Fundamentals of Physics

Halliday & Resnic

CH25Capacitors and Capacitance
1, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 2, 27, 31, 33, 35, 37, !1, !3, !5, !9, 51, 53, 55
Pro"lem 25#1
$he t%o metal o"&ects in Fi'( 25#25 ha)e net char'es of
7pC +
and
7pC
, %hich result in a
2V potential difference "et%een them( *a+ ,hat is the capacitance of the system- *"+ .f the
char'es are chan'ed to
2pC +
and
2pC
, %hat does the capacitance "ecome- *c+ ,hat does
the potential difference "ecome-
25#25
7pC +

7pC
2/
a"!"
2pC +

2pC
#"$%c
&"
25#25
0'1(*a+ $he capacitance of the system is
C
q
V
= = =

7
2
35
pC
/
pF( (
*"+ $he capacitance is independent of q2 it is still 3(5 pF(
*c+ $he potential difference "ecomes
V
q
C
= = =
2
35
57
pC
pF
/(
(
Pro"lem 25#5
3 parallel#plate capacitor has circular plates of 4(2 cm radius and 1(3 mm separation( *a+
Calculate the capacitance( *"+ ,hat char'e %ill appear on the plates if a potential difference of 12
/ is applied-
)*+,+-.4(2cm/01(3mma123"12/4
!$%
0'1(*a+ $he capacitance of a parallel#plate capacitor is 'i)en "y

A
C
d

= , %here A is the area of

each plate and d is the plate separation( 5ince the plates are circular, the plate area is
2
A R = , %here R is the radius of a plate( $hus,
1 14
Fundamentals of Physics
Halliday & Resnic

( ) ( )
2
12 2
2
1
3
4(45 1 F m 4(2 1 m
1(!! 1 F 1!!pF(
1(3 1 m
R
C
d

= = = =

*"+ $he char'e on the positi)e plate is 'i)en "y

q CV =
, %here V is the potential difference
across the plates( $hus,
1 4
*1(!! 1 +*12 + 1(73 1 17(3 q F V C nC

= = =
Pro"lem 25#7
,hat is the capacitance of a drop that results %hen t%o mercury spheres, each of radius 2 R mm = ,
mer'e-
56789:;<5-. 2 R mm = 3
0'1(3ssumin' conser)ation of )olume, %e find the radius of the com"ined spheres, then use

! C R =
to find the capacitance( ,hen the drops com"ine, the )olume is dou"led( .t is
then
3
!
2* +
3
V R

= ( $he ne% radius R' is 'i)en "y

( )
3
3
! !
2
3 3
R R =

= R R 2
1 3
(
$he ne% capacitance is
1 3

! ! 2 5(! ( C R R R = = = p p p
,ith 2 R mm = , %e o"tain ( ) ( )
12 3 13
5(! 4(45 1 F m 2( 1 m 2(4 1 F C

= =
(
Pro"lem 25#9
.n Fi'( 25#29, find the e6ui)alent capacitance of the com"ination( 3ssume that
1
1 C F =
,
2
5 C F =
, and
3
! C F =
(
25#29=>?@A
1
1 C F =
B
2
5 C F =

3
! C F =
C
2 14
Fundamentals of Physics
Halliday & Resnic

25#29
0'1(
1 2 1 2
C C C
+
= +
DE

1 2 3 1 2 3
1 1 1 1 1
eq
C C C C C C
+
= + = +
+
( ) ( ) ( )
1 2 3
e6
1 2 3
1( F 5( F !( F
3(17 F(
1( F 5( F !( F
C C C
C
C C C

