General Physics 2

Governor Pack Road, Baguio City, Philippines 2600

Tel. Nos.: (+6374) 442-3316, 442-8220; 444-2786;
442-2564; 442-8219; 442-8256; Fax No.: 442-6268
Email: email@[Link]; Website: [Link]
Grade Level/Section:

MODULE 5 – Physics 2 Subject Teacher:

The capacitor is an electrical component that is able to store charges and electric potential
energy. Current does not flow through a capacitor. These properties make the capacitor useful in a
circuit.

Capacitance
 a capacitor is basically made up of tw o parallel metal plates. When a capacitor is
connected to a battery, electrons flow from the negative terminal of the battery, changing
the plate X of the capacitor negativ e (Figure 1).

(Figure 1)
 the charge of –Q on the plate X induces a charge of +Q on the opposite plate Y.
 the ability of a capacitor to store charge is measured by the v alue of its capacitance.
Capacitance is defined as the ratio of the charge Q on either of its plates to the potential
difference V betw een the plates.
Capacitance,
 the SI unit of capacitance is farad (F). One farad (1 F) is the capacitance of the capacitor
if the charge on each plate of the capacitor is one coulomb (1 C) and the potential
difference across the capacitor is one v olt (1V).

 the capacitance C of a capacitor does not depend on the potential difference V across it
nor the amount of charged Q stored in it. The tw o are directly proportional to each other
as show n in Figure 2.

(Figure 2)
 the capacitance depends only on the shapes, sizes, relativ e positions of the plates and on
the nature of the insulator in betw een them.
 a dielectric prevents charges from flowing across the capacitor. The dielectric in Figure 1 is
air. Aside from air, other materials can be used as a dielectric.

Sample Problem 1:
A capacitor is marked 6 V, 22 F.
(a) Explain the markings on the capacitor.
(b) What is the charge on the capacitor w hen the potential difference across it is
(i) 3.0 V, and
(ii) 6.0 V?
(c) What happens to the capacitor if it is connected to a v oltage of 12 V?
SOLUTION
“What are the given in
the problem?”
 General Physics 2
Governor Pack Road, Baguio City, Philippines 2600
Tel. Nos.: (+6374) 442-3316, 442-8220; 444-2786;
442-2564; 442-8219; 442-8256; Fax No.: 442-6268
Email: email@[Link]; Website: [Link]
Grade Level/Section:

MODULE 5 – Physics 2 Subject Teacher:

(a) The maximum allow ed v oltage across the capacitor is 6 V w hile its
capacitance is 22 F. When a potential of 1 Volt is applied across
the capacitor, the capacitor w ill store a charge of 22 C.
(b) Formula:

Charge on capacitor

(c) I f a v oltage of 12 V is applied across the capacitor, the capacitor

w ill be damaged. The insulation betw een the plates of the
capacitor breaks down. Charges will flow across the capacitor and
it w ill not be able to store charge.

Capacitance in Series
 w hen three capacitors of capacitance C1, C2, and C3 are connected in series w ith a battery
(Figure 3(a)), electrons flow from the negativ e terminal of the battery to the plate Y and
charge it negativ e, -Q

(Figure 3)
 the negativ e charge on plate Y includes a charge of +Q on plate X. Because electrons are
repelled from plate X to plate W of the next capacitor, plate W is charged –Q, and in turn
induces a charge +Q on plate U and so on. This results in the capacitors connected in series
hav ing the same charge Q.
 the potential differences V 1, V 2, and V 3 across the capacitors are

Total potential difference,

I f Ceq is the equiv alent capacitance,

 The equiv alent capacitance Ceq is smaller than C1, C2, and C3. The charge Q on the
equiv alent capacitor equals the charge Q on each of the capacitors.

