the capacitance between the two shells.

26. Two parallel plate capacitors with different distances between the plates
are connected in parallel to a voltage source. A point positive charge Q
is moved from a point 1 that is exactly in the middle between the plates
of a capacitor C1 to a point 2 (or a capacitor C 2) that lies at a distance
from the negative plate of C2 equal to half the distance between the
plates of C1 . Is any work done in the process? If yes, calculate the
work done by the field if potential at 1 and 2 are V1 and V 2.

PART - II : OBJECTIVE QUESTIONS

1. Rows of capacitors containing 1,2,4,8,..........f capacitors, each of
capacitance 2F, are connected in parallel as shown in figure. The potential
difference across AB = 10 volt, then :
(A) Total capacitance across AB is 4F
(B) Charge of each capacitor will be same
(C) Charge on the capacitor in the first row is more than on any other capacitor
(D) Energy of all the capacitors is 50 J
2. For a charged parallel plate capacitor shown in the figure, the force experienced by an alpha particle will
be :

(A) maximum at C (B) zero at A (C) same at B and C (D) zero at C

3.* Following operations can be performed on a capacitor.

X – connect the capacitor to a battery of emf
Y – disconnect the battery
Z – reconnect the battery with polarity reversed
W – insert a dielectric slab in the capacitor
(A) In XYZ (perform X, then Y, then Z), the stored electric energy remains unchanged and no thermal
energy is developed
(B) The charge appearing on the capacitor is greater after the action XWY then after the action XYW
(C) The electric energy stored in the capacitor is greater after the action WXY then after the action XYW
(D) The electric field in the capacitor after the action XW is the same as that after WX
 CAPACITANCE
4.* In an isolated parallel plate capacitor of capacitance C the four surfaces
have charges Q 1,Q2 ,Q 3 and Q4 as shown in the figure. The potential
difference between the plates is :
Q1  Q 2 Q2
(A) (B)
C C

Q3 1
(C) (D) [( Q1  Q 2 )  (Q 3  Q 4 )]
C C

5.* In the circuit shown in figure, some potential difference is applied

between A and B. If C is joined to D, then :
(A) no charge will flow between C and D
(B) some charge will flow between C and D
(C) the equivalent capacitance between C and D will not change
(D) the equivalent capacitance between C and D will change
6.* In the circuit shown in figure, each capacitor has a capacitance C.
The emf of the cell is E. If the switch S is closed.
(A) some charge will flow out of the positive terminal of the cell
(B) some charge will enter the positive terminal of the cell
(C) the amount of charge flowing through the cell will be CE
4
(D) the amount of charge flowing through the cell will be CE
3

7.* A parallel plate capacitor has a dielectric slab in it. The slab just fills the space inside the capacitor. The
capacitor is charged by a battery and the battery is disconnected. Now the slab is started to pull out
slowly at t = 0. If at time t, capacitance of the capacitor is C, difference across is V, and energy stored
in it is U, then which of the following graphs are correct ?

(A) (B) (C) (D)

8.* Find the capacitance (C) and PD (V) of a parallel plate capacitor
with a dielectric composed of two wedges of relative permittivity
H1 and H 2. The area of each plate is A and the separation between
the plates is d. V = surface density of charge on the plates.
Then :

Vd Vxd § 1 1· Vd
(A) V = H H  H a ¨¨ H  H ¸¸ (B) V = V H0H2
0 2 0 © 1 2 ¹

H 0 H1H 2 A H 2
(C) C = H  H An H (D) V = 0
2 1 1

9.* Find the potential difference between the points A and B and
that between E and F of the circuit shown in figure :

(A) VAB = 5V (B) VEF = 5V

(C) VAB = 0 (D) VEF = 0

 CAPACITANCE
10.* We have a combination as shown in following figure. Choose the correct options :

(A) Total charge in this series combination is 600 PC

(B) The potential difference between the plates of C 1 is 30 V
(C) The potential difference between the plates of C2 is 20 V
(D) The potential difference between the plates of C3 is 40 V
11. A capacitor of capacitance C0 is charged to a potential V0 and then isolated. A capacitor C is then
charged from C0, discharged and charged again ; the process being repeated n times. Due to this,
potential of the larger capacitor is decreased to V, then value of C is :
(A) C0 [V0 /V]1/n (B) C 0[(V 0/V)1/n – 1] (C) C0 [(V0/V) – 1] (D) C0 [(V/V 0)n + 1]
12. A network of capacitors and resistances is shown
Current through the battery immediately after key K
is closed and after a long time interval is :
E E E E
(A) R , R  R (B) R  R , R R
1 1 3 1 3
R1  2 3
R2  R3

E E E
(C) Zero , R (D) R R , R1
1
R1  2 3
R 2  R3

13. (i) A 3PF capacitor is charged up to 300 volt and 2PF is charged up to 200 volt. The capacitor are
connected so that the plates of same polarity are connected together. The final potential difference
between the plates of the capacitor after they are connected is :
(A) 220 V (B) 160 V (C) 280 V (D) 260 V
(ii) If instead of this, the plates of opposite polarity were joined together, then amount of charge that
flows is :
(A) 6 × 10–4 C (B) 1.5 × 10–4 C (C) 3 × 10–4 C (D) 7.5 × 10 –4 C
#14. The time constant of the circuit shown is :

RC 3RC RC RC
(A) (B) (C) (D)
2 5 3 4
#15. Fig. shows two identical parallel plate capacitors connected to
a battery with switch S closed. The switch is now opened and
the free space between the plates of the capacitors is filled with
a dielectric of dielectric constant (or relative permittivity) 3. Then
the ratio of the total electrostatic energy stored in both capacitors
before and after the introduction of the dielectric.
2 3 5
(A) 1 (B) (C) (D)
5 5 3
16. The equivalent capacitance between point A and B is

(A) C/4 (B) C/2 (C) C (D) 2C

 CAPACITANCE
#17. In the arrangement of the capacitors shown in the figure, each
C1 capacitor has capacitance of 3PF and each C2 capacitor
has capacitance of 2PF then,

(i) Equivalent capacitance of the network between the points a and b is :

3
(A) 1PF (B)2PF (C) 4PC (D) PF
2
(ii) If V ab = 900 V, the charge on each capacitor nearest to the points 'a' and 'b' is :
(A) 300 PC (B) 600 PC (C) 450 PC (D) 900 PC
(iii) If V ab = 900 V, then potential difference across points c and d is :
(A) 60 V (B) 100 V (C) 120 V (D) 200 V

18. A combination arrangement of the capacitors is shown in the figure

(i) C1 = 3 PF, C2 = 6 PF and C3 = 2 PF then equivalent capacitance
between 'a' and 'b' is :
(A) 4 PF (B) 6 PF (C) 1 PF (D) 2 PF
(ii) If a potential difference of 48 V is applied across points a and b, then charge on the capacitor C 3 at
steady state condition will be :
(A) 8 PF (B) 16 PC (C) 32 PC (D) 64 PC
19*. A parallel plate capacitor of plate area A & plate separation d is charged to a potential difference V &
then the battery disconnected. A slab of dielectric constant K is then inserted between the plates of the
capacitor so as to fill the space between the plates. If Q, E and W denote respectively, the magnitude
of the charge on each plate, the electric field between the plates (after the slab is inserted) & work done
on the system, in the process of inserting the slab, then :

0 AV  0 KAV V 0 AV 2 § 1·
(A) Q = (B) Q = (C) E = (D) W = ¨1  ¸
d d Kd 2d © K ¹

20*. The figure shows a diagonal symmetric arrangement of

capacitor and a battery. If the potential of C is zero, then
(A) V A = + 20 V
(B) 4(VA – VB) + 2(VD – VB ) = 2VB
(C) 2(VA – VD) + 2(V B – V D) = 4VD
(D) V A = V B + V D
21. Two spherical conductors A1 and A2 of radii r1 and r2 are placed concentrically in
air. The two are connected by a copper wire as shown in figure. Then the equivalent
capacitance of the system is
4 SH 0k r1.r2
(A) r2  r1 (B) 4S0 (r 1 + r2 ) (C) 4S0r 2 (D) 4S0r 1

22*. Two capacitors of 2 PF & 3 PF are charged to 150 volt & 120 volt
respectively. The plates of a capacitor are connected as shown
in the fig. A discharged capacitor of capacity 1.5 PF falls to the
free ends of the wire. Then:
(A) Charge on the 1.5 PF capacitor will become is 180 PC.
(B) Charge on the 2 PF capacitor will become 120 PC.
(C) +Ve charge flows through point A from left to right.
(D) +Ve charge flows through point A from right to left.
23*. In the adjoining diagram all the capacitors are initially uncharged,
they are connected with a battery as a shown in figure. Then con
dition of combination will be
(A) Q1 = Q2 + Q3 and V = V1 + V2
V  V3
(B) Q1 = Q2 + Q3 and V = V1 + 2
2
(C) Q1 = Q2 + Q3 and V = V1 + V3
(D) Q2 = Q3 and V2 + V3
 CAPACITANCE
#24. Each edge of the cube contains a capacitance C. The equivalent capacitance
between the points A and B will be –

6C 5C 12C 7C
(A) (B) (C) (D)
5 6 7 12
#25. Two parallel plate capacitors A and B have the same separation d = 8.85 x 104 m between the plates. The
plate areas of A and B are 0.04 m 2 and 0.02 m 2 respectively. A slab of dielectric constant (relative permittivity
K = 9) has dimensions such that it can exactly fill the space between the plates of capacitor B.

(i) The dielectric slab is placed inside A as shown in the figure (a). A is charged to potential difference
of 110 V. Capacitance of A and energy stored in A is :
(A) 2nF, 12PJ (B) 4nF, 12PJ (C) 2nF, 24PJ (D) 1nF, 6PJ
(ii) Work done in removing slab from capacitor after disconnecting the battery is :

(A) 68.5 PJ (B) 24.25 PJ (C) 48.5 PJ (D) None

(iii) If now the dielectric slab is inserted in 'B' and 'B' is connected with 'A' as shown in figure (c) then
final energy stored in the system is :
(A) 33 PJ (B) 22 PJ (C) 44 PJ (D) 11 PJ
26. The plates of a parallel plate condenser are being moved away with a constant speed v. If the plate separation
at any instant of time is d then the rate of change of capacitance with time is proportional to–
1 1
(A) (B) (C) d2 (D) d
d d2
27. A parallel plate air capacitor is connected to a battery. The quantities charge, electric field and energy
associated with this capacitor are given by Q0, V0, E0 and U0 respectively. A dielectric slab is now intro-
duced to fill the space between the plates with the battery still in connection. The corresponding quantities
now given by Q, V, E and U are related to the previous one as ; [1985; 2M]
(A) Q > Q0 (B) V > V0 (C) E > E0 (D) U > U0
28. A thin metal plate P is inserted between the plates of a parallel plate
capacitor of capacity C in such a way that its edges touch the two plates
[Fig.]. The capacity now becomes:

(A) 0 (B) 3C (C) 4C (D) f

29. A spherical condenser has 10 cm and 12 cm as the radii of inner and outer spheres. The space
between the two spheres is filled with a dielectric of dielectric constant 5. The capacity when;
(i) the outer sphere is earthed.
2 8 10 16
(A) × 10–10 F (B) × 10–10 F (C) × 10–10 F (D) × 10 –10 F
3 3 3 3
(ii) the inner sphere is earthed.
104 52 26
(A) × 10 –10 F (B) × 10 –10 F (C) × 10 –10 F (D) 6 × 10–11 F
30 30 30
30. Two square metallic plates of 1 m side are kept 0.01 m apart, like a parallel plate capacitor, in air in
such a way that one of their edges is perpendicular, to an oil surface in a tank filled with an insulating
oil. The plates are connected to a battery of e.m.f. 500 volt. The plates are then lowered vertically into
the oil at a speed of 0.001 m/s. Then the current drawn from the battery during the process is :
[dielectric constant of oil = 11,  0 = 8.85 x 10-12 C 2/N 2 m 2] [IIT' 1994]
–8
(A) 4.43 × 10 A (B) 8.85× 10 A –9 –5
(C) 2.212 × 10 A (D) 4.425 × 10 A–9
 CAPACITANCE
31.* Capacitor C1 of capacitance 1PF and capacitor C2 of capacitance 2PF are separately charged fully by a
common battery. The two capacitors are then separately allowed to discharge through equal resistors at
time t = 0. [IIT' 1989; 2M]
(A) The current in each of the two discharging circuits is zero at t = 0.
(B) The currents in the two discharging circuits at t = 0 are equal but not zero
(C) The currents in the two discharging circuits at t = 0 are unequal
(D) Capacitor C1, losses 50% of its initial charge sooner than C2 loses 50% of its initial charge
32. Seven capacitors each of capacitance 2PF are connected in a configuration to obtain an effective capaci-
10
tance PF. Which of the following combination will achieve the desired result be? [IIT' 1990; 2M]
11

(A) (B)

(C) (D)

33. A parallel plate capacitor of capacitance C is connected to a battery and is charged to a potential difference V.
Another capacitor of capacitance 2C is similarly charged to a potential difference 2V. The charging battery is
now disconnected and the capacitors are connected in parallel to each other in such a way that the positive
terminal of one is connected to the negative terminal of the other. The final energy of the configuration is :
3 25 9
(A) zero (B) CV2 (C) CV2 (D) CV2 [JEE' 1995; 2M]
2 6 2
34. A parallel plate capacitor is charged and the charging battery is then disconnected. If the plates of the
capacitor are moved farther apart by means of insulating handles : [JEE' 1987; 2M]
(A) the charge on the capacitor increases (B) the voltage across the plates increases
(C) the capacitance increases
(D) the electrostatic energy stored in the capacitor increases
35. A parallel plate capacitor of plate area A and plate separation d is charged to potential difference V and then
the battery is disconnected. A slab of dielectric constant K is then inserted between the plates of the
capacitor so as to fill the space between the plates. If Q, E and W denote respectively, the magnitude of
charge on each plate, the electric field between the plates (after the slab is inserted), and work done on the
system, in question, in the process of inserting the slab, then : [JEE' 1991; 2M]

H 0 AV H 0KAV V H 0 AV 2 ª 1º
(A) Q (B) Q = (C) E = (D) W =
2d «1  K »
d d Kd ¬ ¼
 CAPACITANCE

PART - I : MATCH THE COLUMN

1. The circuit involves two ideal cells connected to a 1 PF capacitor via a key K. Initially the key K is in
position 1 and the capacitor is charged fully by 2V cell. The key is then pushed to position 2. Column
, gives physical quantities involving the circuit after the key is pushed from position 1. Column II gives
corresponding results. Match the statements in Column , with the corresponding values in Column ,, and
indicate your answer by darkening appropriate bubbles in the 4 × 4 matrix given in the OMR.

Column , Column ,,
(A) The net charge crossing the 4 volt cell in PC is (p) 2
(B) The magnitude of work done by 4 Volt cell in PJ is (q) 6
(C) The gain in potential energy of capacitor in PJ is (r) 8
(D) The net heat produced in circuit in PJ is (s) 16
2. In each situation of column-, a circuit involving two non-ideal cells of unequal emf E1 and E2 (E1 > E2) and
equal internal resistance r are given. A resistor of resistance R is connected in all four situations and a
capacitor of capacitance C is connected in last two situations as shown. Four statements are given in
column-. Match the situation of column- with statements in column-.
Column , Column ,,

(A) (p) magnitude of potential difference across

both cells can never be same.

(B) (q) cell of lower emf absorbs energy,

that is, it gets charged up as long
as current flows in circuit

(C) The capacitor is intitially uncharged. (r) potential difference across cell of
After the key K is closed lower emf may be zero.

(D) The capacitor is initially uncharged. (s) current in the circuit can never be zero
After the key K is closed. (even after steady state is reached).
 CAPACITANCE
PART - II : COMPREHENSION
Comprehension # 1
Capacitor C 3 in the circuit is a variable capacitor (its capacitance can be varied). Graph is plotted
between potential difference V1 (across capacitor C1) versus C3 . Electric potential V 1 approaches on
asymptote of 10 V as C3 of.

3. The electric potential V across the battery is equal to :

(A) 10 V (B) 12 V (C) 16 V (D) 20 V
4. The capacitance of the capacitor C1 has value :
(A) 2 P F (B) 6 P F (C) 8 P F (D) 12 P F
5. The capacitance of C2 is equal to :
(A) 2 P F (B) 6 P F (C) 8 P F (D) 12 P F

Comprehension # 2
In the shown circuit involving a resistor of resistance R :, capacitor of capacitance C farad and an ideal
cell of emf E volts, the capacitor is initially uncharged and the key is in position 1. At t = 0 second the
key is pushed to position 2 for t0 = RC seconds and then key is pushed back to position 1 for t0 = RC
seconds. This process is repeated again and again. Assume the time taken to push key from position
1 to 2 and vice versa to be negligible.

6. The charge on capacitor at t = 2RC second is

§ 1· §1 1 · § 1 1 ·
(A) CE (B) CE ¨1  ¸ (C) CE ¨  2 ¸ (D) CE ¨1   2 ¸
© e ¹ ©e e ¹ © e e ¹

7. The current through the resistance at t = 1.5 RC seconds is

E 1 E 1 E 1 E 1
(A) 2
(1  ) (B) e R (1  e ) (C) (1  ) (D) (1 
e
)
e R e R e eR

8. Then the variation of charge on capacitor with time is best represented by

(A) (B) (C) (D)

 CAPACITANCE
PART - III : ASSERTION / REASON
9. STATEMENT-1 : If the potential difference across a plane parallel plate capacitor is doubled then the
potential energy of the capacitor becomes four times under all conditions.

1
STATEMENT-2 : The potential energy U stored in the capacitor is U = CV2, where C and V have usual
2
meaning.
(A) Statement-1 is True, Statement-2 is True; Statement-2 is a correct explanation for Statement-1.
(B) Statement-1 is True, Statement-2 is True; Statement-2 is NOT a correct explanation for Statement-1
(C) Statement-1 is True, Statement-2 is False
(D) Statement-1 is False, Statement-2 is True

10. STATEMENT-1 : A charged plane parallel plate capacitor has half

interplanar region (,) filled with dielectric slab. The other half re-
gion ,, has air. Then the magnitude of net electric field in region ,
is less than that in region ,,.

STATEMENT-2 : In a dielectric medium induced (or polarised)

charges tend to reduce the electric field.

(A) Statement-1 is True, Statement-2 is True; Statement-2 is a correct explanation for Statement-1
(B) Statement-1 is True, Statement-2 is True; Statement-2 is NOT a correct explanation for Statement-1
(C) Statement-1 is True, Statement-2 is False
(D) Statement-1 is False, Statement-2 is True.

11. STATEMENT-1 : A parallel plate capacitor is charged to a potential difference of 100V, and disconnected
from the voltage source. A slab of dielectric is then slowly inserted between the plates. Compared to
the energy before the slab was inserted, the energy stored in the capacitor with the dielectric is
decreased.
STATEMENT-2 : When we insert a dielectric between the plates of a capacitor, the induced charges
tend to draw in the dielectric into the field ( just as neutral objects are attracted by charged objects due
to induction). We resist this force while slowly inserting the dielectric, and thus do negative work on the
system, removing electrostatic energy from the system.
(A) Statement-1 is True, Statement-2 is True; Statement-2 is a correct explanation for Statement-1
(B) Statement-1 is True, Statement-2 is True; Statement-2 is NOT a correct explanation for Statement-1
(C) Statement-1 is True, Statement-2 is False
(D) Statement-1 is False, Statement-2 is True.

PART - IV : TRUE / FALSE

12. (i) Two protons A and B are placed in between the two plates of a parallel plate
capacitor charged to a potential difference V as shown in the figure. The forces
on the two protons are identical. [JEE' 1986; 3M]
 CAPACITANCE
PART - V : FILL IN THE BLANKS
13. (i) Two parallel plate capacitors of capacitances C and 2C are connected in parallel and charged to a
potential difference V. The battery is then disconnected and the region between the plates of capacitor C
is completely filled with a material of dielectric constant K. The potential difference across the capacitors
now becomes .......... [1988; 2M]
(ii) Five identical capacitor plates, each of area A, are arranged such that adjacent plates are at a distance
d apart, the plates are connected to a source of emf V as shown in the figure

The charge on plate 1 is ......... and on plate 4 is .......... [JEE' 1984; 2M]

JEE PROBLEMS (LAST 10 YEARS)

1. A parallel combination of 0.1 M : resistor and a 10 m F capacitor is connected across a
1.5 volt source of negligible resistance. The time required for the capacitor to set charged upto 0.75 volt
is approximately (in seconds): [JEE - 97' 2/100]
(A) f (B) loge 2 (C) log10 2 (D) zero
2. A leaky parallel plate capacitor is filled completely with a dielectric having dielectric constant k = 5
and electrical conductivity V = 7.4 x 10-12 :-1 m -1. If the charge on the plate at t = 0 is q = 8.8 PC, then
calculate the leakage current at the instant t = 12 s. [JEE - 97' 5/100]
3. An electron enters the region between the plates of a parallel plate capacitor at a point equidistant from
either plate. The capacitor plates are 2 x 10 2 m apart and 10 1 m long. A potential difference of 300
volt is kept across the plates. Assuming that the initial velocity of the electron is parallel to the capacitor
plates, calculate the largest value of the velocity of the electron so that they do not fly out of the
capacitor at the other end. [JEE - 97' 5/100]
#4. Two capacitors A and B with capacitors 3µF and 2µF are charged to a
potential difference of 100 V and 180 V respectively. The plates of the
capacitors are connected as shown in fig. with one wire from each
capacitor free. The upper plate of A is positive and that of B is negative.
An uncharged 2µF capacitor C with lead wires falls on the free ends to
complete the circuit. Calculate.
(i) The final charge on the three capacitors and
(ii) The amount of electrostatic energy stored in the system before and after the completion of the
circuit. [JEE - 97' 5/100]
#5*. A dielectric slab of thickness d is inserted in a parallel plate capacitor whose negative plate is at
x = 0 and positive plate is at x = 3d. The slab is equidistant from the plates. The capacitor is given
some charge. As x goes from 0 to 3d. [JEE - 98' 2/200]
(A) The magnitude of the electric field remains the same
(B) The direction of the electric field remains the same
(C) The electric potential increases continuously
(D) The electric potential increases at first, then decreases and again increases.
#6. In the circuit shown in the figure, the battery is an ideal one, with e.m.f. V.
The capacitor is initially uncharged. The switch S is closed at time t = 0.
(a) Find the charge Q on the capacitor at time t.
(b) Find the current in AB at time t.
What is its limiting value as t of ? [JEE - 98' 8/200]
 CAPACITANCE
#7. For the circuit shown, which of the following
statements is true?
(A) With S 1 closed, V1 = 15 V, V2 = 20 V
(B) With S 3 closed, V1 = V 2 = 25 V
(C) With S1 and S2 closed, V 1 = V2 = 0
(D) With S 1 and S2 closed, V 1 = 30 V, V2 = 20 V [JEE - 99' 2/200]

