Time constant of leaky dielectric capacitor – Rankers Physics

Charging and Discharging of Capacitors: Practice Problem & Solution

A capacitor is completely filled with a leaky dielectric. The capacitor is charged. It discharges with a time constant \(\tau = \rho k \epsilon_0\). The capacitor can be (Symbols have their usual meaning)
Parallel plate capacitor
Cylindrical capacitor
Spherical capacitor
Any of these

Short Solution (Best for NEET):

To solve this problem, we apply the core principles of Charging and Discharging of Capacitors. Understanding the underlying formula is key to arriving at the correct answer below:

For any capacitor geometry, capacitance is proportional to \(k\epsilon_0\) and resistance is proportional to resistivity \(\rho\), such that the shape factors cancel in \(\tau = RC = \rho k \epsilon_0\).

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *