GENERAL PHYSICS 1

Name: ________________________________ Date: ______________

Grade: ________________________________ Score: ____________

LEARNING ACTIVITY SHEETS

ELECTRIC POTENTIAL ENERGY AND ELECTRIC POTENTIALS

ELECTRIC POTENTIAL ENERGY

Background Information for the Learners

Electric potential energy is possessed by an object by the virtue of two elements,

those being, the charge possessed by an object itself and the relative position of an object
with respect to other electrically charged objects. The magnitude of electric
potential depends on the amount of work done in moving the object from one point to
another against the electric field.

When an object is moved against the electric field it gains some amount of energy
which is defined as the electric potential energy. For any charge, the electric potential is
obtained by dividing the potential energy by the quantity of charge. When an electrostatic
force acts between two or more charged particles within a system of particles, we can
assign an electric potential energy U to the system. If the system changes its
configuration from an initial state i to a different final state f, the electrostatic force does
work W on the particles. We then know that the resulting change ∆U in the potential
energy of the system is

∆U =Uf - Ui= -W. (Equation 1)

As with other conservative forces, the work done by the electrostatic force is path
independent. Suppose a charged particle within the system moves from point i to point f
while an electrostatic force between it and the rest of the system acts on it. Provided the
rest of the system does not change, the work W done by the force on the particle is the
same for all paths between points i and f.

134
NOTE: Practice personal hygiene protocols at all times
Sample Problem 1:

Electrons are continually being knocked out of air

molecules in the atmosphere by cosmic-ray particles
coming in from space. Once released, each electron
experiences an electrostatic force due to the electric field
that is produced in the atmosphere by charged particles
already on Earth. Near Earth’s surface the electric field has
the magnitude E=150 N/C and is directed downward. What Figure 1 The image shows
is the change ∆U in the electric potential energy of a the direction of movement
of the electron.
released electron when the electrostatic force causes it to
move vertically upward through a distance d=520 m?

The change U in the electric potential energy of the electron is related to the work
W done on the electron by the electric field. (∆U = -W) gives the relation.

An electron in the atmosphere is moved upward through displacement by an

electrostatic force due to an electric field E.

A. The work done by a constant force F on a particle undergoing a displacement d

is:

W = F x d (Equation 2)

B. The electrostatic force and the electric field are related by the force equation F=q
E:, where here q is the charge of an electron (-1.6x10-19 C)

W= qE x d = qEd cos θ
W = (-1.6x10-19 C) (150 N/C) (520 m) cos 180⁰
W = 1.248 X 10 -14 J

C. This result tells us that during the 520 m ascent, the electric potential energy of
the electron decreases by 1.248 X 10 -14 J.

135
NOTE: Practice personal hygiene protocols at all times
Sample Problem 2:
An electron is accelerated from rest through a potential difference 12 V. What is
the change in electric potential energy of the electron?

Given:

Electron (e) = -1.60 x 10-19 Coulomb

Electric potential = voltage (V) = 12 Volt

Unknown: The change in electric potential energy of the electron (ΔPE)

ΔPE = q V
= (-1.60 x 10-19 C)(12 V)
= -19.2 x 10-19 Joule

ELECTRIC POTENTIALS

The potential energy of a charged particle in an electric field depends on the

charge magnitude. However, the potential energy per unit charge has a unique value at
any point in an electric field. For an example of this, suppose we place a test particle of
positive charge 1.60 x 10-19 C at a point in an electric field where the particle has an
electric potential energy of 2.40 x 10-19 J.

Thus, the potential energy per unit charge, which can be symbolized as U/q, is
independent of the charge q of the particle we happen to use and is characteristic only
of the electric field we are investigating. The potential energy per unit charge at a point
in an electric field is called the electric potential V (or simply the potential) at that point

(Equation 3)

The electric potential difference ∆V between any two points i and f in an electric field is
equal to the difference in potential energy per unit charge between the two points:

136
NOTE: Practice personal hygiene protocols at all times
 (Equation 4)

Using Equation 1 to substitute –W for ∆U in Equation 4, we can define the potential

difference between points i and f as:

(Equation 5)

The potential difference between two points is thus the negative of the work done by the
electrostatic force to move a unit charge from one point to the other. A potential difference
can be positive, negative, or zero, depending on the signs and magnitudes of q and W.
The SI unit for electric potential is the joule per coulomb. This combination occurs so
often that a special unit, the volt (abbreviated V), is used to represent it. Thus,
1 volt = 1 joule per coulomb

Finally, we can now define an energy unit that is a convenient one for energy
measurements in the atomic and subatomic domain: One electron-volt (eV) is the energy
equal to the work required to move a single elementary charge e, such as that of the
electron or the proton, through a potential difference of exactly one volt. The magnitude
of this work is q ∆V; so

1 eV = e(1 V)
= (1.60 x 10-19 ) (1 J/C)

Learning Competency

Solve problems involving electric potential energy and electric potentials in contexts such
as, but not limited to, electron guns in CRT TV picture tubes and Van de Graaff
STEM_GP12EMIIIc-22

137
NOTE: Practice personal hygiene protocols at all times
ACTIVITY 1- PROBLEM SOLVING

Directions: Answer the following set of problem. The scoring is being provided for you
before the questions.

Given 2 pts
Solution 5 pts
Final Answer 3 pts

Sample Problem: An electron is accelerated from rest through a potential

difference 24 V. What is the change in electric potential energy of the electron?

Known :
The charge on an electron (e) = -1.60 x 10-19 Coulomb
Electric potential = voltage (V) = 12 Volt
Wanted: The change in electric potential energy of the electron (ΔPE)
Solution :
ΔPE = q V
= (-1.60 x 10-19 C)(12 V)
= -19.2 x 10-19 Joule

The minus sign indicates that the potential energy decreases.

1. Mr. Aguban is checking the difference in energy between a car battery and a
motorcycle battery in moving a certain amount of charge. A 12 V motorcycle
battery can move 6,000 C of charge, and a 12 V car battery can move 80,000 C
of charge. How much energy does each deliver?
2. If 10 J of work is needed to shift 25 C of charge from one place to another. The
potential difference between the places should be ?
3. Mr. Usabal uses two charged parallel plates and try to calculate the potential
energy between the plates. The separation between the plates is 5 cm and the
magnitude of the electric field between the plates is 650 Volt/meter. What is the
change in potential energy of the proton when accelerated from the positively
charged plate to the negatively charged plate.
4. The SMSAT automotive team is assembling a car for the school and they are
trying to work with different watts of headlight on a 24 V battery car. When a
24 V car battery runs a single 50 W headlight, how many electrons pass through
it each second?

138
NOTE: Practice personal hygiene protocols at all times
ACTIVITY 2 - TRUE OR FALSE

Directions: Write the word TRUE if the statement is correct and FALSE if the statement
is incorrect. Write your answer on the space provided before the number.

_____1. Electron is a positively charge particle.

_____2. The direction of electric potential depends on the amount of work done in
moving the object from one point to another against the electric field.
_____3. The work done by the electrostatic force is path independent.
_____4. The potential energy of a charged particle in an electric field depends on the
charge magnitude.
_____5. The unit for electric potential is Volts.
_____6. A potential difference can be positive, negative, or zero.
_____7. Volt is different unit from joule per coulomb.
_____8. When an object is moved against the electric field it loss some amount of
energy.
_____9. The charge possessed by an object itself is sometimes referred to as the
potential energy.
_____10. Proton is a negatively charged particle.

REFLECTION

1. I learned that ___________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________

2. I enjoyed most on _______________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________

3. I want to learn more on ___________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________

139
NOTE: Practice personal hygiene protocols at all times
REFERENCES

Admin. “Electric Potential Energy - Formula, Definition, Solved Examples.” BYJUS.

BYJU'S, February 26, 2021. https://byjus.com/jee/electric-potential-energy/.

https://physics.gurumuda.net/electric-potential-energy-problems-and-solutions.htm
“Electric Charge.” Electric charge - Energy Education. Accessed January 23,
2021. https://energyeducation.ca/encyclopedia/Electric_charge.

Halliday, David, Resnick, Robert, & Walker, Jearl. Fundamentals of Physics. 6th ed.New
York: John Wiley & Sons Inc, 2001

140
NOTE: Practice personal hygiene protocols at all times
 GENERAL PHYSICS 2
Name: ____________________________ Grade Level: ______________
Date: _____________________________ Score: ____________________

LEARNING ACTIVITY SHEET

Deducing the Effects of Capacitors

Background Information for the Learners (BIL)

Capacitors
One important element in an electric circuit is a capacitor. A capacitor is a device
for storing charges. The standard symbols for a capacitor are shown in figure 2-6.
There are several types of capacitors. One of the simplest types of capacitors
consists of two equally but oppositely charged parallel conducting plates separated from
each other by a thin sheet of insulating material or dielectric. When connected
to a source of charge, such as baterry, the positive terminal of the source removes
electrons from the plate connected to it and transfers them to the other plate. As a result,
the two plates are equally but oppositely charged. Figure 2-7 shows the basic parts of a
parallel plate capacitor.
A capacitor is usually named after the dielectric material used. Common dielectric
materials used in a capacitor are mica, glass, air, ceramic and paper.

(Source: Silverio,Angelina.”Exploring Life Through Science Series: General Physics 2.” In Teachers Wraparound Edition.
Quezon City, Phoenix Pulishing House, Inc., 2017)

142
NOTE: Practice personal hygiene protocols at all times
Capacitance
Capacitance is the ability of a capacitor to store charges. The capacitance C of a
capacitor is mathematically defined as the ratio of the amount of charge q in one plate to
the potential difference V between the plates. In symbols,
C = q/v
The SI unit of capacitance is the farad (F) nmaed after Michael Faraday. Note that
1 farad is equal to 1 coulumb per volt.
The capacitance of a parallel plate capacitor is affected by the following factors:
1. The area of plates. The bigger the area of the plates, the greater the capacitance.
2. The distance between the plates. The closer the plates to each other, the greater
the capacitance.
3. The insulating material or dielectric between them. The capacitance is determined

in terms of the material’s permittivity constant є – the higher the є, the greater
the capacitance.
The dependence of the capacitance of a parallel plate capacitor on the factors cited
above is mathematically expressed as:

C = є A/d
where A is the area of one plate, d is the

distance between the plates, and є is

the permittivity of the inslutaing material
or dielectric. Table 2-1 lists the permittivity
of some common dielectrics. Sometimes,
the relative permittivity or dielectric constant
of the dielectric material is given instead of
its permittivity. The relative permativitty or

dielectroc constant єR is the ratio of

the permittivity є of the dielectric to the

permittivity є0 of a vacuum or air.

єR = є/ є0
Noter that єR has no unit. Also, the relative permittivity is greater than or equal to
one.
143
NOTE: Practice personal hygiene protocols at all times
 Rewriting the Eq. (2.8) using Eq. (2.9),

C = є A/d = єR є0 A/d

Note that C0 = є0A/d (capacitance with air or vacuum as the dielectric). Therefore,

C = єR C0
Inserting a dielectric other than air or vacuum increases the capacitance to an

amount equal to єR times its original value.

