Capacitors - NEET Physics Questions
Question 81: moderate

Two identical charged spheres are suspended by strings of equal lengths. The strings make an angle of 30° with each other. When suspended in a liquid of density \(0.8\text{ g cm}^{-3}\), the angle remains the same. If density of the material of the sphere is \(1.6\text{ g cm}^{-3}\), the dielectric constant of the liquid is :

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

When the angle remains unchanged in a liquid, the dielectric constant is given by \(K = \frac{\rho}{\rho - \sigma}\), where \(\rho\) is density of sphere and \(\sigma\) is density of liquid. Thus, \(K = \frac{1.6}{1.6 - 0.8} = \frac{1.6}{0.8} = 2\).

Question 82: difficult

The capacity of a parallel plate condenser is \(C_0\). If a dielectric of relative permittivity \(\varepsilon_r\) and thickness equal to one fourth the plate separation is placed between the plates, then its capacity becomes \(C\). The value of \(\frac{C}{C_0}\) will be :

1. \(\frac{5\varepsilon_r}{4\varepsilon_r + 1}\)
2. \(\frac{4\varepsilon_r}{3\varepsilon_r + 1}\)
3. \(\frac{3\varepsilon_r}{2\varepsilon_r + 1}\)
4. \(\frac{2\varepsilon_r}{\varepsilon_r + 1}\)
View Answer

The initial capacitance is \(C_0 = \frac{\varepsilon_0 A}{d}\). With a dielectric slab of thickness \(t = d/4\), the new capacitance is \(C = frac{\varepsilon_0 A}{d - t + \frac{t}{\varepsilon_r}} = \frac{\varepsilon_0 A}{\frac{3d}{4} + \frac{d}{4\varepsilon_r}}\). Simplifying this gives \(C = C_0 \frac{4\varepsilon_r}{3\varepsilon_r + 1}\).

Question 83: moderate

The plates of a parallel plate capacitor are charged up to 100 volt. A \(2\text{ mm}\) thick dielectric plate is inserted between the plates, then to maintain the same potential difference, the distance between the capacitor plates is increased by \(1.6\text{ mm}\). The dielectric constant of the plate is :

1. 5
2. 1.25
3. 4
4. 2.5
View Answer

The shift in plate distance to maintain constant potential is given by \(\Delta d = t\left(1 - \frac{1}{K}\right)\) where \(t\) is thickness and \(K\) is dielectric constant. Substituting the values: \(1.6 = 2\left(1 - \frac{1}{K}\right)⇒ 0.8 = 1 - \frac{1}{K} ⇒ K = 5\).

Question 84: easy

A capacitor remains connected to a battery, a dielectric slab is slipped between the plates. The energy will increase due to

1. increase in potential difference
2. increase in electric field strength
3. increase of capacitance
4. none of above
View Answer

As the capacitor remains connected to the battery, the potential difference \(V\) remains constant. The stored energy is \(U = \frac{1}{2} C V^2\). Since slipping a dielectric slab increases the capacitance \(C\), the energy increases correspondingly.

Question 85: easy

A parallel plate capacitor is connected across a \(2\text{ V}\) battery and charged. The battery is then disconnected and a glass slab is introduced between the plates. Which of the following pairs of quantities decrease?

1. Charge and potential difference
2. Potential difference and energy stored
3. Energy stored and capacitance
4. Capacitance and charge
View Answer

Once disconnected, charge \(Q\) remains constant. Introducing a slab increases capacitance \(C\). Since potential difference \(V = Q/C\) and stored energy \(U = \frac{Q^2}{2C}\), both potential difference and stored energy decrease.

Question 86: easy

The dielectric strength of a medium is \(2\text{ kV mm}^{-1}\). What is the maximum potential difference that can be set up across a \(50 \mu\text{m}\) specimen without puncturing it?

1. \(10\text{ V}\)
2. \(100\text{ V}\)
3. \(1000\text{ V}\)
4. \(10,000\text{ V}\)
View Answer

Dielectric strength is the maximum field \(E_{\text{max}} = 2\text{ kV/mm} = 2 \times 10^6\text{ V/m}\). For thickness \(d = 50 \mu\text{m} = 5 \times 10^{-5}\text{ m}\), the maximum potential difference is \(V_{\text{max}} = E_{\text{max}} \times d = 2 \times 10^6 \times 5 \times 10^{-5} = 100\text{ V}\).

Question 87: easy

A capacitor is connected to a battery. The electric energy stored in it is \(E\). If the separation between the plates is doubled, what will be the energy on the capacitor?

1. \(0.25 E\)
2. \(0.50 E\)
3. \(E\)
4. \(2 E\)
View Answer

The energy stored is \(E = \frac{1}{2} C V^2\). With the battery connected, potential \(V\) is constant. Doubling the separation halves the capacitance, so the new capacitance is \(C' = C/2\), and the stored energy becomes \(E' = E/2 = 0.50 E\).

Question 88: moderate

The electric field between the plates of a parallel-plate capacitor of capacitance \(2.0~\mu\text{F}\) drops to one third of its initial value in \(4.4~\mu\text{s}\) when the plates are connected by a thin wire. Find the resistance of the wire.

1. \(0.5~\Omega\)
2. \(0.1~\Omega\)
3. \(2~\Omega\)
4. \(1~\Omega\)
View Answer

The electric field in a discharging capacitor drops as \(E = E_0 e^{-t/RC}\). Given \(E = E_0/3\), we have \(RC = \frac{t}{\ln 3}\). Solving for \(R = \frac{4.4 \times 10^{-6}}{2.0 \times 10^{-6} \times 1.1} = 2~\Omega\).

Question 89: moderate

A \(5.0~\mu\text{F}\) capacitor having a charge of \(20~\mu\text{C}\) is discharged through a wire of resistance \(5.0~\Omega\). Find the heat dissipated in the wire between 25 to 50 \(\mu\text{s}\) after the connections are made.

1. \(40\left(\frac{1}{e^2} - \frac{1}{e^4}\right)~\mu\text{J}\)
2. \(40\left(\frac{1}{e} - \frac{1}{e^2}\right)~\mu\text{J}\)
3. \(40\left(\frac{1}{e^2} - \frac{1}{e^3}\right)~\mu\text{J}\)
4. None of these
View Answer

The remaining energy in the capacitor is \(U(t) = \frac{q_0^2}{2C}e^{-2t/tau}\), where \(tau = RC = 25~\mu\text{s}\). The heat dissipated is \(H = U(t_1) - U(t_2) = \frac{q_0^2}{2C}\left(e^{-2} - e^{-4}\right)\) where \(frac{q_0^2}{2C} = 40~\mu\text{J}\).

Question 90: easy

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)

1. Parallel plate capacitor
2. Cylindrical capacitor
3. Spherical capacitor
4. Any of these
View Answer

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 \(\tau = RC = \rho k \epsilon_0\).