#8. In the given circuit with steady current the potential drop across
the capacitor must be : [JEE - 2001' 3/105]
(A) V
(B) V/2
(C) V/3
(D) 2V/3
#9. Consider the situation shown in the figure. The capacitor A has a charge
q on it whereas B is uncharged. The charge appearing on the capacitor
B a long time after the switch is closed is [JEE - 2001' 1/105]
(A) zero (B) q/2 (C) q (D) 2 q

10. Two identical capacitors have the same capacitance C. One of them is charged to potential V1 and the other
to V2. The negative ends of the capacitors are connected together. When the positive ends are also connected,
the decrease in energy of the combined system is: [ JEE 2002' 1/105]
1 1 1 1
(A) C (V12 - V22 ) (B) C (V12 + V2 2) (C) C (V 1 - V2) 2 (D) C (V1 + V2) 2
4 4 4 4
11. Dotted line represents the charging of a capacitor with resistance X.
If resistance is made 2X then which will be the graph of charging
[JEE Scr. 2004' 2/84]
(A) P (B) Q
(C) R (D) S

12. In the given circuit the capacitor C is uncharged initially and switch
‘S’ is closed at t = 0. If charge on capacitor at time ‘t’ is given by
equation Q = Q0 (1 – e–Dt ). Find value of Q0 and D?
[JEE Mains 2005' 4/60]
13. An uncharged capacitor of capacitance 4µF, a battery of emf 12 volt and a resistor of 2.5 M:are connected
in series. The time after which VC = 3VR is (take An2 = 0.693) [JEE Scr. 2005' 2/84]
(A) 6.93 seconds (B) 13.86 seconds (C) not available (D) not available

14. A circuit is connected as shown in the figure with the switch S open.
When the switch is closed, the total amount of charge that flows from
Y to X is [JEE 2007' 3/81]

(A) 0 (B) 54 PC (C) 27 PC (D) 81 PC

15. A parallel plate capacitor C with plates of unit area and separation
d is filled with a liquid of dielectric constant K = 2. The level of
d
liquid is initially. Suppose the liquid level dicreases at a
3
constant speed V, the time constant as a function of time t is
[JEE' 2008 ; 3/163 ]
Figure :
6 H0 R (15d  9 V t ) H 0 R
(A) 5d  3V t (B)
2d 2 – 3d V t – 9 V 2 t 2

6 H0 R (15 d – 9 V t ) H 0 R
(C) 5d – 3 V t (D)
2d 2  3d V t – 9 V 2 t 2
 CAPACITANCE

EXERCISE # 1 D 4. 40 (e–2 – e–4) PJ = 4.7 PJ.

D 5. (i) (a) 10 s (b) 2 PC (c) 10 ln2 = 6.94 s
PART - I
(ii) q = (2 e–5 )PC = 1.348 x 108 C
SECTION (A) :
SECTION (E)
16 5
A 1. (i) 6 V (ii) 90 PJ (iii) (a) V (b) PJ E 2. (i) 20H0 = 180 pF (ii) 5.4 × 10–7 C (iii) 540 pF
3 3
(iv) 3 (v) 27 x 10-12 C2 N1 m2
Q5PF (vi) 3 × 105 v/m (vii) 1 x 105 v/m
1
(c)
Q10PF 2 H0 A t 2 wi 3
E 3. C= , = , =
t d 3 wF 2
dt 
80 160 k
(d) Q5PF = PC Q10PF = PC
3 3
S
2 E 4. = 0.62 m2
Q 5
A 2.
2k 0 A
1 1 k 1
E 5. (1 + k), 'q = CH
SECTION (B) 2 2 k 1

H 1 H2 H2
B 1. (a) H (b) (c) H (d) CH2 (e) (f) H 0 AV 2 § 1  1·
R 2 R R E 6. ¨ ¸
2d © K ¹
B 2. 2 PC, 8 PC, 6 PC and 16 PC, 2 A.
PART - II
B 3. (i) 20 PC, 40 PC, 60 PC (ii) 2400 PJ (iii) 1200 PJ
SECTION (A) :
B 4. 11 V A 1. (A) A 2. (D)
A 3. (i) (D) (ii) (B) (iii) (D) (iv) (A)
I A C1  I B C 2  ID C 3
B 5. I0 = = 20 V A 4. (B)
C 1 C 2  C 3
SECTION (B) :
B 6. 12 V
B 1. (B) B 2. (C) B 3. (B), (C), (D)
B 4. (D) B 5. (C) B 6. (A), (B), (D)
SECTION (C)
B 7. (C)
C 1. 5 rows each containing 5 capacitors.
C 2. (a) five 2 PC capacitors in series SECTION (C)
(b) 3 parallel rows; each consisting of five 2.0 C 1. (D) C 2. (B) C 3. (C) C 4. (D)
PF capacitors in series C 5. (B) C 6. (B)
C 3. 60 PC
SECTION (D)
C 4. (a) 200/3 V at each point (b) zero D 1. (i) (C) (ii) (A) (iii) (C) (iv) (C)
9 D 2. (A), (C) D 3. (A), (C)
C 5. PF C 6. (i) 4 PF, (ii) 12 PF D 4. (i) (B) (ii) (C) (iii) (A)
4
D 5. (i) (A) (ii) (B)
C 7. (a) CH/3, (b) CH2/3 (c) CH2/6 (d) CH2/6
D 6. (i) (A) (ii) (C)
D 7. (i) (C) (ii) (B) (iii) (C) (iv) (D)
SECTION (D)
D 8. (C) D 9. (D)
D 1. q = 6 × 10–4 (1 – e–2)e–2 = 70 PC
SECTION (E)
11
D 2. = 2.0 :. E 1. (B) E 2. (C) E 3. (A), (B), (C)
5An3
E 4. (A). (C), (D) E 5. (A)
E 6. (C) E 7. (A)
10 7
D 3. PF = 0.25 PF E 8. (A) E 9. (C)
ln( 3 / 2)
E 10. (B)
 CAPACITANCE
4SH0Kabc
EXERCISE # 2 25.
Ka(b  c )  b(c  a)
PART - I 26. work done by the field = Q (V1  V2)
1/ 2
§ Vea 2 · PART - II
1. ¨ ¸
¨ m d (d  d ) ¸ 1. (A), (C) 2. (B), (C) 3. (B), (C), (D)
© 2 1 2 ¹
4. (B), (C) 5. (A), (C) 6. (A), (D)
q2 x 2  x1 0 SV 2 §¨ x1  x1 ·¸
© 2 1¹ 7. (A), (B), (C), (D) 8. (A), (C)
2. (i) (ii)
20 S 2 9. (A), (B) 10. (A), (B), (C), (D)
11. (B) 12. (A) 13. (i) (D) (ii) (A)
24 76 14. (A) 15. (C) 16. (D)
3. (i) = 0.17 A to the left, = 0.53 A to the leftt
143 143 17. (i) (A) (ii) (D) (iii) (B) 18. (i) (A) (ii) (D)
(ii) 46.92 PC
19. (A), (C), (D) 20. (A), (B), (C), (D)
4. (i) 6 PC (ii) 0, 1/10 A, 1/10 A, 1/20 A, 1/20 A.
21. (C) 22. (A), (B), (C) 23. (A), (B), (C)
5. (a) 8 PC, 16 PC (b) 16 PJ, 32 PJ, (c) 96 PJ
24. (A) 25. (i) (A) (ii) (C) (iii) (D)
6. 25 V and 75 V.
26. (B) 27. (A), (D) 28. (D)
1 29. (i) (C) (ii) (A) 30. (D)
7. (4 × 10–6) (12)2 J = 0.288 mJ
2 31. (B), (D) 32. (A) 33. (B)
8. 9/10 A 34. (B), (D) 35. (A), (C), (D)
9. 1.5 A from right to left,
EXERCISE # 3
1
(5 × 10–6) (2.4)2 =1.44 × 10–5 J PART - I
2
1. (A) p , (B) r , (C) q , (D) p
11H 0 A 11 11
10. 18 d 11. (a) PF (b) PF 2. (A) p,q,s (B) p,r,s (C) p,q (D) p,r
6 4
2mgH 0 A PART - II
12. 4 PF 13. V= = 43 m V 3. A 4. C 5. A 6. C
qC
3 7. D 8. C
14.
5 PART - III
15. 1st part has di-electric ;
9. D 10. D 11. A
(a) extend graph of 2
(b) straight line joining points PART - IV
A and B 12. (i) T
2 K2 1
H 0bH (K  1) PART - V
16. 17. K1  1
2dg
§ 3 · H 0 AV 2H 0 AV
(A  a)Amd 13. (i) ¨ ¸V (ii) ,–
0 A ª k 1 k 2 k 3 º ©K  2¹ d d
18. 8
H0 AH 2 (K  1)
. 19. «  »
d ¬ 2 k 2 k 3 ¼

CK 1K 2 K2 H0 A EXERCISE # 4
20. CR = K  K ln K where C =
2 1 1 d q V 1V / 0 K
1. D 2. i= e # 0.2 PA
(8.85 u 10 12 )1(500 ) (11  1) (0.001) A k 0
21. i=
(0.01) 2
= 4.43 × 10 A
–9 3. × 108 m/s 4. 18 mJ 5. B, C
30
22. (i) CA = 2 × 10–9 F, CV
6. (a) q = [1  e2t/3RC]
1 2
UA = (2×10–9) (110)2 = 1.21 × 10–5 J
2 V ª 1 º V
(ii) W = 4.84 × 10–5 J (b) i = «1  e 2t / 3RC » ; i = as t o f
2R ¬ 3 ¼ 2R

1 ( 2.2 u 10 7 )2 7. D 8. C 9. A 10. C
(iii) U = = 1.1. × 10–5 J (R1  R 2 )
2 (2.2 u 10 9 ) R 2 VC
11. B 12. Q0 = R  R & D = CR R
23. (a) 0.50 PC (b) 10 V 24. (a) 10 V (b) 10 V 1 2 1 2
13. B 14. C 15. A
 CAPACITANCE

PART - I : OBJECTIVE QUESTIONS

1. The energy stored in a condenser is in the form of-
(A) kinetic energy (B) electric potential energy (C) elastic energy (D) magnetic energy

2*. Two similar condensers are connected in parallel and are charged to a
potential V. Now these are separated out and are connected in series as
shown. Then
(A) the energy stored in the system increases
(B) the potential difference between free plates may becomes zero.
(C) the potential difference between free plates may becomes 2V.
(D) the charge on the plates mutually connected nullifies.

3. Two parallel plate condensers of capacity of 20mF and 30mF are charged to the potentials of 30V and 20V
respectively. If likely charged plates are connected together then the common potential difference will be-
(A) 100 V (B) 50 V (C) 24 V (D) 10 V
4. The minimum number of condensers each of capacitance of 2PF, in order to obtain resultant capacitance of
5PF will be-
(A) 4 (B) 5 (C) 6 (D) 10
5. The equivalent capacity between the points A and B in
the adjoining diagram will be
(A) 0PF
(B) 16PF
(C) 4PF
(D) 2PF

6. How the seven condensers, each of capacity 2PF, should be connected in order to obtain a resultant
10
capacitance of PF?
11

(A) (B)

(C) (D)

7. The potential difference between the points P and Q in the adjoining circuit will be-
(C1C 4  C 2 C3 ) E C 2C 3 E
(A) (C  C ) (C  C ) (B) C C (C  C )
1 3 2 4 1 2 3 4

(C 2 C3  C1C 4 ) E (C 2C 3  C1C 4 )E
(C) (C  C ) (C  C ) (D) (C  C  C  C )
1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4
 CAPACITANCE
8. The resultant capacity between the points A and B in the following circuit will be-

C
(A) C (B) (C) 2C (D) 3C
2
9. The equivalent capacitance of the combination shown in Figure is.

3 C
(A) C (B) 2C (C) C (D)
2 2
10. The effective capacity between A and B in Fig. will be :

(A) 0.5 PF (B) 1.5 PF (C) 2 PF (D) 2.5 PF

11. The total energy stored in the condenser system shown in the figure will be–

(A) 2 × 10–6 J (B) 4 × 10–6 J (C) 8 × 10–6 J (D) 16 × 10–6 J

12. Five capacitors together with their capacitances are shown in the adjoining figure. The potential difference
between the points A and B is 60 volt. The equivalent capacitance between the point A and B and charge on
capacitor 5PF will be respectively –

(A) 44 PF, 30 PC (B) 16 PF, 150 PC (C) 15 PF, 200 PC (D) 4 PF, 50 PC

13. A capacitor of capacitance 10 PF is connected to a battery of emf 2V.It is found that it takes 50 ms for the
charge on the capacitor to become 12.6 Pc. Then the resistance of the circuit is :
(A ) 4 k: (B) 5 k: (C) 6 k: (D) (A ) 7 k:
 CAPACITANCE
14. The effective capacitance of the system in adjoining figure will be -
H0A H0 A
(A) C = (B) C =
ª d1 d 2 d3 d 4 º 4d
«    »
¬ K1 K 2 K 3 K 4 ¼

4d K 1K 2K 4K 3
(C) C = H A (D) C =
0 4d
15. The capacitance of a parallel plate condenser is C0. If a dielectric of relative permittivity Hr and thickness
equal to one fourth the plate separation is placed between the plates, then its capacity becomes C. Then
C
value of C will be-
0

5H r 4H r 3H r 2H r
(A) 4H  1 (B) 3H  1 (C) 2H  1 (D) H  1
r r r r

16*. A parallel plate capacitor is charged and the charging battery is then disconnected. The plates of the capacitor
are now moved, farther apart. The following things happen :
(A) The charge on the capacitor increases
(B) The electrostatics energy stored in the capacitor increases
(C) The voltage between the plates increases
(D) The capacitance increases.
17. Two isolated metallic solid spheres of radii R and 2R are charged such that both of these have same charge
density V. The spheres are located far away from each other, and connected by a thin conducting wire. Then
the new charge density on the bigger sphere is.
5V 5V 7V 7V
(A) (B) (C) (D)
6 3 6 3
18. Charge on the capacitor in the given circuit in steady state condition is:
(A) 12 PC
(B) 15 PC
(C) 18 PC
(D) 6 PC
19. A capacitor of capacitance C is charged to a potential difference V0. The charging battery is disconnected
and the capacitor is connected to a capacitor of unknown capacitance CX. The P.D. across the combination
is V. The value of Cx should be -
C( V0  V ) C( V  V0 ) CV CV0
(A) (B) (C) V (D)
V V 0 V
20. The switch S shown in figure is kept closed for a long time and then opened
at t = 0, then the current in the middle 20 : resistor at t = 0.25 ms is :

(A) 0.629 A (B) 0.489 A

(C) 0.189 A (D) 23 mA

21. Statement-1 : The circuits containing capacitor be handled cautiously even when there is no current.
Statement-2 : A charged capacitor, can discharge through our body and harm us.
(A) Statement-1 is True, Statement-2 is True; Statement-2 is a correct explanation for
Statement-1
(B) Statement-1 is True, Statement-2 is True; Statement-2 is NOT a correct explanation
for Statement-1
(C) Statement-1 is True, Statement-2 is False
(D) Statement-1 is False, Statement-2 is True.
 CAPACITANCE
PART - II : SUBJECTIVE QUESTIONS
1. A capacitor having a capacitance of 100 PF is charged to a potential difference of 24V. The charging battery
is disconnected and the capacitor is connected to another battery of emf 12V with the positive plate of the
capacitor joined with the positive terminal of the battery.
(a) Find the charges on the capacitor before and after the reconnection.
(b) Find the charge flown through the 12 V battery
(c) Is work done by the battery or is it done on the battery? Find its magnitude.
(d) Find the decrease in electrostatic field energy.
(e) Find the heat developed during the flow of charge after reconnection.
2. Six 1 PF capacitors are so arranged that their equivalent capacitance is 0.70 PF. If a potential difference
of 600 volt is applied to the combination, what charge will appear on each capacitor?
3. Each capacitor shown in figure has a capacitance of 5.0 PF. The emf of the
battery is 50V. How much charge will flow through AB after the switch S is closed?

