Capacitors [44 marks]

1. Four identical capacitors of capacitance X are connected as shown in the diagram. [1 mark]

What is the effective capacitance between P and Q?

X
A. 3
B. X
4X
C. 3

D. 4X

Markscheme
C

2. A parallel plate capacitor is connected to a cell of negligible internal resistance. [1 mark]

The energy stored in the capacitor is 4 J and the electric field in between the plates is 100 N C –
1. The distance between the plates of the capacitor is doubled. What are the energy stored and

the electric field strength?

Markscheme
A
3. Three capacitors, each one with a capacitance C, are connected such that their [1 mark]
combined capacitance is 1.5C. How are they connected?

Markscheme
C

4. Six identical capacitors, each of value C, are connected as shown. [1 mark]

What is the total capacitance?

C
A. 6
2C
B. 3
3C
C. 3

D. 6C

Markscheme
B

5. A capacitor is charged by a constant current of 2.5 µA for 100 s. As a result the [1 mark]
potential difference across the capacitor increases by 5.0 V.
What is the capacitance of the capacitor?
A. 20 µF
B. 50 µF
C. 20 mF
D. 50 mF
 Markscheme
B

6. A capacitor of capacitance C discharges through a resistor of resistance R. The graph [1 mark]

shows the variation with time t of the voltage V across the capacitor.

The capacitor is changed to one of value 2 C and the resistor is changed to one of value
2R. Which graph shows the variation with t of V when the new combination is discharged?

Markscheme
B

Two capacitors of different capacitance are connected in series to a source of emf of

7. Two capacitors of different capacitance are connected in series to a source of emf of [1 mark]
negligible internal resistance.

What is correct about the potential difference across each capacitor and the charge on each
capacitor?

Markscheme
C

8. A parallel-plate capacitor is connected to a battery. What happens when a sheet of [1 mark]

dielectric material is inserted between the plates without disconnecting the battery?
A. The capacitance is unchanged.
B. The charge stored decreases.
C. The energy stored increases.
D. The potential difference between the plates decreases.

Markscheme
C

9. The capacitance of a device is defined as the [1 mark]

A. charge stored by the device.
B. energy stored by the device.
C. charge stored by the device for a potential difference of 1V across the device.
D. energy stored by the device for a potential difference of 1V across the device.

Markscheme
C

The capacitance of a pixel of a CCD is 3.2 pF. A pulse of light is incident on the pixel
10. The capacitance of a pixel of a CCD is 3.2 pF. A pulse of light is incident on the pixel [1 mark]
and as a result, 104 electrons are ejected from the pixel. The magnitude of the change
in potential of the pixel is
A. 5.0 × 10−16 V
B. 5.0 × 10−4 V
C. 2.0 × 103 V
D. 2.0 × 1015 V

Markscheme
B

A small electric motor is used with a 12 mF capacitor and a battery in a school experiment.

When the switch is connected to X, the capacitor is charged using the battery. When the switch
is connected to Y, the capacitor fully discharges through the electric motor that raises a small
mass.

11a. The battery has an emf of 7.5 V. Determine the charge that flows through the [1 mark]
motor when the mass is raised.

Markscheme
charge stored on capacitor = 12 × 10 −3 × 7.5 = 0.09 «C» ✔

11b. The motor can transfer one-third of the electrical energy stored in the capacitor [2 marks]
into gravitational potential energy of the mass. Determine the maximum height
through which a mass of 45 g can be raised.

Markscheme
energy stored in capacitor « 12 CV2 or 1
2
QV =» 1
2
× 12 × 10−3 × 7.52 «= 0.338 J» ✔

height = « 13 × 0.338
=» 0.25/0.26 «m»
9.81×4.5×10−2

Allow use of g = 10 m s −2 which gives 0.25 «m»

11c. An additional identical capacitor is connected in series with the first capacitor and [3 marks]
the charging and discharging processes are repeated. Comment on the effect this
change has on the height and time taken to raise the 45 g mass.

Markscheme
C halved ✔
so energy stored is halved/reduced so rises «less than» half height ✔
discharge time/raise time less as RC halved/reduced ✔

Allow 6 mF

A capacitor consists of two parallel square plates separated by a vacuum. The plates are 2.5 cm
× 2.5 cm squares. The capacitance of the capacitor is 4.3 pF.

12a. Calculate the distance between the plates. [1 mark]

Markscheme
d=«
8.85×10−12×0.0252
=» 1.3 × 10 –3 «m»
4.3×10−12

[1 mark]

12b. The capacitor is connected to a 16 V cell as shown. [2 marks]

Calculate the magnitude and the sign of the charge on plate A when the capacitor is fully
charged.

Markscheme
6.9 × 10 –11 «C»
negative charge/sign
[2 marks]

12c. The capacitor is fully charged and the space between the plates is then filled with a [2 marks]
dielectric of permittivity ε = 3.0 ε0.
Explain whether the magnitude of the charge on plate A increases, decreases or stays constant.
 Markscheme
charge increases
because capacitance increases AND pd remains the same.
[2 marks]

12d. In a different circuit, a transformer is connected to an alternating current (ac) supply. [3 marks]

The transformer has 100 turns in the primary coil and 1200 turns in the secondary coil. The
peak value of the voltage of the ac supply is 220 V. Determine the root mean square (rms) value
of the output voltage.

