Capacitors - NEET Physics Questions
Question 1: moderate

A parallel plate capacitor has a capacity C. The separation between the plates is doubled and a dielectric medium is introduced between the plates. If the capacity now becomes 2C, the dielectric constant of the medium is :

1. 2
2. 1
3. 4
4. 8
View Answer

Let’s solve the problem step by step:

Given:

  • Initial capacitance:
    CC
     
  • The separation between the plates is doubled, and a dielectric medium is inserted.
  • The new capacitance becomes
    2C2C
     

    .

Step 1: Capacitance formula

The capacitance of a parallel plate capacitor is given by:

 

C=ε0AdC = \frac{\varepsilon_0 A}{d}

 

where:


  • CC
     

    is the capacitance,


  • ε0\varepsilon_0
     

    is the permittivity of free space,


  • AA
     

    is the area of the plates, and


  • dd
     

    is the separation between the plates.

Step 2: Effect of doubling the separation and adding a dielectric

When the separation

dd

is doubled, the capacitance would normally decrease by a factor of 2 (since capacitance is inversely proportional to

dd

).

Now, when a dielectric of dielectric constant

KK

is inserted, the capacitance increases by a factor of

KK

. So, the new capacitance

CC'

is:

 

C=Kε0A2d=KC2C' = K \cdot \frac{\varepsilon_0 A}{2d} = K \cdot \frac{C}{2}

 

We are told that the new capacitance is

2C2C

, so:

 

KC2=2CK \cdot \frac{C}{2} = 2C

 

Step 3: Solve for KK

 

 

K=4K = 4

 

Final Answer:

The dielectric constant of the medium is 4.

Question 2: difficult

A parallel plate condenser is filled with two dielectrics as shown in figure. Area of each plate is A metre² and the separation is d metre. The dielectric constants are K1 and K2 respectively. Its capacitance in farad will be :

 

 

 

1. \[\frac{\varepsilon_{0A}}{d}\left( K_{1} +K_{2}\right)\]
2. \[\frac{\varepsilon_{0A}}{d}\frac{\left( K_{1} +K_{2}\right)}{2}\]
3. \[\frac{\varepsilon_{0A}}{d}2\left( K_{1} +K_{2}\right)\]
4. \[\frac{\varepsilon_{0A}}{d}\frac{\left( K_{1} -K_{2}\right)}{2}\]
View Answer

Both the parts can be taken as separate capacitors connected in parallel.

So, C=C1+ C2=\(\frac{\varepsilon_{0A}}{d}\frac{\left( K_{1} +K_{2}\right)}{2}\)

Question 3: moderate

A parallel plate capacitor has two layers of dielectric as shown in figure. This capacitor is connected across a battery. The graph which shows the variation of electric field (E) and distance (x) from left plate.

1.
2.
3.
4.
View Answer

Given Information:

  1. Parallel plate capacitor: Contains two dielectric layers.
    • First layer (
      k=2k=2
       

      ) extends from 00 

      to dd 

      .

    • Second layer (
      k=4k=4
       

      ) extends from dd 

      to 3d3d 

      .

  2. Capacitor is connected to a battery: This means the potential difference
    VV
     

    across the plates is fixed.

Key Concepts:

  1. Electric Field in a Dielectric:
    • The electric field
      EE
       

      in a dielectric is inversely proportional to the dielectric constant kk 

      : E=σε0kE = \frac{\sigma}{\varepsilon_0 k} 

      where σ\sigma 

      is the surface charge density.

  2. Continuity of Potential:
    • Since the potential
      VV
       

      is constant across the capacitor, the sum of the potential drops across the two dielectric layers must equal VV 

      . For a uniform electric field in each region: V=E1d+E22dV = E_1 \cdot d + E_2 \cdot 2d 

      where E1E_1 

      and E2E_2 

      are the electric fields in the regions with k=2k=2 

      and k=4k=4 

      , respectively.

