Knox Academy Higher Physics

AC and Capacitance Homework 2

26
Answer all questions.

1. A student carries out three experiments to 2. Look at the circuit below.

investigate the charging of a capacitor using
a d.c. supply.

The axes of the graphs have not been

labelled.
Which row in the table shows the labels for
the axes of the graphs?
Graph 1 Graph 2 Graph 3
A Voltage Current Charge and
and time and time voltage Which of the following describes the reading
on the voltmeters a short time after switch S
B Current Voltage Charge and
is closed but before the capacitor is fully
and time and time voltage
charged?
C Current Charge and Voltage A Vc = V1 + V2
and time voltage and time
B Vs = Vc - ( V1 + V2)
D Charge and Current Voltage
voltage and time and time C Vs = Vc + V1 + V2

E Voltage Charge and Current D Vs = Vc

and time voltage and time E Vs = Vc - V1 + V2
3. In an experiment, the circuit shown is used to investigate the charging of a capacitor.

The power supply has an e.m.f. of 12V and negligible internal resistance. The capacitor
is initially uncharged.
Switch S is closed and the current measured during charging. The graph of charging
current against time is shown in figure 1.

(a) Sketch a graph of the voltage across the capacitor against time until the capacitor
is fully charged. Numerical values are required on both axes. 2
(b) Calculate the voltage across the capacitor when the charging current is 20mA. 2
(c) How much energy is stored in the capacitor when the charging current is 20mA? 2
(d) The capacitor has a maximum working voltage of 12V.
Suggest one change to this circuit which would allow an initial charging current of
greater than 30mA. 1
(e) The 100µ F capacitor is now replaced by an uncharged capacitor of unknown
capacitance and the experiment is repeated. The graph of charging current against
time for this capacitor is shown in figure 2.

By comparing figure 2 with figure 1, determine whether the capacitance of the

capacitor is greater than, equal to or less than 100µ F.
You must justify your answer. 2

(9)
4. The “coulomb per volt” is a unit of 7. The energy stored in a 500 µ F
A Charge capacitor charged to a voltage of
20V is
B Energy
A 5 x 10-3J
C Power
B 2.5 x 10-2J
D Capacitance
C 5 x 10-2J
E Potential difference
D 1 x 10-1J
E 2 x 10-1J

5. An 8µ F capacitor requires
8. The following graph shows how
A 8µ C to charge it to 1V the charge Q on a capacitor is
B 1µ C to charge it to 8V related to the p.d. V applied across
its plates.
C 8µ C to charge it to 8V
D 8C to charge it to 8µ V
E 1C to charge it to 8µ V

6. A 25µ F capacitor is charged until

the potential difference across it is
500V. The charge stored in the What does the shaded area under
capacitor is this graph represent?
A 5.00 x 10-8C A The distance between the
plates of the capacitor.
B 2.00 x 10-5C
B The capacitance of the
C 1.25 x 10-2C capacitor.
D 1.25 x 104C C The working voltage of the
E 2.00 x 10 C7 capacitor.
D The charge stored on the
plates of the capacitor.
E The energy stored in the
capacitor.
9. A student investigates the charging and discharging of a 2200µ F capacitor using the
circuit shown below.

The 9.0V battery has negligible internal resistance.

Initially the capacitor is uncharged and the switch is in position X.
The switch is then moved to position Y and the capacitor charges fully in 1.5s
(a) (i) Sketch a graph of the p.d. across the resistor against time while the capacitor
charges. Appropriate numerical values are required on both axes. 2
(ii) The resistor is replaced with one of higher resistance. Explain how this affects the
time taken to fully charge the capacitor. 1
(iii) At one instant during charging of the capacitor the reading on the voltmeter is
4.0V.
Calculate the charge stored by the capacitor at this instant. 3
(b) Using the same circuit in a later investigation the resistor has a resistance of 100kΩ . The
switch is in position Y and the capacitor is fully charged.
(i) Calculate the maximum energy stored in the capacitor. 2
(ii) The switch is moved to position X. Calculate the maximum current in the resistor. 2
(10)