There is a limit to the potential difference between the plates of the capacitor.
When the maximum potential difference is exceeded, the dielectric becomes a conductor,
allowing the flow of charges. These movinf charges form sparks or discharge. This
condition is known as dielectric breakdown. Lightning is an example
of a dielectric breakdown.

Fig 2-10. Clouds act like a huge capacitor in the sky

with air as the dielectric. The upper portion of clouds .
is positivly charged and the lower portion is negatively
charged. The dielectric breakdown of air results to lightning .
(Source: https://images.app.goo.gl/giCK9Qp7P1G549vZA)

LEARNING COMPETENCY:
Deduce the effects of simple capacitors (e.g. parallel plate, spherical, cylindrical) on the
capacitance, charge and potential difference when the size, potential difference or charge
is changed. (STEM_GP12EM-IIId-23)

144
NOTE: Practice personal hygiene protocols at all times
 Activity 1: Solve it!

Directions: Solve the following problems systematically. Write your answer on the space
provided.
1. A capacitor consists of two square metal plates, each measuring 5.00x10 -2 m on a
side. In between the plates is a sheet of mica measuring 1.00x10 -4 m thick. (a) What
is the capacitance of this capacitor? If the charge in one plate is 2.00x10 -8 C, what is
the (b) potential difference and (c) electric field between the plates?
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
2. The capacitance of a parallel plate air capacitor is 350.0 µF. When a sheet of a
dielectric is inserted between the plates, the capacitance increases to 2100.0 µF.
What is the permittivity of the dielectric?
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________

145
NOTE: Practice personal hygiene protocols at all times
 Activity 2: Concept Test

Directions: Answer the following questions logically. Write your answers on the space
provided.
1. Two identical parallel plate capacitors are shown in an end-view in Figure A. Each
has a capacitance of C. If the two are joined together at the edges as in Figure B,
forming a single capacitor, what is the final capacitance? What will happen to its area?
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________

Activity 3: Fact or Bluff

Directions: Write FACT if the statement is true, otherwise write BLUFF if it is false.
1. A capacitor is a device for releasing charges.
2. One of the simplest types of capacitors consists of two equally but oppositely charged
perpendicular conducting plates separated from each other by a thin sheet of
insulating material
3. A capacitor is usually named after the dielectric material used.
4. The bigger the area of the plates, the lesser the capacitance.
5. The closer the plates to each other, the greater the capacitance.

146
NOTE: Practice personal hygiene protocols at all times
 Activity 4: Picture Analysis
Directions: Identify which factor affects the capacitance of a parallel plate capacitor in
each situation. Write a short explanation on how each factor affects its capacitance.
1. _______________________________
_______________________________
_______________________________
_______________________________
_______________________________
_______________________________
2. _______________________________
_______________________________
_______________________________
_______________________________
_______________________________
_______________________________

3. _______________________________
_______________________________
_______________________________
_______________________________
_______________________________
_______________________________

REFLECTION:
1. I learned that ______________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________

2. I enjoyed most on___________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________

3. I want to learn more on_______________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________

147
NOTE: Practice personal hygiene protocols at all times
REFERENCES

https://images.app.goo.gl/Y1bvB8gRrTGpmJpi8

https://images.app.goo.gl/mqgnj4sDgCtwBCsU6

https://images.app.goo.gl/iuVaZSaAWDZodzwL9

Silverio,Angelina.”Exploring Life Through Science Series: General Physics 2.” In

Teachers Wraparound Edition. Quezon City, Phoenix Pulishing House, Inc., 2017

148
NOTE: Practice personal hygiene protocols at all times
 GENERAL PHYSICS 1
Name: ________________________________ Date: ______________
Grade: ________________________________ Score: ____________

LEARNING ACTIVITY SHEETS

CAPACITORS IN SERIES AND IN PARALLEL

Background Information for the Learners

When there is a combination of capacitors in a circuit, we can sometimes replace

that combination with an equivalent capacitor—that is, a single capacitor that has the
same capacitance as the actual combination of capacitors. With such a replacement, we
can simplify the circuit, affording easier solutions for unknown quantities of the circuit.

CAPACITORS IN SERIES

“In series” means that the capacitors are wired serially, one after the other, and
that a potential difference V is applied across the two ends of the series. The total
capacitance is less than any one of the series capacitors’ individual capacitances. If two
or more capacitors are connected in series, the overall effect is that of a single
(equivalent) capacitor having the sum total of the plate spacings of the individual
capacitors. An increase in plate spacing, with all other factors unchanged, results in
decreased capacitance.
When a potential difference V is applied across several capacitors connected in
series, the capacitors have identical charge q.The sum of the potential differences across
all the capacitors is equal to the applied potential difference V.
We can explain how the capacitors end up with identical charge by following a
chain reaction of events, in which the charging of each capacitor causes the charging of
the next capacitor. We start with capacitor 3 and work upward to capacitor 1. When the
battery is first connected to the series of capacitors, it produces charge -q on the bottom
plate of capacitor 3. That charge then repels negative charge from the top plate of
capacitor 3 (leaving it with charge +q).The repelled negative charge moves to the bottom
plate of capacitor 2 (giving it charge -q). That charge on the bottom plate of capacitor 2
then repels negative charge from the top plate of capacitor 2 (leaving it with charge +q)
to the bottom plate of capacitor 1 (giving it charge -q). Finally, the charge on the bottom

150
NOTE: Practice personal hygiene protocols at all times
plate of capacitor 1 helps move negative
charge from the top plate of capacitor 1 to the
battery, leaving that top plate with charge +q.