+ +
= = =
+ + + +
Pro"lem 25#11
8ach of the unchar'ed capacitors in Fi'( 25#3 has a capacitance of
25 F
( 3 potential difference
of !2 V V = is esta"lished %hen the s%itch is closed( Ho% many coulom"s of char'e then pass
throu'h meter 3-
25#39;<5FGHIJ
25 F
<KL !2 V V = MNOPQRSS
T43UVPWX!O$%
25#3
0'1(
3
eq
C C =
$he char'e that passes throu'h meter A is
q C V CV = = = =
e6
F / C( 3 3 25 !2 315 ( ( b gb g
Pro"lem 25#13
.n Fi'( 25#29, a potential difference of 1 V V = is applied across a capacitor arran'ement %ith
capacitances
1
1 C F =
,
2
5 C F =
, and
3
! C F =
( .f capacitor 3 under'oes electrical "rea:do%n
so that it "ecomes e6ui)alent to conductin' %ire, %hat is the increase in *a+ the char'e on capacitor
1 and *"+ the potential difference across capacitor 1-
25#29Y5
1
1 C F =
B
2
5 C F =

3
! C F =
Z& 1 V V = CV3 [
3 14
Fundamentals of Physics
Halliday & Resnic

\]^>_`ab4aV1 cd$%"V1 e&

25#29
0'1(*a+ and *"+ $he ori'inal potential difference
1
V
across
1
C
is
( ) ( )
e6
1
1 2
3(17 F 1(/
21(1/(
1( F 5( F
C V
V
C C


= = =
+ +
$hus
1
1 21(1 74(9 V V V V = =
and
!
1 1 1
*1 +*74(9 + 7(49 1 q C V F V C

= = =
Pro"lem 25#15
3 1 pF capacitor is char'ed to a potential difference of 5 /, and the char'in' "attery is
disconnected( $he capacitor is then connected in parallel %ith a second *initially unchar'ed+
capacitor( .f the potential difference across the first capacitor drops to 35 /, %hat is the capacitance
of this second capacitor-
1 51pF HO5/
0'1($he char'e initially on the char'ed capacitor is 'i)en "y
1
q CV =
, %here
1
1 C pF =
is the
capacitance and

5 V V =
is the initial potential difference( 3fter the "attery is disconnected
and the second capacitor %ired in parallel to the first, the char'e on the first capacitor is
1 1
q CV =
, %here 35 V V = is the ne% potential difference( 5ince char'e is conser)ed in the
process, the char'e on the second capacitor is
2 1
q q q =
, %here
2
C
is the capacitance of the
second capacitor( 5u"stitutin'
1
CV
for
q
and
1
CV
for
1
q
, %e o"tain
2 1
* + q C V V =
( $he
potential difference across the second capacitor is also V, so the capacitance is
( )
2
2 1
5/ 35/
1pF !3pF(
35/
V V q
C C
V V

= = = =
4 14
Fundamentals of Physics
Halliday & Resnic

Pro"lem 25#2
.n Fi'( 25#37, 1 V V = ,
1
1 C F =
, and
2 3
2 C C F = =
( 5%itch 5 is first thro%n to the left side
until capacitor 1 reaches e6uili"rium( $hen the s%itch is thro%n to the ri'ht( ,hen e6uili"rium is
a'ain reached, ho% much char'e is on capacitor 1-
25#37
0'1(,e do not employ ener'y conser)ation since, in reachin' e6uili"rium, some ener'y is
dissipated either as heat or radio %a)es( Char'e is conser)ed2 therefore, if
1
1
bat
Q CV C = =
, and
1
q
,
2
q
and
3
q
are the char'es on
1
C
,
2
C
and
3
C
after the s%itch is
thro%n to the ri'ht and e6uili"rium is reached, then
1 2 3
Q q q q = + +
(
5ince the parallel pair
2
C
and
3
C
are identical, it is clear that
2 3
q q =
( $hey are in parallel
%ith
1
C
so that
1 3
V V =
, or
3 1
1 3
q q
C C
=
%hich leads to
3
1
2
q
q = ( $herefore,
3 3
3 3
5
* +
2 2
q q
Q q q = + + =
%hich yields
3
2 2*1 C+
! C
5 5
Q
q

= = = and conse6uently
3
1
2
2
q
q C = =
Pro"lem 25#27
Fi'ure 25#!3 sho%s a 12( / "attery and four unchar'ed capacitors of capacitances
1
1 C F =
,
2
2 C F =
,
3
3 C F =
, and
!
! C F =
( .f only s%itch 51 is closed, %hat is the char'e on *a+
capacitor 1, *"+ capacitor 2, *c+ capacitor 3, and *d+ capacitor !- .f "oth s%itches are closed, %hat is
the char'e on *e+ capacitor 1, *f+ capacitor 2, *'+ capacitor 3, and *h+ capacitor !-
5 14
Fundamentals of Physics
Halliday & Resnic