  3. Relation Between Fields:
    • The electric displacement
      D=ε0kE\mathbf{D} = \varepsilon_0 k E
       

      must be continuous across the boundary of the dielectrics: k1E1=k2E2k_1 E_1 = k_2 E_2 

      Substituting k1=2k_1 = 2 

      and k2=4k_2 = 4 

      , we find: 2E1=4E2E2=E122E_1 = 4E_2 \quad \Rightarrow \quad E_2 = \frac{E_1}{2} 

Explanation of the Graph:

  1. Region 1 (
    0x<d0 \leq x < d
     

    ):

    • In this region, the dielectric constant
      k=2k=2
       

      , so the electric field E1E_1 

      is relatively stronger compared to the next region.

  2. Region 2 (
    dx3dd \leq x \leq 3d
     

    ):

    • Here,
      k=4k=4
       

      , and since E2=E12E_2 = \frac{E_1}{2} 

      , the electric field is halved.

Thus, the electric field decreases discontinuously at

x=dx = d

due to the change in the dielectric constant, leading to the stepwise graph shown in the second figure.

Question 4: easy

A capacitor stores 60μC charge when connected across a battery. When the gap between the plates is filled with a dielectric , a charge of 120μC flows through the battery. The dielectric constant of the material inserted is :

 

1. 1
2. 2
3. 3
4. none
View Answer

Given:

  • Initial charge on the capacitor:
    Q1=60μCQ_1 = 60 \, \mu C
     
  • After inserting the dielectric, the total charge from the battery:
    Q2=120μCQ_2 = 120 \, \mu C
     

    (additional charge drawn is 120μC120 \, \mu C 

    , so the total charge on the capacitor is 120μC+60μC=180μC120 \, \mu C + 60 \, \mu C = 180 \, \mu C 

    ).

Key concept:

  • The charge on a capacitor is given by: 

    Q=CVQ = C \cdot Vwhere

    CCis the capacitance and

    VVis the potential difference across the plates.

  • The dielectric increases the capacitance of the capacitor. If the dielectric constant is
    KK
     

    , the capacitance becomes K×CK \times C 

    . Since the battery is still connected, the potential difference VV 

    remains constant, and the charge increases proportionally with the increase in capacitance.

Step 1: Relationship between charge and capacitance

Before the dielectric, the charge was

Q1=60μCQ_1 = 60 \, \mu C

, and after inserting the dielectric, the charge is

Q2=180μCQ_2 = 180 \, \mu C

.

The ratio of the final charge to the initial charge is proportional to the dielectric constant

KK

:

 

Q2Q1=K\frac{Q_2}{Q_1} = K

 

Step 2: Solve for KK

 

Substitute the given values:

 

K=180μC60μC=3K = \frac{180 \, \mu C}{60 \, \mu C} = 3

 

Final Answer:

The dielectric constant of the material inserted is 3.

Question 5: moderate

In the circuit shown in the figure, the switch S is initially open and the capacitor is initially uncharged. I1, I2 and I3 represent the current in the resistance 2Ω, 4Ω and 8Ω respectively.

1. Just after the switch S is closed, I1 = 3A, I2 = 3A and I3 = 0
2. Just after the switch S is closed, I1 = 3A, I2 = 0 and I3 = 0
3. long time after the switch S is closed, I1 = 0.6 A, I2 = 0 and I3 = 0
4. long after the switch S is closed, I1 = I2 = I3 = 0.6 A.
View Answer

Here's the short solution for the circuit:

  1. Just after the switch is closed:
    • The capacitors act as open circuits because they are initially uncharged (capacitor voltage cannot change instantaneously).
    • This means no current flows through the branches containing the capacitors.
  2. Current Distribution:
    • The total resistance in the circuit is only the sum of the resistors in the main loop (2Ω + 8Ω), as the branches with capacitors are effectively open.
    • Total resistance =
      2Ω+8Ω=10Ω2\Omega + 8\Omega = 10\Omega
       

      .

    • Current
      I1=VoltageResistance=6V2Ω+8Ω=0.6AI_1 = \frac{\text{Voltage}}{\text{Resistance}} = \frac{6V}{2\Omega + 8\Omega} = 0.6A
       

      .

  3. Branch currents:

    • I3=0I_3 = 0
       

      since the capacitor branch is open.


    • I2=0I_2 = 0
       

      for the same reason as above.