Sample Problem 2:
Consider tw o capacitors of capacitance C1 = 2.0 μF and C2 = 4.0 μF connected in series w ith a
v oltage of 12.0 V. Calculate:
(a) the equiv alent capacitance
(b) the charge stored in each capacitor, and
(c) the v oltage across each capacitor
“What are the given in the C1 = 2.0 F
problem?” C2 = 4.0 F
 General Physics 2
Governor Pack Road, Baguio City, Philippines 2600
Tel. Nos.: (+6374) 442-3316, 442-8220; 444-2786;
442-2564; 442-8219; 442-8256; Fax No.: 442-6268
Email: email@[Link]; Website: [Link]
Grade Level/Section:

MODULE 5 – Physics 2 Subject Teacher:

Vbattery = 12 V
“What is the unknown?” a. the equiv alent capacitance
b. the charge on each capacitor
c. v oltage on each capacitor
Formula:
Capacitors in series

Solution:
(a) Calculate the equivalent capacitance

(b) Calculate the charge on each capacitor

To calculate the charge on each capacitor,

→
we solve for the equivalent charge. That
is:

If Qeq = 16 C, then: Q1 = 16 C and Q2 = 16 C

(c) Calculate the voltage on each capacitor V1 = Q1 V2 = Q1
C1 C1
= 16 C = 16 C
2 4
V1 = 8.0 V V2 = 4.0 V
Note: The sum of the v oltage across each capacitor is equal
to the v oltage across the battery. Thus, our answ er is
consistent w ith the concepts discussed for a series
connection of capacitors.

Capacitors in Parallel
 When capacitors of capacitance C1, C2, and C3 are connected in parallel to a battery (Figure
4(a)), the capacitors are charged until the potential differences across the capacitors are
equal to the emf V of the battery.

(Figure 4)
 The plate of each capacitor that is connected to point X is charged positiv e, and the plate
that is connected to point Y is charged negativ e.
 The charge on each of the capacitors is

Total charge stored in the capacitors,

Therefore,
=(

The equiv alent capacitance for a parallel connection is then:

 General Physics 2
Governor Pack Road, Baguio City, Philippines 2600
Tel. Nos.: (+6374) 442-3316, 442-8220; 444-2786;
442-2564; 442-8219; 442-8256; Fax No.: 442-6268
Email: email@[Link]; Website: [Link]
Grade Level/Section:

MODULE 5 – Physics 2 Subject Teacher:

Sample Problem 1:
Calculate the equiv alent capacitance for the arrangements of capacitors shown in the figures
(a) and (b)

“What are the given in the (a) C1 = 0.2μF (b) C1 = 3μF

problem?” C2 = 0.4μF C2 = 6μF
C3 = 0.5μF C3 = 4μF
“What is the unknown?” Equiv alent capacitance, Ceq
Formula:
Capacitors in series

Capacitors in parallel Ceq = C1 + C2 + C3

Solution:
In figure (a), capacitors C1 and C2 are in 1 1 1
series   for C1 and C2, let’s use C’ to represent the
C ' C1 C 2
resulting capacitance
1 1 1
 
C ' 0.2F 0.4F
1
 5F  2.5F
C'
1
 7.5F
C'
1
C' 
7.5F
C’ = 0.133μF
The resulting capacitance C’ and C3 are in Ceq = C1+C2+C3
parallel Ceq = C’ + C3
Ceq = 0.133μF + 0.5μF
Ceq = 0.633μF
In figure (b), the capacitors C1 and C2 are C’ = C1 + C2
in parallel, so C’ = 3μF + 6μF
C’ = 9μF
The resulting capacitance, C’ and C3 are 1 1 1
in series, so the equivalent capacitance C eq  
Ceq C ' C 3
is given by:
1 1 1
 
Ceq 9F 4F
1
 0.111F  0.25F
Ceq
1
 0.361F
Ceq
1
Ceq 
0.361F
Ceq = 2.77μF
 General Physics 2
Governor Pack Road, Baguio City, Philippines 2600
Tel. Nos.: (+6374) 442-3316, 442-8220; 444-2786;
442-2564; 442-8219; 442-8256; Fax No.: 442-6268
Email: email@[Link]; Website: [Link]
Grade Level/Section:

MODULE 5 – Physics 2 Subject Teacher:

Energy Stored in a Charged Capacitor

(Figure 5)
 Figure 5 show s that the potential difference across a capacitor of capacitance C is V. The
charge on each plate of the capacitor is
q = CV
 When a small charge +dq is transferred from the negativ e plate to the positiv e plate, the
charge on the negativ e plate becomes -(d + dq) and the charge on the positiv e plate
increases to +(d + dq). Hence, the charge on each plate increases by dq.
 From the definition of potential difference as w ork done per unit charge, w ork done to
increase the charge on the capacitor by dq is
dW = V(dq)
dW = q (dq)
C
Therefore, the w ork done to charge the capacitor to a charge Q is
W = 1 Q2
2 C
 The w ork done to charge the capacitor is stored in the capacitor.
Energy stored, W = Q2
2C
W = 1 QV V=Q
2 C
W = 1 CV 2 (Q = CV)
2
 When a capacitor is charged by a battery of constant emf  and negligible internal resistance
as in Figure 6, the charge is driv en to the battery from the capacitor under a constant
potential difference of .

(Figure 6)
Work done to charge the capacitor = Q
Energy stored in the charged capacitor = 1 Q
2
Energy dissipated as heat in the connecting w ires = Q - 1 Q
2
= 1 Q
2
Sample Problem 3:
The capacitance of a v ariable capacitor may be adjusted betw een 1.0x10 -10 F and 5.0x10-10F.
(a) When the capacitance is 5.0x10-10 F, the capacitor is charged by a battery of emf 200 V. What
is the charge on the capacitor?
(b) The capacitor is disconnected from the battery and its capacitance changed to 1.0x10-10F.
(i) discuss any change to the charge on the capacitor.
(ii) w hat is the final potential difference across the capacitor?
(iii) w hat is the w ork done against the electric field when the capacitance is changed?

“What are the given in the (a) C = 5.0x10-10 F

 General Physics 2
Governor Pack Road, Baguio City, Philippines 2600
Tel. Nos.: (+6374) 442-3316, 442-8220; 444-2786;
442-2564; 442-8219; 442-8256; Fax No.: 442-6268
Email: email@[Link]; Website: [Link]
Grade Level/Section:

MODULE 5 – Physics 2 Subject Teacher:

problem?” emf=200 V
(b) C = 1.0x10-10F.
“What is the unknown?” (a) Q
(b) final potential difference and w ork done
Formula: Q = CV
1
W CV 2
2
Solution:
(a) Charge on the capacitor Q = CV
Q = (5.0x10-10 F)(200 V)
Q = 1.0x10-7 C
(b) (i) there is no change to the charge on the capacitor
because charge is conserved.
Since charge is conserved, Q
Q (ii) V2 =
Q=C2 V2 →V2 = C2
1.0 x10^ 7C
C2 V2 
1.0 x10^ 10 F
V 2 = 1000 V
Work done=change in the energy stored in (iii)
the capacitor 1
W  CV
2
1 1
W  C 2V 2 2 - C 1V 1 2
2 2
1 1
W  (1.0 x10^ 10 F )(1000V ) 2 - (5.0 x10^ 10 F )(200V ) 2
2 2
W = 4.0x10 J -5

WRITTEN ASSESSMENT

Instructions: Read and analyze each problem. On a w hole sheet of paper, solve for what is asked.
(20 pts.)
1. Fiv e capacitors are connected in series and parallel, C1 = 2uF, C2 = 4uF, C3 = 5uF, C4 = 6uF, C5 =
8uF as show n in the figure below . Determine the capacitance of each single capacitor.
(10 Points)

2. Study the figure below.( 10 points)

a) Solv e for the equiv alent capacitance
b) Determine the total energy stored in the capacitance.

Reference:
Alvarez, J. 2019. SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL: GENERAL PHYSICS 2. Oxford Publishing (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd.