Capacitor Hence

capacitors are
always attached
circuit that
An electronic that
in
parallel to so

component is used the circuit keeps on

working even

to store and
fully
electrical when capacitor is
energy supply charged .

current to the circuit when need

be .

→
metal plates stores
Explain why capacitor energy ,

not charge .

Symbol :

•
For a
parallel plate capacitor both ,

have equal and

plates
hence net
opposite
charge ,
charge is zero .

←
Parallel plate Work is those
I
capacitor done in
separating
•

insulator
charges therefore
is
1 dielectric material energy

id
) stored

sh
.

Ra
of capacitor

an
Uses 1 Functions ) Capacitance

sh
Ka
Stores Time circuits It the
1.
energy
2.
delay is

by
charge stored on one

smoothing plate of
ics
3. in
rectifier a
capacitor per unit
ys

Power
4.
supplies 5.
Tuning circuits potential difference
Ph

Charging a
capacitor C = 9 or q=CV→ pod .

v t I
Positive terminal
pulls charge capacitance
E

•
E
AT
C
N

¥
electrons
LE

from one
EL

⑦
C
EX
M

and negative SI Unit :

Farad 11=1
plate
G
IN
U
SS
RS

terminal
deposits them
PU
R

the Farad 111=1 It the

FO

is
LA

on the
Define
:

other
ER
N

.
RT

capacitance of capacitor when

PA
C

a
R
U
YO

>
Both
-

plates begin to stored

1C
of charge is across
+ •
a

achieve
equal & opp .

p.d. IV.
Of
charge .

Factors
•

Charging process stops when the

to
affecting capacitance
[Link] .
across the
capacitor is equal *
EMF
of the
battery .
1.
surface Area
of plates
Bigger SA
of plate
> more capacitance
I = +
-

+
-

?⃝ -
I =
2. Insulation

better insulators capacitance

II
- → more
I
'
i

- -

+ +
3 .
Distance between
plates
lamp off after Lamp still on ! more

capacitor charges
less distance →
stronger field →
capacitance
 in
Energy stored in a
capacitor capacitors series

g-
- CV
Tc=qgt ±
, = I =
+
+
=

µ
^
✓ Cz
+ -
+
°
For the same V,
c. , C, stores more >

V '
than Cz
-

charge
' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' '
+
:
.

VT 19T )
=
= =

o
= I °
As q✗ C C, > Cz
> ,
the
.

0
92 9, qlc Charge :
Each
capacitor gains
same magnitude of charge
its
on one
of plates .

VIV V= 9T
As Energy go 9, =
92=93 =

id
to
^ R
charge

sh
Voltage capacitor achieves

Ra
i E- -

Vxq : Each
" based
different

an
a [Link] .

sh
under their capacitance
Energy on

Ka
.

'

graph stored in
"
capacitor 9=95-9 by q=cv Text
ics
° :
Tt
ys

0
>qk 44=44
Ph

achieve
Aof A- -

lzbh smaller capacitors

or
pd and vice versa
Ecap Izvq
more .

=tzqV so
Lil
,
-
-
4- Vt
sum of all P.d. is
equal
E
E
AT
C
N

EMF
of
LE

to source
EL

v
.

v
C
EX
M

if g- CV if V
Eso
G

so
- -
IN
U

Vi
SS

V2 -1 V3 Vt
RS

1- =
PU
R

Ecap :{V44
FO
LA

Ecap -1-21%19
ER

-
N
RT
PA

*
C

*
R
U

1- Ñ Vt
YO

Izu
E V1 V3
Ecap Capacitance V2
:
+ +
cap -
: =
.

* 2C as CV so V= 9
g-
-

*
;) z
BE
cap -1244? V
-

II. %: %: %
T
+
.

VIV
^
As 9, = 92=93 = Ut
V -

-1 Area =
by battery
W -
D
=

÷
iv. ☐
by battery Va
: ✗
( E. IgE ) -41¥ )
-

+
,

=
. During charging process
of the workdone
way the I {at É
o =
> = +
0 or 91C by source is , ,

cell / Battery in stored capacitor

capacitors G-
and the other half for identical
En
=
,

lost heat in
as
wires !
capacitance <

connecting each -

of no .