Markscheme
ALTERNATIVE 1
1200
εs = 100
× 220

= 2640 «V»
2640
Vrms = = 1870 «V»
√2

ALTERNATIVE 2
220
(Primary) Vrms = = 156 «V»
√2
156×1200
(Secondary) Vrms = 100

Vrms = 1870 «V»

Allow ECF from MP1 and MP2.

Award [2] max for 12.96 V (reversing N p and Ns).
[3 marks]

12e. Describe the use of transformers in electrical power distribution. [3 marks]

 Markscheme
step-up transformers increase voltage/step-down transformers decrease voltage
(step-up transformers increase voltage) from plants to transmission lines / (step-down
transformers decrease voltage) from transmission lines to final utilizers
this decreases current (in transmission lines)
to minimize energy/power losses in transmission
[3 marks]

The electrical circuit shown is used to investigate the temperature change in a wire that is
wrapped around a mercury-in-glass thermometer.

A power supply of emf (electromotive force) 24 V and of negligible internal resistance is

connected to a capacitor and to a coil of resistance wire using an arrangement of two switches.
Switch S1 is closed and, a few seconds later, opened. Then switch S 2 is closed.

13a. The capacitance of the capacitor is 22 mF. Calculate the energy stored in the [1 mark]
capacitor when it is fully charged.

Markscheme
« 12 CV 2 = 1
2
× 0.22 × 242 » = «J»

13b. The resistance of the wire is 8.0 Ω. Determine the time taken for the capacitor [3 marks]
to discharge through the resistance wire. Assume that the capacitor is
completely discharged when the potential difference across it has fallen to 0.24 V.

Markscheme
t
1
100
= e− 8.0×0.022
ln 0.01 = − 8.0×t0.022
0.81 «s»

The mass of the resistance wire is 0.61 g and its observed temperature rise is 28 K.
13c. The mass of the resistance wire is 0.61 g and its observed temperature rise is 28 K. [2 marks]
Estimate the specific heat capacity of the wire. Include an appropriate unit for your
answer.

Markscheme
Q
c=
m×ΔT
OR
6.3
0.00061×28

370 J kg–1 K–1

Allow ECF from 3(a) for energy transferred.

Correct answer only to include correct unit that matches answer power of ten.
Allow use of g and kJ in unit but must match numerical answer, eg: 0.37 J kg –1 K–1 receives
[1]

13d. Suggest one other energy loss in the experiment and the effect it will have on [2 marks]
the value for the specific heat capacity of the wire.

Markscheme
ALTERNATIVE 1
some thermal energy will be transferred to surroundings/along connecting wires/to
thermometer
estimate «of specific heat capacity by student» will be larger «than accepted value»

ALTERNATIVE 2
not all energy transferred as capacitor did not fully discharge
so estimate «of specific heat capacity by student» will be larger «than accepted value»

An uncharged capacitor in a vacuum is connected to a cell of emf 12V and negligible internal
 An uncharged capacitor in a vacuum is connected to a cell of emf 12V and negligible internal
resistance. A resistor of resistance R is also connected.

At t=0 the switch is placed at position A. The graph shows the variation with time t of the voltage
V across the capacitor. The capacitor has capacitance 4.5µF in a vacuum.

14a. On the axes, draw a graph to show the variation with time of the voltage across the [2 marks]
resistor.
 Markscheme

general shape starting at 12 V

crosses at 6 V
Line must not touch time axis for MP2.
Allow tolerance of one square in 12 V (start) and 6 V (crossing).

14b. (i) The time constant of this circuit is 22s. State what is meant by the time constant. [2 marks]
(ii) Calculate the resistance R.

Markscheme
(i)
1
the time for the voltage/charge/current «in circuit» to drop to e or 37% of its initial value
«as the capacitor discharges»
OR
1
time for voltage/charge/current «in circuit» to increase to (1 − e) or 63% of its final value
«as the capacitor charges»
(ii)
22
R =≪ =≫ 4.9 × 106 Ω
4.5×10−6

14c. A dielectric material is now inserted between the plates of the fully charged capacitor. [2 marks]
State the effect, if any, on
(i) the potential difference across the capacitor.
(ii) the charge on one of the capacitor plates.
 Markscheme
(i)
no change
OR
«remains at» 12 V
(ii)
increases
OR
doubles
Allow “doubles” in the light of (d).

14d. (i) The permittivity of the dielectric material in (c) is twice that of a vacuum. Calculate [3 marks]
the energy stored in the capacitor when it is fully charged.
(ii) The switch in the circuit is now moved to position B and the fully charged capacitor
discharges. Describe what happens to the energy in (d)(i).

Markscheme
(i)
recognises that new capacitance is 9.0 µF
E =≪ 12 CV 2 = 1
2
× 9.0 × 10−6 × 122 ≫= 0.65mJ or 6.5×10 –4J
Allow 11.8 V (value on graph at t=100s).
(ii)
energy goes into the resistor/surroundings
OR
«energy transferred» into thermal/internal energy form
Do not accept “dissipated” without location or form.
Do not allow “heat”.

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