4. The capacitance of a parallel plate capacitor with plate area 'A' and
separation d is C. The space between the plates is filled with two
wedges of dielectric constant K1 and K2 respectively. Find the
capacitance of the resulting capacitor. [JEE - 96,2]

5. A battery of 10 volt is connected to a capacitor of capacity 0.1 F. The battery is now removed and this
capacitor is connected to a second uncharged capacitor. If the charge distributes equally on these two
capacitors, find the total energy stored in the two capacitors. Further, compare this energy with the
initial energy stored in the first capacitor. [REE - 96,5]
6. The circular plates A and B of a parallel plate air capacitor have a diameter of 0.1 m and are 2 x 103 m
apart. The plates C and D of a similar capacitor have a diameter of 0.12 m and are 3 x 103 m apart.
Plate A is earthed. Plates B and D are connected together. Plate C is connected to the positive pole of
a 120 volt battery whose negative is earthed. Calculate
(i) The combined capacitance of the arrangement and
(ii) The energy stored in it. [REE - 98,5]
7. Calculate the capacitance of a parallel plate condenser, with plate area A and distance between plates
d, when filled with a dielectric whose dielectric constant varies as; [REE 2000,6]

Ex d ; E d < x < d.
K(x) =  H 0< x < 2 K(x) =  H (d  x) 2
0 0

For what value of E would the capacity of the condenser be twice that when it is without any dielectric?

8. Plot the graph between potential and time for an isolated conductor of finite capacitance C, if its charge
varies according to the formula Q = (Dt + Q0) coulomb, where Q0 and D are positive constant.

9. (a) Find the current in the 20 : resistor shown in figure.

(b) If a capacitor of capacitance 4PF is joined between the points
A and B, what would be the electrostatic energy stored in it in
steady state ?

10. (i) If initially the capacitors are uncharged then find the total charge
flown through the battery in the arrangement shown in figure.
(ii) Find out final charge on each capacitor.
 CAPACITANCE
11. The lower plate of a parallel plate capacitor is supported on a rigid rod. The upper
plate is suspended from one end of a balance. The two plates are joined together
by a thin wire and subsequently disconnected. The balance is then counterpoised.
Now a voltage V = 5000 volt is applied between the plates. The distance between
the plates is d = 5 mm and the area of each plate is A = 100 cm 2. Then find out the
additional mass placed to maintain balance. [All the elements other than plates are
massless and nonconducting]
12. Find the potential difference Va – Vb between the points a and b shown in each part of the figure.

13. Find the equivalent capacitances of the combinations shown in the figure between the indicated points.

14. Find the capacitance of the combination as shown in the figure between A and B.

15. A capacitor charged to 50 V is discharged by connecting the two plates through a resistor at t = 0. If the
potential difference across the plates drops to 1.0 V at t = 10 ms, what will be the potential difference at
t = 20 ms ?
16. Consider the situation shown in figure. The switch is closed at t = 0 when
the capacitors are uncharged. Find the charge on the capacitor C1 as a
function of time t.

17. A parallel-plate capacitor is filled with a dielectric material having resistivity U and dielectric constant K. The
capacitor is charged and disconnected from the charging source. The capacitor is slowly discharged through
the dielectric. Show that the time constant of the discharge is independent of all geometrical parameters like
the plate area or separation between the plates. Find this time constant.
18. A parallel plate capacitor has a capacitance of 100 pF, a plate area of 100 cm 2, a mica dielectric filling the
full space between the plates and 50 volts potential difference. Calculate;
(a) E in the mica
(b) The free charge on the plates and
(c) The induced surface charge. [ K of mica = 6 ]
19. Find the capacitances of the capacitors shown in figure. The plates area is A and the separation between the
plates is d. Different dielectric slabs in a particular part of the figure are of the same thickness and the entire
gap between the plates is field with the dielectric slabs.
 CAPACITANCE

MQB (MISCELLANEOUS QUESTION BANK) 1

9. (a) A (b) 32 PJ
5
PART - I
10. (i) 110 PC (ii) Q6PF = 60 PC, Q5PF = 50 PC
1. B 2. BC 3. C 4. A
5. C 6. C 7. C 8. C H0
11. u 1010 kg = 4.5 g
9. B 10. C 11. C 12. D 2g
13. B 14. A 15. B 16. BC
17. A 18. C 19. A 20. C 12
12. (a) V (b) – 8 V
21. A 11

PART - II 13. (a) 8 PF (b) 8 PF 14. 1 PF

1. (a) 2400 PC, 1200 PC (b) 1200 PC (c) 14.4 mJ
1
(d) 21.6 mJ (e) 7.2 mJ 15. = 0.02 V
50
2. 420 PC on one, 180 PC on two,
60 PC on remaining 3 capacitors C1C 2
16. q = HC(1 – et/rc), where C = C  C
1 2
10 CK 1K 2 K2
3. × 10–4 C 4. (K 2  K 1 ) An K 1 17. H0UK
3
18. (a) 9.4 K v/m

Uinitial (b) 5 × 109 C

5 5
5. J, U = =2 (c) 4.1 × 109 C
2 final 2 .5

6. (i) 17 pF (ii) 122.4 nJ 2K 1K 2 H 0 A

19. (a) d(K  K )
1 2
§ Ed · H 0 AE
7. Ed H 0 An¨¨1  ¸
© 2H 0 ¸¹ , C = § Ed · 3H 0 A K1 K 2K 3
2An ¨¨1  ¸¸ (b) d (K K  K K  K K )
© 2 H0 ¹ 1 2 2 3 3 1

V
H0A
Q0 D (c) 2 d (K1 + K2)
C
T tanT=
C

8.