25#!3
0'1(*a+ .n this situation, capacitors 1 and 3 are in series, %hich means their char'es are
necessarily the same;
( ) ( ) ( )
1 3
1 3
1 3
1( F 3( F 12(/
9( C(
1( F<3( F
C C V
q q
C C

= = = =
+
*"+ Capacitors 2 and ! are also in series;
( ) ( ) ( )
2 !
2 !
2 !
2( F !( F 12(/
17( C(
2( F !( F
C C V
q q
C C

= = = =
+ +
*c+
3 1
9( C( q q = =
*d+
! 2
17( C( q q = =
*e+ ,ith s%itch 2 also closed, the potential difference V
1
across C
1
must e6ual the potential
difference across C
2
and is
( ) ( )
3 !
1
1 2 3 !
3( F !( F 12(/
4(!/(
1( F 2( F 3( F !( F
C C
V V
C C C C


+ +
= = =
+ + + + + +
$hus,
1 1 1
*1 +*4(! + 4(! q CV F V C = = =
*f+ 5imilarly,
2 2 1
*2 +*4(! + 17(4 q C V F V C = = =
*'+
3 3 1
* + *3 +*12 4(! + 1(4 q C V V F V V C = = =
*h+
! ! 1
* + *! +*12 4(! + 1!(! q C V V F V V C = = =
Pro"lem 25#31
,hat capacitance is re6uired to store an ener'y of 1kW h at a potential difference of 1 /-
0'1($he ener'y stored "y a capacitor is 'i)en "y U CV =
1
2
2
, %here V is the potential difference
across its plates( ,e con)ert the 'i)en )alue of the ener'y to =oules( 5ince
1 = 1 , s, =
%e
multiply "y
3
*1 +*37 +
W s
kW h
6 14
Fundamentals of Physics
Halliday & Resnic

to o"tain
7
1 3(7 1 kW h J = ( $hus,
C
U
V
= =

=
2
2 37 1
1
72
2
7
2
( =
/
F(
c h
b g
Pro"lem 25#33
3ssume that a stationary electron is a point of char'e( ,hat is the ener'y density u of its electric
field at radial distances *a+ 1 r mm = , *"+
1 r m =
, *c+ 1 r nm = , and *d+
1 r pm =
- *e+ ,hat is u in
the limit as r -
0'1($he ener'y per unit )olume is
u E
e
r
e
r
= =
F
H
G
I
K
J
=
1
2
1
2 ! 32

2
2
2
2

!


0
2
(
*a+ 3t
3
1( 1 m r

= , %ith
19
1(7 1 C e

= and
12 2 2

4(45 1 C >? m

= , %e ha)e
14 3
9(17 1 =>m u

= (
*"+ 5imilarly, at
7
1( 1 m r

= ,
7 3
9(17 1 =>m u

= (
*c+ 3t
9
1( 1 m r

= ,
7 3
9(17 1 =>m u = (
*d+ 3t
12
1( 1 m r

= ,
14 3
9(17 1 =>m u = (
*e+ From the e@pression a"o)e
!
u r

( $hus, for r , the ener'y density

u
(
Pro"lem 25#35
$he parallel plates in a capacitor, %ith a plate area of
2
4(5cm and an air#filled separation of 3(
mm, are char'ed "y a 7( / "attery( $hey are then disconnected from the "attery and pulled apart
*%ithout dischar'e+ to a separation of 4( mm( ?e'lectin' frin'in', find *a+ the potential difference
"et%een the plates, *"+ the initial stored ener'y, *c+ the final stored ener'y, and *d+ the %or: re6uired
to separate the plates(
0'1(*a+ Aet q "e the char'e on the positi)e plate( 5ince the capacitance of a parallel#plate
capacitor is 'i)en "y

i
A
d

, the char'e is
i
i
AV
q CV
d

= =
( 3fter the plates are pulled
7 14
Fundamentals of Physics
Halliday & Resnic

apart, their separation is
f
d
and the potential difference is V
f
( $hen
f
f
AV
q
d

=
and

(
f f f
f i i
i i
d d d
A
V q V V
A A d d

= = =
,ith
3
3( 1 m
i
d

= ,
7( /
i
V =
and
3
4( 1 m
f
d

=
, %e ha)e
17( /
f
V =
(
*"+ $he initial ener'y stored in the capacitor is

2 12 2 2 ! 2 2
2 11
3
1 *4(45 1 C >? m +*4(5 1 m +*7( /+
!(51 1 =(
2 2 2*3( 1 m+
i
i i
i
AV
U CV
d

= = = =

*c+ $he final ener'y stored is

2
2
2
1 1
(
2 2
f f f
i
f f i i
f f i i i i
d d d
A A AV
U V V U
d d d d d d

= = = =


,ith
4
3
f
i
d
d
=
, %e ha)e
1
1(2 1 =(
f
U

=
*d+ $he %or: done to pull the plates apart is the difference in the ener'y;
11
7(52 1 =(
f i
W U U

= =
Pro"lem 25#37
.n Fi'( 25#!5,
1
1 C F =
,
2
2 C F =
, and
3
25 C F =
( .f no capacitor can %ithstand a potential
difference of more than 1 / %ithout failure, %hat are *a+ the ma'nitude of the ma@imum potential
difference that can e@ist "et%een points 3 and B and *"+ the ma@imum ener'y that can "e stored in
the three#capacitor arran'ement-
25#!5
0'1(*a+ $hey each store the same char'e, so the ma@imum )olta'e is across the smallest
capacitor( ,ith 1 / across 1 F, then the )olta'e across the 2 F capacitor is 5 /
and the )olta'e across the 25 F capacitor is ! /( $herefore, the )olta'e across the
arran'ement is 19 /(
8 14
Fundamentals of Physics
Halliday & Resnic

*"+ Csin' 86( 25#21 or 86( 25#22, %e sum the ener'ies on the capacitors and o"tain
(95
total
U J =
(
Pro"lem 25#!1
Di)en a 7(! pF air#filled capacitor, you are as:ed to con)ert it to a capacitor that can store up to
7(! J
%ith a ma@imum potential difference of 752 /( ,hich dielectric in $a"le 25#1 should you
use to fill the 'ap in the capacitor if you do not allo% for a mar'in of error-
$a"le 25#1
0'1($he capacitance %ith the dielectric in place is 'i)en "y

C C =
, %here

C
is the
capacitance "efore the dielectric is inserted( $he ener'y stored is 'i)en "y
U CV CV = =
1
2
2
1
2
2
, so
7
2 12 2

2 2*7(! 1 =+
!(7(
*7(! 1 F+*752/+
U
C V

= = =

3ccordin' to $a"le 25#1, you should use Pyre@(

Pro"lem 25#!3
3 coa@ial ca"le used in a transmission line has an inner radius of (1 mm and an outer radius of
(7 mm( Calculate the capacitance per meter for the ca"le( 3ssume that the space "et%een the
9 14
Fundamentals of Physics
Halliday & Resnic

conductors is filled %ith polystyrene(
0'1($he capacitance of a cylindrical capacitor is 'i)en "y
C C
L
b a
= =

2
ln* > +
,
%here

C
is the capacitance %ithout the dielectric,

is the dielectric constant, L is the

len'th,
a
is the inner radius, and b is the outer radius( $he capacitance per unit len'th of
the ca"le is
12
11
2 2 F>m+
4(1 1 F>m 41 pF>m(
ln* > + lnE*(7 mm+>*(1 mm+F
C
L b a

(2.6)(8.8510
= = = =
Pro"lem 25#!5
3 certain su"stance has a dielectric constant of 2(4 and a dielectric stren'th of 14 9/>m( .f it is
used as the dielectric material in a parallel#plate capacitor, %hat minimum area should the plates of
the capacitor ha)e to o"tain a capacitance of
2
7 1 F

and to ensure that the capacitor %ill "e

a"le to %ithstand a potential difference of !( :/-
0'1($he capacitance is 'i)en "y

A
C C
d

= = , %here

C
is the capacitance %ithout the
dielectric,

is the dielectric constant, A is the plate area, and d is the plate separation( $he
electric field "et%een the plates is 'i)en "y
V
E
d
= , %here V is the potential difference
"et%een the plates( $hus,
V
d
E
= and

AE
C
V

= ( $hus,
A
CV
E
=

(
For the area to "e a minimum, the electric field must "e the 'reatest it can "e %ithout
"rea:do%n occurrin'( $hat is,
A =


=

* (
( * (
( (
7 1
24 445 1
73
4
12
2
F+*!( 1 /+
F> m+*14 1 /> m+
m
3
7
Pro"lem 25#!9
Fi'ure 25#!9 sho%s a parallelplate capacitor %ith a plate area
2
7(49 A cm = and plate separation
!(72 d mm = ($he top half of the 'ap is filled %ith material of dielectric constant
1
11 =
2 the "ottom
half is filled %ith material of dielectric constant
2
12 =
( ,hat is the capacitance-
10 14
Fundamentals of Physics
Halliday & Resnic

25#!9
0'1(,e assume there is char'e q on one plate and char'e Gq on the other( $he electric field in
the lo%er half of the re'ion "et%een the plates is
E
q
A
1
1
=

,
%here A is the plate area( $he electric field in the upper half is
E
q
A
2
2
=

(
Aet d>2 "e the thic:ness of each dielectric( 5ince the field is uniform in each re'ion, the
potential difference "et%een the plates is
V
E d E d qd
A
qd
A
= + = +
L
N
M
O
Q
P
=
+
1 2
1 2
1 2
1 2
2 2 2
1 1
2


,
5o
C
q
V
A
d
= =
+
2
1 2
1 2


(
$his e@pression is e@actly the same as that for
eq
C
of t%o capacitors in series, one %ith
dielectric constant
1

and the other %ith dielectric constant

2

( 8ach has plate area A and

plate separation
2
d
( 3lso %e note that if
1 2
=
, the e@pression reduces to
1
A
C
d

= , the
correct result for a parallel#plate capacitor %ith plate area A, plate separation d, and
dielectric constant
1

(
,ith
! 2
7(49 1 m A

= ,
3
!(72 1 m d

= ,
1
11( =
and
2
12( =
, the capacitance is
12 2 2 ! 2
11
3
2*4(45 1 C >? m +*7(49 1 m + *11(+*12(+
1(73 1 F(
!(72 1 m 11( 12(
C

= =
+
Pro"lem 25#51
3 parallel#plate capacitor has a capacitance of 1 pF, a plate area of 1
2
1cm , and a mica
dielectric * 5(! = + completely fillin' the space "et%een the plates( 3t 5 / potential difference,
calculate *a+ the electric field ma'nitude 8 in the mica, *"+ the ma'nitude of the free char'e on the
11 14
Fundamentals of Physics
Halliday & Resnic

plates, and *c+ the ma'nitude of the induced surface char'e on the mica(
0'1(*a+ $he electric field in the re'ion "et%een the plates is 'i)en "y
V
E
d
= , %here V is the
potential difference "et%een the plates and d is the plate separation( $he capacitance is
'i)en "y

A
C
d

= , %here A is the plate area and is the dielectric constant, so

A
d
C

= and
E
VC
A
= =


=

12
12 ! 2
!
5 1 1
5! 445 1 1 1
1 1
/ F
F m m
/ m
b gc h
c hc h
( (
( (
*"+ $he free char'e on the plates is
12 9
*1 1 +*5 + 5 1
f
q CV F V C

= = =
(
*c+ $he electric field is produced "y "oth the free and induced char'e( 5ince the field of a
lar'e uniform layer of char'e is

2
q
A
, the field "et%een the plates is
E
q
A
q
A
q
A
q
A
f f
i i
= +
2 2 2 2


,
%here the first term is due to the positi)e free char'e on one plate, the second is due to
the ne'ati)e free char'e on the other plate, the third is due to the positi)e induced char'e
on one dielectric surface, and the fourth is due to the ne'ati)e induced char'e on the
other dielectric surface( ?ote that the field due to the induced char'e is opposite the field
due to the free char'e, so they tend to cancel( $he induced char'e is therefore
( ) ( ) ( )
9 12 ! 2 !