Final Answer:

  • \( I_1 = 0.6 A, \ I_2 = 0\)
Question 6: difficult

When the key K is pressed at t = 0, which of the following statements about the current I in the resistor AB of the given circuit is true ?

1. I = 2 mA at all t
2. I oscillates between 1 mA and 2 mA
3. I = 1 ma at all t
4. at t = 0, I = 2mA and with time it goes to 1 mA
View Answer

At t =0 capacitor behaves as closed circuit to the 1000 ohm resistor connected in parallel with capacitor will get short circuited.

current  through the other resistor = 2/1000 = 2mA

At t = infinite capacitor behaves as open circuit so equivalent resistance becomes R=1000+1000 = 2000 Ohm

current  through the  resistor = 2/2000 = 1 mA

Question 7: moderate

In the figure shown, the capacity of the condenser C is 2μF. The current in 2Ω resistor in steady state:

1. 9 A
2. 0.9 A
3. 1/9 A
4. 1/0.9 A
View Answer

In steady state no current flows through the capacitor so, current through 4 ohm resistor will be zero.

In absence of 4 ohm resistor, total resistance of circuit is (1.2+2.8)= 4 ohm.

Total current given by battery = 6/4=1.5 Ampere.

In parallel combination current divides in reverse ratio of resistors: (3/5)*1.5= 0.9 Ampere

Question 8: difficult

A capacitor of capacitance C is initially charged to a potential difference of V volt. Now it is connected to a battery of 2V Volt with opposite polarity. The ratio of heat generated to the final energy stored in the capacitor will be

1. 1.75
2. 2.25
3. 2.5
4. 1/2
View Answer
Question 9: moderate

Four metallic plates, each with a surface area of one side A, are placed at a distance d from each other. The plates are connected as shown in the adjoining figure. Then the capacitance of the system between a and b is :

1. \[\frac{3\varepsilon_{0A}}{d}\]
2. \[\frac{2\varepsilon_{0A}}{d}\]
3. \[\frac{2}{3}\frac{\varepsilon_{0A}}{d}\]
4. \[\frac{3}{2}\frac{\varepsilon_{0A}}{d}\]
View Answer
Question 10: moderate

A capacitor is charged by connecting a battery across its plates. It stores energy U. Now the battery is disconnected and another identical capacitor is connected across it, then the energy stored by both capacitors of the system will be

1. U
2. U/2
3. 2U
4. 3/2U
View Answer

To solve this, we will use the concept of common potential and energy conservation. Let's derive it step-by-step:

  1. Initial Energy Stored in Capacitor 1
    Let the initial capacitance of the first capacitor be CC 

    , and the battery's voltage be VV 

    .
    The energy stored in the capacitor is: 

    U=12CV2U = \frac{1}{2} C V^2 

  2. When the second capacitor is connected
    After disconnecting the battery, an identical capacitor (with capacitance CC 

    ) is connected across the first one. The total charge remains conserved because the battery is removed. Let the final voltage be VfV_f 

    .Total charge initially:

     

    Qinitial=CVQ_{\text{initial}} = CVAfter connecting the second capacitor, the total capacitance becomes:

     

    Ctotal=C+C=2CC_{\text{total}} = C + C = 2CCommon potential

    VfV_f:

     

    Vf=Total chargeTotal capacitance=CV2C=V2V_f = \frac{\text{Total charge}}{\text{Total capacitance}} = \frac{CV}{2C} = \frac{V}{2} 

  3. Final Energy Stored in Both Capacitors
    The final energy stored in the system is the sum of the energy in both capacitors: 

    Ufinal=12CVf2+12CVf2=CVf2U_{\text{final}} = \frac{1}{2} C V_f^2 + \frac{1}{2} C V_f^2 = C V_f^2Substituting

    Vf=V2V_f = \frac{V}{2}:

     

    Ufinal=C(V2)2=CV24U_{\text{final}} = C \left( \frac{V}{2} \right)^2 = C \frac{V^2}{4}Simplifying:

     

    Ufinal=12CV212=U2U_{\text{final}} = \frac{1}{2} \cdot C V^2 \cdot \frac{1}{2} = \frac{U}{2} 

Thus, the final energy stored in the system is

U2\frac{U}{2}

.