When a 6.00-μF air-filled capacitor has a charge of ±40.0 μC on its plates,how much potential energy is stored in this capacitor?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The potential energy stored in a capacitor can be calculated using the formula:

U = (1/2) * C * V^2

where U is the potential energy, C is the capacitance, and V is the voltage across the capacitor.

Using the given values, we can first find the voltage using the formula:

Q = C * V

where Q is the charge on the capacitor plates. Plugging in the values, we get:

±40.0 μC = 6.00 μF * V

V = ±6.67 V

Note that the voltage is negative for the negative charge on the capacitor plate.

Now we can use this voltage to calculate the potential energy:

U = (1/2) * 6.00 μF * (6.67 V)^2

U ≈ 133 μJ

Therefore, the best choice is D, with an explanation as shown above.

When a 600-μF Air-Filled Capacitor Has a Charge of ±40