9
5( 1 C 4(45 1 F m 1 1 m 1( 1 / m
!(1 1 C !(1nC(
i f
q q AE

= =
= =
Pro"lem 25#53
$he space "et%een t%o concentric conductin' spherical shells of radii 1(7 b cm = and 1(2 a cm = is
filled %ith a su"stance of dielectric constant 23(5 = ( 3 potential difference 73 V V = is applied
across the inner and outer shells( Hetermine *a+ the capacitance of the de)ice, *"+ the free char'e
q
on the inner shell, and *c+ the char'e
q
induced alon' the surface of the inner shell(
12 14
Fundamentals of Physics
Halliday & Resnic

0'1(*a+ 3ccordin' to 86( 25#17 the capacitance of an air#filled spherical capacitor is 'i)en "y

! (
ab
C
b a

p
,hen the dielectric is inserted "et%een the plates the capacitance is 'reater "y a factor
of the dielectric constant ( Conse6uently, the ne% capacitance is
9 2 2
23(5 *(12 m+*(17 m+
! (17 nF(
4(99 1 ? m C (17 m (12 m
ab
C
b a

= = =

*"+ $he char'e on the positi)e plate is

*(17 nF+*73( /+ 7(79 nC( q CV = = =
*c+ Aet the char'e on the inner conductor "e Gq( .mmediately ad&acent to it is the induced
char'e q'( 5ince the electric field is less "y a factor 1> than the field %hen no dielectric
is present, then Gq ! q' " #q>( $hus,
( )

1 23(5 1(
! 1 *7(79 nC+ 7(!5 nC(
23(5
ab
q q V
b a

= = = =

Pro"lem 25#55
3 parallel#plate capacitor has plates of area
2
(12m and a separation of 1(2 cm( 3 "attery char'es
the plates to a potential difference of 12 / and is then disconnected( 3 dielectric sla" of thic:ness
!( mm and dielectric constant !(4 is then placed symmetrically "et%een the plates( *a+ ,hat is the
capacitance "efore the sla" is inserted- *"+ ,hat is the capacitance %ith the sla" in place- ,hat is
the free char'e 6 *c+ "efore and *d+ after the sla" is inserted- ,hat is the ma'nitude of the electric
field *e+ in the space "et%een the plates and dielectric and *f+ in the dielectric itself- *'+ ,ith the
sla" in place, %hat is the potential difference across the plates- *h+ Ho% much e@ternal %or: is
in)ol)ed in insertin' the sla"-
0'1(*a+ .nitially, the capacitance is
( )
12 2 2 2

2
4(45 1 C >? m *(12 m +
49 pF(
1(2 1 m
A
C
d

= = =

*"+ ,or:in' throu'h 5ample Pro"lem 25#7 al'e"raically, %e find;

( )
12 2 2 2
2
2 3
4(45 1 C >? m *(12m +*!(4+
1(2 1 pF(
* + *!(4+*1(2 (!+*1 m+ *!( 1 m+
A
C
d b b

= = =
+ +
*c+ Before the insertion,

*49 +*12 + 11 q C V pF V nC = = =
(
*d+ 5ince the "attery is disconnected, q %ill remain the same after the insertion of the sla",
%ith
11 q nC =
(
13 14
Fundamentals of Physics
Halliday & Resnic

*e+
9
12 2 2 2

11 1
1 >
*4(45 1 > +*(12 +
q C
E kV m
A C $ m m

= = =

*f+
1 >
2(1 >
!(4
E kV m
E kV m

= = =
*'+ $he potential difference across the plates is

3
* + *1 > +*(12 (! + *2(1 > +*(! 1 + 44 V E d b E b kV m m m kV m m V

= + = + =
*h+ $he %or: done is

2 9 2
7
e@t 12 12

1 1 *11 1 C+ 1 1
1(7 1 =(
2 2 49 1 F 12 1 F
q
W U
C C

= = = =



14 14