-9 cap .
Capacitors in Parallel

f
G-
12-3
=

""^""^"c
Ct =

4µF
€14
,
= n ✗ c

G- =
3×12

Voltage : All capacitors charge up to G- =

36µF
the same pod . as
they
attached the
are across
12µF 12µF
source directly .

←
4- =

In =
¥ 6µF=

V, =
V2 =
V3 = Vt
Lt = 12+6

id
4- 18µF

sh
=

holds

Ra
Charge
:
Each capacitor chaise 12µF

an
based on its capacitance .

sh
Ka
As
12 >
Ci 12-112
q= CV q AC
-

i. e.
-

by
as
G- 24µF
bigger capacitors hold more
ics
=
ys

charge !
Ph

12
d- 21-4+1-2
=

9, + Nz -193 = 9T 12
+

Lt 8µF
-
-
E
E
AT
C

9, 92+93=9
N

Capacitance +
Capacitance of point change
LE

: -

, a
EL
C
EX
M

q= CV so
G

as
IN
U
SS
RS
PU
R

V3 G- Vt
FO

V
Liv , for
LA

+
Lzvz + =

point
a
ER
N

1<9 ←
RT

V 9 ✓ at the
PA

charge
C

is same so • =
as
R
U

T
YO

Ct # surface
Vfc )
.

+ + =
,
>

=L
9g
C = ask
+ (3 41T Eo
4- =L , +

÷±
c- C- -
r ÷ 1-

41T£ o
R
r C =
41T for
C. =
I
K where r is the
radius
of sphere .
 Time Constant The taken
Discharging of capacitor time
:
a

for capacitor to decrease

the
current in
charge / voltage / initial
C its
± I the rate
of discharge circuit to its

+^
§ of
•
,

,
is
of a
capacitor value
directly proportional
.

to the chaise e- Éc
on

that
capacitor q g.
=
.

t RC
if so
-

-
"t

II. ✗
x > x= Koe
g e- 7¥
g.
=

such relations follow exponential -1

functions ! q=%e

9oz 9
Lego
=

q =
or
Éc

id
9¥ q= g. e-

sh
✗ 9 >

Ra
'
00368 ( 36.8% )
1g

an
e e so
Éc
=

sh
✗ V
V V. e-
1¥
Ka
=

>

by
.

After t=T remaining charge is

ics
-

¥ ,
ys

Ioe its initial charge

I
of
'

1¥ 36.8%
I > =
Ph

✗
,

initial It :o)
go :

charge
Vo initial voltage It :o)
E

• :
E
AT
C

initial current It :o)

N
LE

Io :
EL
C
EX
M
G
IN
U

time t
SS

at
RS

9, V, I quantities
PU

• : .
R
FO
LA
ER
N
RT

R resistance C capacitance
PA
C

• : • :
R
U
YO

91C
^
2
• T ,
> T, as
graph
No
•

reduces at
charge a

rate
faster .

Of ,
-
l l l l l l
-
l l l l l l
-

T,
-
-

=
O = = %
>
0
Tz T, /
t s

T = RC where T is Time Constant

,

Time constant slower

Larger >

discharge .
 292 of 814
10

5 A solid metal sphere, of radius r, is insulated from its surroundings. The sphere has For
charge +Q. Examiner’s
This charge is on the surface of the sphere but it may be considered to be a point charge at Use

its centre, as illustrated in Fig. 5.1.

+Q

Fig. 5.1

id
(a) (i) Define capacitance.

sh
Ra
Charge stored per unit potential difference .

..................................................................................................................................

an
sh
Ka
............................................................................................................................ [1]

(ii) Show that the capacitance C of the sphere is given by the expression by
ics
ys
Ph

C = 4πε0r.
C-
g- C=q/ ✗

4H§
-

V= 9-
E

as C=4lTEor
E
AT
C
N
LE
EL

41T for
C
EX
M
G
IN
U
SS
RS

C=q÷u÷Eor
PU
R
FO
LA
ER
N
RT
PA
C
R
U
YO

[1]

(b) The sphere has radius 36 cm.

