Question 1

Briefly discuss some of the uses for capacitors in electronic circuits.

Accepted Answer

Capacitors are devices that can store electric charge. They store charge for later use, such as in a camera flash, and as energy backup in computers if the power fails. Capacitors can also block surges of charge and energy to protect circuits. Very tiny capacitors serve as memory for the "ones" and "zero" of the binary code in the random access memory of computers.

Question 2

If the voltage between the plates of a parallel-plate capacitor is doubled, the capacitance of the capacitor

Accepted Answer

The capacitance of a parallel-plate capacitor is determined by the physical characteristics of the capacitor (plate area, distance between plates, and the dielectric material) and is independent of the voltage applied.

Question 3

Three identical capacitors are connected in series to a battery. If a total charge of Q flows from the battery, how much charge does each capacitor carry?

Accepted Answer

In a series circuit, the charge on each capacitor is the same as the total charge supplied by the battery, which is Q.

Question 4

Capacitors in series share the same charge and capacitors in parallel share the same voltage.

Accepted Answer

Capacitors in series share the same charge because there is only one path for the charge to flow through. Capacitors in parallel share the same voltage because they are connected to the same two points in the circuit and therefore experience the same potential difference.

Question 5

When two or more capacitors are connected in parallel to a battery,

Accepted Answer

When capacitors are connected in parallel, they all share the same voltage as the battery.

Question 6

A capacitor consists of a set of two parallel plates of area A separated by a distance d. The capacitor plates cary charges +Q and -Q. If the separation between the plates is doubled, the potential difference between the plates will

Accepted Answer

The potential difference V between the plates of a capacitor is given by V = Qd/(ε₀A). If the separation d is doubled, the potential difference will also double, assuming charge Q and area A remain constant.

Question 7

If the voltage applied to a parallel-plate capacitor is doubled, the electric field between the plates

Accepted Answer

The electric field (E) between the plates of a parallel-plate capacitor is directly proportional to the voltage (V) applied across the plates. Therefore, if the voltage is doubled, the electric field is also doubled.

Question 8

When two or more capacitors are connected in series to a battery,

Accepted Answer

When two or more capacitors are connected in series to a battery, the total voltage across the combination is the algebraic sum of the voltages across the individual capacitors, each capacitor carries the same amount of charge, and the equivalent capacitance of the combination is less than the capacitance of any of the capacitors.

Question 9

Describe the process of storing electrical energy in a capacitor.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Describe the process of storing electrical energy...

Question 10

If you were a parallel plate capacitor manufacturer, state three ways you might make larger valued capacitors.

Accepted Answer

The answer of If you were a parallel plate capacitor...

Question 11

The energy stored in a capacitor will be equal to the work done to charge it.

Accepted Answer

The energy stored in a capacitor is equal to the work done to move charge from one plate to the other against the electric field, which is the definition of the work done in charging the capacitor.

Question 12

The plates of a parallel-plate capacitor are maintained with constant voltage by a battery as they are pulled apart. During this process, the amount of charge on the plates must

Accepted Answer

When the plates of a parallel-plate capacitor are pulled apart while maintaining a constant voltage, the capacitance decreases. Since capacitance (C) is related to charge (Q) and voltage (V) by the equation Q = C * V, and V is constant, a decrease in capacitance results in a decrease in charge.

Question 13

As more and more capacitors are connected in series, the equivalent capacitance of the combination increases.

Accepted Answer

When capacitors are connected in series, the equivalent capacitance decreases because the reciprocal of the total capacitance is the sum of the reciprocals of the individual capacitances.

Question 14

A 1 pF capacitor is connected in parallel with a 2 pF capacitor, the parallel combination then being connected in series with a 3 pF capacitor. The resulting combination is then connected across a battery.
(a) Which capacitor has the greatest charge?
(b) Which capacitor has the greatest voltage?

Accepted Answer

The answer of A 1 pF capacitor is connected in...

Question 15

The plates of a parallel-plate capacitor are maintained with constant voltage by a battery as they are pulled apart. What happens to the strength of the electric field during this process?

Accepted Answer

The answer of The plates of a parallel-plate capacitor are...

Question 16

If the voltage between the plates of a parallel-plate capacitor is doubled, the charge on the capacitor

Accepted Answer

The charge on a capacitor is directly proportional to the voltage across it, according to the formula Q = CV, where Q is the charge, C is the capacitance, and V is the voltage. Doubling the voltage doubles the charge.

Question 17

A 1 mF, a 2 mF, and a 3 mF capacitor are connected in parallel, the combination being connected across a 9 volt battery.
(a) Which capacitor has the greatest charge?
(b) Which capacitor has the greatest voltage?

Accepted Answer

The answer of A 1 mF, a 2 mF, and...

Question 18

State three reasons for adding a dielectric material between the plates of a capacitor.

Accepted Answer

The answer of State three reasons for adding a dielectric...

Question 19

A 1 mF, a 2 mF, and a 3 mF capacitor are connected in series, the combination being connected across a 9 volt battery.
(a) Which capacitor has the greates charge?
(b) Which capacitor has the greatest voltage?

Accepted Answer