Here are two important points about

capacitors in series:

1. When charge is shifted from one

capacitor to another in a series of
capacitors, it can move along only one
route, such as from capacitor 3 to
capacitor 2 in Fig. 1. If there are
additional routes, the capacitors are
not in series.
2. The battery directly produces charges on only the two plates to which it is
connected (the bottom plate of capacitor 3 and the top plate of capacitor 1 in Fig.
1). Charges that are produced on the other plates are due merely to the shifting of
charge already there. Charges that are produced on the other plates are due
merely to the shifting of charge already there. For example, in Fig. 1, the part of
the circuit enclosed by dashed lines is electrically isolated from the rest of the
circuit. Thus, the net charge of that part cannot be changed by the battery— its
charge can only be redistributed.

When we analyze a circuit of capacitors in series, we can simply say;

Figure 1.(a) Three capacitors

Capacitors that are connected in series can be
connected in series to battery B.The
replaced with an equivalent capacitor that has the
battery maintains potential
same charge q and the same total potential
difference V between the top and
difference V as the actual series capacitors.
bottom plates of the series
combination. (b)The equivalent
To derive an expression for Ceq in Fig. 1, we first use
capacitor, with capacitance Ceq,
equation on potential difference for each capacitor.
replaces the series combination.

The total potential difference V due to the battery is the sum of these three potential
differences.Thus,

151
NOTE: Practice personal hygiene protocols at all times
The equivalent capacitance is then; or

CAPACITORS IN PARALLEL

In figure 2, shows an electric

circuit in which three capacitors are
connected in parallel to battery B.This
description has little to do with how the
capacitor plates are drawn. Rather, “in
parallel” means that the capacitors are
directly wired together at one plate and
directly wired together at the other plate,
and that the same potential difference V
is applied across the two groups of
wired-together plates. Thus, each
capacitor has the same potential difference V, which produces charge on the capacitor.
(In Fig. 2, the applied potential V is maintained by the battery.) In general, When a
potential difference V is applied across several capacitors connected in parallel, that
potential difference V is applied across each capacitor.The total charge q stored on the
capacitors is the sum of the charges stored on all the capacitors.
We can simply say that capacitors connected in parallel can be replaced with an
equivalent capacitor that has the same total charge q and the same potential difference
V as the actual capacitors.

Figure 2b shows the equivalent capacitor (with equivalent capacitance Ceq) that has
replaced the three capacitors (with actual capacitances C1,C2, and C3) of Fig. 2a.

152
NOTE: Practice personal hygiene protocols at all times
 Figure 2. (a) Three capacitors connected
To derive an expression for Ceq in Fig.
in parallel to battery B.The battery
2b, we first use Eq. q=CV to find the
maintains potential difference V across its
charge on each actual capacitor:
terminals and thus across each capacitor.
(b) The equivalent capacitor, with
q1 = C1V, q2 = C2V, and q3 = C3V.
capacitance Ceq, replaces the parallel
combination.
The total charge on the parallel combination of Fig. 2a is then;

q = q1 = q2 = q3 = (C1 + C2 + C3)V.

The equivalent capacitance, with the same total charge q and applied potential difference
V as the combination, is then;

SAMPLE PROBLEM:

A. The Grade 12 Binggas is working with capacitance they connected three

capacitances in series to find the how well they hold charges. Find the total
capacitance for three capacitors connected in series by the stem students given
their individual capacitances to be 1 µF, 5 µF, and 8 µF.

Given: C1=1 µF CTotal = ??

C2=5 µF
C3=8 µF

1 1 1 1 1
= + + =
CTotal 1 µF 5 µF 8 µF 1.325

CTotal = 0.755 µF

B. Five capacitors, C1 = 2 μF, C2 = 4 μF, C3 = 6 μF, C4 = 5 μF, C5 = 10 μF, are

connected in series and parallel. Determine the capacitance of a single capacitor
that will have the same effect as the combination.

Given:
C1 = 2 μF C3 = 6 μF
C2 = 4 μF C4 = 5 μF
C5 = 10 μF Ceq= ???

153
NOTE: Practice personal hygiene protocols at all times
 First; we are going to get the capacitance of C2 and C3 that are connected in
parallel. The equivalent capacitance;

C2,3 = C2 + C3
C2,3 = 4 μF + 6 μF
C2,3 = 10 μF

Next, we are going to used the formula in series connection to get the equivalent
capacitance of the circuit.

1 1 1 1 1 9
= + + + =
CTotal 2 10 5 10 10

CTotal = 1.1 μF

Learning Competency

Calculate the equivalent capacitance of a network of capacitors connected in

series/parallel STEM_GP12EM-IIId-24

154
NOTE: Practice personal hygiene protocols at all times
ACTIVITY 1: LOOP A WORD
DIRECTIONS: Look for the different concepts regarding the topic capacitance in series
and parallel on the pool of letters below.

D V C P V S R T P

S F A L N E R B A

C A P A C I T O R

I R A T H R C A A

R A C E I E I R L

C D I S V S R A L

U T T O O D V C E

I C A R L S F A L

T F N E T F T A V

S E C H A R G E B

D Q E S G C S R K

B A T T E R Y P O

1. Charge 6. Battery

2. Capacitance 7. Circuit

3. Series 8. Combination

4. Parallel 9. Voltage

5. Capacitor 10. Plates

155
NOTE: Practice personal hygiene protocols at all times
ACTIVITY 2: SOLVE
DIRECTIONS: Answer the following set of problem. The scoring is being provided for
you before the questions.

The link below will redirect you to the websites that contains a sample problem with
solution.

https://www.physicstutorials.org/home/electrostatics/capacitors-in-series-and-parallel.

Given 2 pts
Solution 5 pts
Final Answer 3 pts

1. Mr. Catenza, the electronics teacher of SMSAT is explaining the

capacitance through the used of circuit for his students. The circuit that he
showed them is given below having the capacitance as follow; C1=60µF,
C2=20 µF, C3=9 µF and C4=12 µF respectively. Calculate the total
capacitance of the capacitor in the circuit.
C3

C4
A B C

C1 C2

2. Five capacitors, C1 = 3 μF, C2 = 6 μF, C3 = 8 μF, C4 = 7 μF, C5 = 12 μF,

are connected in series and parallel. Determine the capacitance of a single
capacitor that will have the same effect as the combination.

156
NOTE: Practice personal hygiene protocols at all times
ACTIVITY 3: TRUE OR FALSE
DIRECTIONS: Write True if the statement is correct and False if the statement is
incorrect on the space provided before the number.

________1. In parallel connection different potential difference V is applied across the

two groups of wired-together plates. False
________2. Capacitors that are connected in series cannot be replaced with an
equivalent capacitor that has the same charge q and the same total potential difference
V as the actual series capacitors. False
________3. Unit for capacitance is V. False
________4. “In parallel” means that the capacitors are directly wired together at one
plate and directly wired together at the other plate, and that the same potential difference
V is applied across the two groups of wired-together plates. True
________5. In series connection, the total capacitance is less than any one of the
series capacitors’ individual capacitances. True.

157
NOTE: Practice personal hygiene protocols at all times
REFLECTION

1. I learned that ___________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________

2. I enjoyed most on _______________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________

3. I want to learn more on ___________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________

158
NOTE: Practice personal hygiene protocols at all times
 GENERAL PHYSICS 2
Name: ____________________________ Grade Level: _____________
Date: _____________________________ Score: __________________

LEARNING ACTIVITY SHEET

Combination of Capacitors
Background Information for the Learners (BIL)
Capacitors may be connected in series or in parallel. Figure 2-11 shows these
connections.

(Source: Silverio,Angelina.”Exploring Life Through Science Series: General Physics 2.” In Teachers Wraparound
Edition. Quezon City, Phoenix Pulishing House, Inc., 2017)

Referring to figure 2-11a, the series combination of capacitors is characterized

by only one path for charge transfer through terminals A and B. All the series
capacitors acquire the same charge. The charges in each capacitor are equivalent,
and are all equal to the total charge in the combination. But because they have
different capacitances, the potential differences between the plates of the capacitor
are different. In summary, the following relationships apply for capacitors in series.
a. Charge: qtotal = q1 = q2 =q3 = ....= qn
b. Potential differences:
Vtotal = V1 + V2 + V3 + .... + Vn

161
NOTE: Practice personal hygiene protocols at all times
 c. Capacitance:
Using Eq. (2.7) and the above relationships between charges and volatages,

For parallel capacitors, there are several paths for the transfer of
charges through the voltage terminals A and B. Since the capacitors are
connected to the same terminals A and B, then the potential differences
between their plates are equivalent, and are equal to Vtotal.

In summary, the following relationships apply for capacitors in parallel.

a. Charge:
qtotal = q1 + q2 + q3 + .. +qn
b. Potential difference:
Vtotal = V1 = V2 = V3 = ... Vn
c. Capacitance:
CtotalVtotal = C1V1 + C2V2 +C3V3 + ..CnVn
Ctotal = C1 + C2 + C3 + ... +Cn

LEARNING COMPETENCY:
Determine the total charge, the charge on, and the potential difference across each
capacitor in the network given the capacitors connected in series/parallel .
(STEM_GP12EM_IIId-25)

162
NOTE: Practice personal hygiene protocols at all times
 Activity 1: Try To Solve Me!

Directions: Solve the following problems systematically. Write your answers on the
space provided.
1.A parallel plate capacitor is made up of two plates, each having an area of 8.0x10 -
4 m2 and separated from each other by 5.0mm. Half of the space between the plates
is filled with glass and the other with mica. Find the capacitance of this capacitor.
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
______
2.Two capacitors with 2.0 F and 3.0 F capacitance, respectively, are connected in
series and subjected to a total potential difference of 100V. Find the (a) total
capacitance, (b) charge stored in each capacitor, and (c) potential difference across
each capacitor.
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
______

163
NOTE: Practice personal hygiene protocols at all times
 Activity 2: Brain Twister

Directions: Answer the following problems logically. Write your answers on the
space provided.
1.If you wish to store a large amount of energy in a capacitor bank, would you connect
capacitors in series or parallel? Explain.
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
_______________________________________

Activity 3: Choose The Best

Directions: Choose the letter of the correct answer. Write your answer on the space
before each item.
_________1. In the below figure for capacitors connected in parallel, what is the
correct statement and formula?
a. The Total charge will be the sum of the
charges in each of three capacitors
QT=Q1+Q2+Q3
b. Charge in each capacitor is the same
QT=Q1=Q2=Q3
c. Charge in each capacitor is different but current in each capacitor are the
same
d. The total charge will be QT=Q1- Q2 - Q3
_________2. Two capacitors C1=5 μF and C2= 2 μF are connected in parallel to a
20 V DC power supply as shown in the figure given below: Calculate the total
capacitance of the circuit?
a. 0.7 μF
b. 1.42 μF
c. 7 μF
d. 3 μF

164
NOTE: Practice personal hygiene protocols at all times
_________3. Which of the following is true for capacitors connected together in
parallel?
a. All capacitors in parallel have the same current through them
b. All capacitors in parallel store the same amount of charge
c. All capacitors in parallel must have the same capacitance
d. All capacitors in parallel have the same voltage across their plates
_________4. Which of the following is true for capacitors connected in series?
a. Capacitors in series all store the same amount of charge
b. Capacitors in series all have the same voltage across their plates
c. Capacitors in series all have the same capacitance
d. Capacitors in series must have a lower capacitance than capacitors in
parallel
_________5. What is the total capacitance when two capacitors C1 and C2 are
connected in series?
a. (C1+C2)/C1C2 c. C1C2/(C1+C2)
b. 1/C1+1/C2 d. C1+C2

Activity 4: Fact or Bluff

Directions: Write FACT if the statement is true, otherwise write BLUFF if it is false.
Write your answer on the space before each item.

___________1. If you connect two different capacitors in series and charge them up,
both of them will have equal voltage.
___________2. Capacitors in parallel have a higher total value than any individual
capacitor.
___________3. To find the total capacitance of capacitors in parallel, sum the values
of the individual capacitors.
___________4. In a series capacitive circuit the smallest capacitor will have the
largest voltage drop across it.
___________5. When a capacitor is charging, current will flow through its dielectric.

165
NOTE: Practice personal hygiene protocols at all times
REFLECTION:
1. I learned that
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________

2. I enjoyed most on__________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__

3. I want to learn more on______________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__

166
NOTE: Practice personal hygiene protocols at all times
 GENERAL PHYSICS 2
Name: ____________________________ Grade Level: _________
Date: _____________________________ Score: ______________

LEARNING ACTIVITY SHEET

Capacitors in Series and Parallel

Part 2
Background Information for the Learners (BIL)

A capacitor is a device used to store electrical charge and electrical energy. It

consists of at least two electrical conductors separated by a distance. The space
between capacitors may simply be a vacuum, and, in that case, a capacitor is then
known as a “vacuum capacitor.” However, the space is usually filled with an insulating
material known as a dielectric. The amount of storage in a capacitor is determined
by a property called capacitance.

The capacitance value of a

capacitor is measured in farads
(F), units named for English
physicist Michael Faraday (1791– Figure 01
Michael Faraday was an English
1867).
scientist who contributed to the
study of electromagnetism and
electrochemistry.
A farad is a large quantity of capacitance. Most household electrical devices
include capacitors that produce only a fraction of a farad, often a thousandth of a
farad (or microfarad, µF) or as small as a picofarad (a trillionth, pF).

Supercapacitors, meanwhile, can store very large electrical charges of

thousands of farads.

How to increase capacitance

Capacitance can be increased when:

• A capacitor's plates (conductors) are positioned closer together.

• Larger plates offer more surface area.
• The dielectric is the best possible insulator for the application.

169
NOTE: Practice personal hygiene protocols at all times
 Capacitors have applications ranging from filtering static from radio reception
to energy storage in heart defibrillators. Typically, commercial capacitors have two
conducting parts close to one another but not touching, such as those in (Figure 2).
Most of the time, a dielectric is used between the two plates. When battery terminals
are connected to an initially uncharged capacitor, the battery potential moves a small
amount of charge of magnitude 𝑄 from the positive plate to the negative plate. The
capacitor remains neutral overall, but with charges and residing on opposite
plates.
Both capacitors shown here were initially uncharged before being connected
to a battery. They now have charges of and (respectively) on their plates. (a)
A parallel-plate capacitor consists of two plates of opposite charge with
area A separated by distance d. (b) A rolled capacitor has a dielectric material
between its two conducting sheets (plates).

Figure 2. Cross section of a capacitor

Capacitors with different physical characteristics (such as shape and size of
their plates. See Figure 3) store different amounts of charge for the same applied
voltage 𝑉 across their plates. The capacitance 𝐶 of a capacitor is defined as the ratio
of the maximum charge 𝑄 that can be stored in a capacitor to the applied voltage 𝑉
across its plates. In other words, capacitance is the largest amount of charge per volt
that can be stored on the device:
𝑄
𝐶=
𝑉

Figure 3. Capacitors of different sizes and shapes.

170
NOTE: Practice personal hygiene protocols at all times
ENERGY STORED IN CAPACITORS
The energy stored in a capacitor can be expressed in three ways:
2 2
Ecap= QV = CV = Q
2
where Q 2is the charge, 2C
V is the voltage, and C is the capacitance of the capacitor.
The energy is in joules for a charge in coulombs, voltage in volts, and capacitance
in farads.

DID YOU KNOW?

In a defibrillator, the delivery of a large charge in a short burst to a set of
paddles across a person’s chest can be a lifesaver. The person’s heart attack might
have arisen from the onset of fast, irregular beating of the heart—cardiac or
ventricular fibrillation. The application of a large shock of electrical energy can
terminate the arrhythmia and allow the body’s pacemaker to resume normal patterns.
Today it is common for ambulances to carry a defibrillator, which also uses an
electrocardiogram to analyze the patient’s heartbeat pattern. Automated external
defibrillators (AED) are found in many public places (Figure 4). These are designed
to be used by lay persons. The device automatically diagnoses the patient’s heart
condition and then applies the shock with appropriate energy and waveform. CPR is
recommended in many cases before use of an AED.

Figure 4. Automated external defibrillators are found in many public places. These portable units
provide verbal instructions for use in the important first few minutes for a person suffering a cardiac
attack. (credit: Owain Davies, Wikimedia Commons)

171
NOTE: Practice personal hygiene protocols at all times
Sample Problems:
A) A heart defibrillator delivers 4.00×102J of energy by discharging a capacitor initially
at 1.00×104V. What is its capacitance?
Solution:
We are given Ecap and V, and we are asked to find the capacitance C. Of the
three expressions in the equation for Ecap, the most convenient relationship is

CV2
Ecap =
2

Solving this expression for C and entering the given values yields

𝐶 = 2𝐸𝑐𝑎𝑝= 2(4.00 x 102 J) = 8.00 x 10-6 𝑭 or 8.00 𝒖𝑭

𝑉2 (1.00 x 104 𝑉)2

B) What is the capacitance of a capacitor that stores 12 μC of charge when

connected to a 6 V battery?
𝑄_ 12 μC
Solution: 𝐶 = = = 2 μC
𝑉 6V

Learning Competency:
Determine the potential energy stored inside the capacitor given the
geometry and the potential difference across the capacitor (STEM_GP12EM-IIId-
26).

Activity 1: Warming Up!

Directions: Answer concisely the questions below.

172
NOTE: Practice personal hygiene protocols at all times
1. Look at the picture above. Which capacitor do you think will hold the most
charge? Why?
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
_____

2. Describe simply how a capacitor works. What can a capacitor be compared to?
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
_____

Activity 2 : Let’s Get Charged!

Directions: View the videos about capacitance, potential energy in capacitors, and
voltage on the internet and answer the guide questions that follow. Use the links
below.
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SIU_9SMd5q0
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u-jigaMJT10

Guide Questions:
A capacitor (parallel plate) is charged with a battery of constant voltage. Once
the capacitor reaches maximum charge, the battery is removed from the circuit.
1. Describe the charge on the plates if the plates were pushed closer together.
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
_____

173
NOTE: Practice personal hygiene protocols at all times
2. Describe what happens to the capacitance of the capacitor if both the plates were
moved closer together.
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
_____

3. Relate the voltage to that of the capacitance given both plates were moved closer
together in the capacitor.
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
_____

Activity 3 : Problem Solving

Directions: Solve the following problems. Show all the steps you made in the
procedure. Use separate answer sheet(s) for your solutions.

1. It is desired that 5.8 μC of charge be stored on each plate of a 3.2- μC capacitor.

What potential difference is required between the plates?

2. A capacitor of 0.75 uF is charged to a voltage 16 V. What is the magnitude of the

charge on each plate of capacitor?

3. In a typical defibrillator, a 175-uF capacitor is charged until the potential difference

is 2240V.
(a) What is the magnitude of the charge on each plate of the final capacitor?
(b) find the energy stored in the charged-up defibrillator.

174
NOTE: Practice personal hygiene protocols at all times
4. In open heart surgery, a much smaller amount of energy will defibrillate the heart.
(a) What voltage is applied to the 8.00 μF capacitor of a heart defibrillator that
stores 40.0 J of energy?
(b) Find the amount of stored charge.

5. (a) What is the energy stored in the 10.0 μF capacitor of a heart defibrillator
charged to 9.00 × 103 V?
(b) Find the amount of stored charge.

REFLECTION:
1. I learned that
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________

2. I enjoyed most on__________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__

3. I want to learn more on______________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__

175
NOTE: Practice personal hygiene protocols at all times
 GENERAL PHYSICS 2
Name: ___________________________ Grade Level: __________
Date: ____________________________ Score: _______________

LEARNING ACTIVITY SHEET

EFFECTS OF INSERTING DIELECTRIC MATERIAL ON THE
CAPACITANCE, CHARGE, AND ELECTRIC FIELD OF A
CAPACITOR.
Background Information for the Learners (BIL)

Before we proceed to discuss the effects of dielectric materials on the

capacitance, charge, and electric field of a capacitor we will review first the definition
of such terms to bridge us into a new concept.
Capacitor stores electrical energy in an electric field. It is created out of two
metal plates and an insulating material called dielectric. Metal plates are placed very
close each other, in parallel, but the dielectric sits between them to make sure they
don’t touch. The two metal plates (which act as the conductor) must carry equal
charges but opposite sign resulting to zero total charge of the capacitor. The dielectric
on the other hand is any insulating material that act as insulator and it serves three
purposes;
1. to keep the conducting plates from coming in contact, allowing for smaller
plate separations and therefore higher capacitances;
2. to increase the effective capacitance by reducing the electric field strength,
which means you get the same charge at a lower voltage; and
3. to reduce the possibility of shorting out by sparking (more formally known as
dielectric breakdown) during operation at high voltage.

178
NOTE: Practice personal hygiene protocols at all times
To visualize a capacitor, think of a sandwich with a spread in between. The two sliced
of loaf acts as metal plates while the spread as dielectric. The figures below illustrate
a capacitor.

www.google.com/search?q=capacitor+in++aplates&tbm...

Capacitance is the amount of charge a capacitor can store per unit of potential
difference and is always a positive quantity. It is always a positive quantity because
potential difference increases linearly with the stored charge.
It can further be defined as the ratio of the magnitude of the charge on either
conductor to the magnitude of the potential difference between the conductor, and in
equation form it can be expressed as;

We have already defined capacitor, dielectric and capacitance, we now

proceed to describe the effects of inserting dielectric materials on the capacitance,
charge, and electric field of a capacitor through some various examples.

For an instance, if we place a dielectric between two-parallel charged metal

plates with an electric field pointing from right to left. The positive nuclei of the
dielectric will move with the field to the right and the negative electrons will
move against the field to the left. Field lines start on positive charges and end on
negative charges, so the electric field within each stressed atom or molecule of the
dielectric points from left to right (as what is shown in the figure) — opposite the
external field from of the two metal plates. The electric field is a vector quantity and
when two vectors point in opposite directions you subtract their magnitudes to get
the resultant. The two fields don't quite cancel in a dielectric as they would in a metal,
so the overall result is a weaker electric field between the two plates.

179
NOTE: Practice personal hygiene protocols at all times
 https://physics.info/dielectrics/#:~:text=Capacitance
Defining an electric field, it is the gradient of electric potential commonly known
as voltage and can be expressed in an equation form as;

And if we go back to the definition of capacitance, it is the ratio of charge to

voltage and expressed as;

Thus, introducing a dielectric into a capacitor decreases the electric field, which
decreases the voltage, which increases the capacitance.

180
NOTE: Practice personal hygiene protocols at all times
 A capacitor with a dielectric store the same charge as one without a dielectric,
but at a lower voltage. Therefore, a capacitor with a dielectric in it is more effective.

To describe the effect of inserting dielectric materials on the capacitance

consider this example—an air is filled with 50 micro Farad capacitor has a voltage of
10V. An insulator with dielectric constant of 4.0 is inserted between the plates.
Calculate the capacitance, original charge and current charge on the capacitor given
that the new value for the voltage across is equal to 2.5V.
In dealing with any solving problem always start reading the problem with
utmost understanding while noting down the given and unknown of it.
For the problem above, know that the original capacitor has no dielectric
material between the two metals, only air with dielectric constant of approximately 1.
Other given in the problem are capacitance (which is equal to 50 micro Farad) and
the voltage across the plates (which is equal to 10V). But, if we insert a dielectric
material in between these two plates, what will happen to its capacitance? Will it
increase or decrease?
Going back to the problem, we know that the dielectric constant for the
insulator is 4. Giving us the value of “k” to be 4. The capacitance is directly
proportional to “k”, so if the value of “k” increases and so is the value of C, which in
this case the capacitance. To calculate the new capacitance (with dielectric inserted
between), multiply the original capacitance with the constant value of dielectric “k”
which is equal to 4 for this problem. The original capacitance was 50 micro farad and
the dielectric value is 4, we get 200 micro Farad for the value of new capacitance.
Notice that, the problem proved that, whenever the value of k increases, the value of
C also increases.

181
NOTE: Practice personal hygiene protocols at all times
 To get the original charge of then capacitor, just multiply the original value of
capacitance and voltage. That is, 50 micro farad times 10V we get 500 micro
coulombs (that is the charge on the original capacitance). If we calculate the new
charge, we use the same formula as getting the original capacitance only that we will
change the values of the variables. The new capacitance is equal to 200 micro farad
while the new voltage is equal to 2.5V, multiplying these two we get the final value of
charge which is also equal to 500 micro Farad. Base on this result we can infer that,
increasing the dielectric will have no effect on the charge.

For the second example, we will describe the effect of dielectrics on the
electric field of a capacitor.
A capacitor is composed of metal plates separated by an air gap of 1mm has
a voltage of 15V. Calculate the electric field inside the capacitor and calculate the
new electric field if a material with dielectric constant of 3.0 is placed in between the
two metals.
To calculate the electric field is simply the voltage divided by the distance so,
15V over 0.001m which results to 15,000 V/m.
Moving on the second question, remember that if the value of dielectric “k”
increases the value of electric field decreases. To calculate the electric field, divide
the initial electric field with the value of “k” and that would be 15,000 over 3 resulting
to 5000V/m.

For the third example, consider the problem below followed by the complete
solution presented numerically.
A 40uF capacitor with an air gap of 2mm is connected across a 12V battery. Calculate
the charge, electric field, and potential energy stored in this capacitor.

We know that if we add an insulator and if we increase the dielectric constant of

capacitor, the capacitance increases, and the voltage decrease and the charge stays
the same while the electric filed and potential energy stored in a capacitor decreases.
To calculate the problem, the given are;
C=40F
V=12V
d=2mm

182
NOTE: Practice personal hygiene protocols at all times
To get the electric field, we use the formula; Q= CV

Inserting the values; Q= (40uF) (12V)

Q= 480uC

V
To get the electric field, we use the formula; E=
d
12V
Inserting the values, E=
.002m
E= 6000V/m
1
To get the potential energy stored in the capacitor, we use the formula; U= QV
2

Inserting the values, 1

U= (480uF) (12V)
2

U= 2880uJ or 2.88mJ

Learning Competency
Describe the effects of inserting dielectric materials on the capacitance, charge, and
electric field of a capacitor. (STEM_GP12EMIId-29)

ACTIVITY 1: Fill in the Blanks

Directions: Choose the correct word that fits the blank

To answer this activity, choose from the following terms:

DIRECTLY INVERSELY DECREASES
CAPACITOR DIRECTLY
DECREASE INCREASES

Dielectric is any insulating material that acts as insulator and when inserted into
a _____________ it results with a direct effect with the charge, capacitance and
electric field. The capacitance is ___________ proportional to the value of dielectric
material. This means that, when the dielectric material decreases in value, the
capacitance would ____________ in value. The electric field on the other hand is
______________ proportional to the value of insulating material and it
_____________ as the value of dielectric material increases. And Lastly for the effect

183
NOTE: Practice personal hygiene protocols at all times
of dielectric on charge, it ____________ with an increased value of insulating
material and we say that they are___________ proportional with each other.

ACTIVITY 2: Calculate the Following Problems

Directions: Solve the following problems
1. What is the capacitance of a parallel plate capacitor with metal plates, each
of area 1.00 m2, separated by 1.00 mm?
2. What charge is stored in this capacitor if a voltage of 3.00 × 103 V is applied
to it?
3. What charge is stored in a 180 μF capacitor when 120 V is applied to it?
4. What voltage must be applied to an 8.00 nF capacitor to store 0.160 mC of
charge?
5. What is the capacitance of a large Van de Graaff generator’s terminal, given
that it stores 8.00 mC of charge at a voltage of 12.0 MV?

REFLECTION:
1. I learned that
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________

2. I enjoyed most on__________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__

3. I want to learn more on______________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__

184
NOTE: Practice personal hygiene protocols at all times