Determine, for this sphere,

(i) the capacitance,

( = UH C- or

C- UH (8.85×10-1410.36)
"
F
-

( =
40×10

"
4. 0×10
-

capacitance = ............................................ F [1]

© UCLES 2009 9702/04/M/J/09

 293 of 814
11

(ii) the charge required to raise the potential of the sphere from zero to 7.0 × 105 V. For
=
Examiner’s
q = CV Use

CAV
Dq =

( 4×10 ) (7×105)
"

Dq =

Dq =
2.8×10-5 C

2. 8×10-5
charge = ........................................... C [1]

(c) Suggest why your calculations in (b) for the metal sphere would not apply to a plastic
sphere.

id
Metal
spheres are conductors
and
charge in them

sh
..........................................................................................................................................

Ra
is
uniformly distributed so
they
can be treated

an
..........................................................................................................................................

sh
point charge Plastic is an insulator Its charge

Ka
as
..........................................................................................................................................
. .

is either at at center by
surface or
ics
.................................................................................................................................... [3]
.
ys
Ph

(d) A spark suddenly connects the metal sphere in (b) to the Earth, causing the potential of
the sphere to be reduced from 7.0 × 105 V to 2.5 × 105 V.

Calculate the energy dissipated in the spark.

V2
E

E
Lz (
=
E
AT
C
N
LE
EL

Vil
C

tzclvi
EX
M

DE
G
IN

-
-
-
U
SS
RS

42.5×1055-(7×105) Y
PU
R
FO

"
LA

1-2×4×10
ER

✗
N

=
RT
PA
C
R
U
YO

DE = -
8.55J

8. 6
energy = ............................................ J [3]

© UCLES 2009 9702/04/M/J/09 [Turn over

 294 of 814
10

5 (a) State two functions of capacitors in electrical circuits. For

Examiner’s
stores energy
1. ..................................................................................................................................... Use

Used in tuning circuits

2. .....................................................................................................................................
[2]
I
(b) Three capacitors, each marked ‘30 μF, 6 V max’, are arranged as shown in Fig. 5.1.

30µF
30µF
A B

30µF

id
sh
Fig. 5.1

Ra
an
Determine, for the arrangement shown in Fig. 5.1,

sh
Ka
(i) the total capacitance,
by
ics

É=ÉiÉ
ys
Ph

30µF 60µF
÷ :-O -1%
E
E

Ct -20µF
AT
C
N

-
LE
EL
C
EX
M
G
IN
U
SS
RS
PU

20
capacitance = ......................................... μF [2]
R
FO
LA
ER
N
RT
PA

(ii) the maximum potential difference that can safely be applied between points A
C
R
U
YO

and B.
Max 6V on the
q, 92 q=CV we assume

30mF
e.

i. e-
• •

q same in series smallest capacitor

9, = 9h 9, = Nt
30µF 60µF
t
*✗
[Link] qv,=CzVz GV ,
= CTVT
1 smaller
"

C
"

more
30×6=60 ✗ Vz 30×6=20 ✗ Vt
bv ?? "
Vt=9V✓✓
v. =zv
"

v
maxv = 6+3=9 V
potential difference = ........................................... V [2]

© UCLES 2010 9702/42/M/J/10

 295 of 814
11

(c) A capacitor of capacitance 4700 μF is charged to a potential difference of 18 V. It is then For

partially discharged through a resistor. The potential difference is reduced to 12 V. Examiner’s
Calculate the energy dissipated in the resistor during the discharge. Use

Vi 4
DE
E C 1 Vi
= -

b) ( 122 184
-

I 4 7 00 10
1-2
= ✗ -

=
-

0 423 J
.

O 42
energy = ........................................... J [3]
o

id
sh
Ra
an
sh
Ka
by
ics
ys
Ph
E
E
AT
C
N
LE
EL
C
EX
M
G
IN
U
SS
RS
PU
R
FO
LA
ER
N
RT
PA
C
R
U
YO

© UCLES 2010 9702/42/M/J/10 [Turn over

 324 of 814
12

6 Two capacitors P and Q, each of capacitance C, are connected in series with a battery of e.m.f.
9.0 V, as shown in Fig. 6.1.

switch S
9.0 V
→X Y

After
P T
R
C C

id
sh
Fig. 6.1

Ra
an
A switch S is used to connect either a third capacitor T, also of capacitance C, or a resistor R, in

sh
parallel with capacitor P.

Ka
by
(a) Switch S is in position X. ics
ys

Calculate
Ph

(i) the combined capacitance, in terms of C, of the three capacitors,

E- It :c
E
E
AT
C
N
LE
EL

E- ¥
C
EX
M
G
IN
U
SS
RS
PU
R
FO
LA

4-
20-3
ER

=
N
RT
PA
C
R
U
YO

¥
capacitance = ......................................................... [2]

(ii) the potential difference across capacitor Q. Explain your working.

as charge is same

1a 4--9=92
=L ,v
9
zp, ,
CY ,
,

-
2-5×9=-6×4
V1 : 6V

potential difference = ..................................................... V [2]

© UCLES 2017 9702/43/O/N/17

 325 of 814
13

(b) Switch S is now moved to position Y.

State what happens to the potential difference across capacitor P and across capacitor Q.
ov as
It
discharges from
3V to it is
capacitor P: ..............................................................................................................................
connected across resistor
...................................................................................................................................................
.

...................................................................................................................................................

It changes up
from
bv to 9V and
battery 's
capacitor Q: .............................................................................................................................
than
[Link] is
greater 6N
...................................................................................................................................................
.

...................................................................................................................................................
[4]

id
[Total: 8]

sh
Ra
an
sh
Ka
by
ics
ys
Ph
E
E
AT
C
N
LE
EL
C
EX
M
G
IN
U
SS
RS
PU
R
FO
LA
ER
N
RT
PA
C
R
U
YO

© UCLES 2017 9702/43/O/N/17 [Turn over

 328 of 814
12

7 (a) Explain what is meant by the capacitance of a parallel plate capacitor.

It is The charge stoned on one plate a
capacitor
of
...................................................................................................................................................

per
unit potential difference across the plates
...................................................................................................................................................
.

C-
charge on one plate and U is
Ig
-

where or is
...................................................................................................................................................
the
pod across them
...............................................................................................................................................[3]
.
.

(b) A parallel plate capacitor C is connected into the circuit shown in Fig. 7.1.

X Y

id
sh
120 V A

Ra
C

an
sh
Ka
by
ics
Fig. 7.1
ys
Ph

When switch S is at position X, the battery of electromotive force 120 V and negligible internal
resistance is connected to capacitor C.
When switch S is at position Y, the capacitor C is discharged through the sensitive ammeter.
E

The switch vibrates so that it is first in position X, then moves to position Y and then back to
E
AT
C
N

position X fifty times each second.

LE
EL
C

→
EX
M

.
G
IN

The current recorded on the ammeter is 4.5 μA.

U
SS
RS
PU

=
R
FO
LA

Determine
ER
N
RT
PA
C
R
U

(i) the charge, in coulomb, passing through the ammeter in 1.0 s,

YO

q =
It

of = 4.5×10-6 × 1

of
= 4.5×10-6 (

4. 5×10-6
charge = ....................................................... C [1]

© UCLES 2018 9702/43/M/J/18

 329 of 814
13

(ii) the charge on one plate of the capacitor, each time that it is charged,

50 discharges 4.5×10 -6C

→

in 1 sec

1 discharge = Charge on = 4.5×10-6

a
capacitor To
plate = 9.0×10-8C

9. 0×10-8
charge = ....................................................... C [1]

(iii) the capacitance of capacitor C.

CV

id
q =

sh
Ra
9.0×10-8 = ( ✗ 120

an
sh
C- 7.5×10-10 F
-

Ka
by
ics
ys
Ph

7. 5×10-10
capacitance = ....................................................... F [2]

(c) A second capacitor, having a capacitance equal to that of capacitor C, is now placed in series
with C.
q= Ck
E

-11-1 1-
E
AT
C

.
N
LE

[Link] taxct
EL

Suggest and explain the effect on the current recorded on the ammeter.
C
EX
M

It
G
IN

Effective capacitance halves so charge stored on the

U
SS
RS

...................................................................................................................................................
PU

,
R
FO
LA

combination also halves %

ER

As I so current in
N

...................................................................................................................................................
RT

. -
PA
C
R
U

ammeter halves
YO

...............................................................................................................................................[2]
.

[Total: 9]

© UCLES 2018 9702/43/M/J/18 [Turn over