A capacitor is charged to a potential of 12V and then disconnected from the batt
Practice Questions
Q1
A capacitor is charged to a potential of 12V and then disconnected from the battery. If the distance between the plates is doubled, what is the new potential difference? (2022)
6V
12V
24V
0V
Questions & Step-by-Step Solutions
A capacitor is charged to a potential of 12V and then disconnected from the battery. If the distance between the plates is doubled, what is the new potential difference? (2022)
Step 1: Understand that a capacitor stores electrical energy and has a certain potential difference (voltage) across its plates.
Step 2: Note that the initial potential difference across the capacitor is 12V.
Step 3: Recognize that when the capacitor is disconnected from the battery, the charge on the plates remains constant.
Step 4: Understand that the potential difference (V) across a capacitor is related to the distance (d) between the plates and the capacitance (C) by the formula V = Q/C, where Q is the charge.
Step 5: When the distance between the plates is doubled, the capacitance decreases because capacitance is inversely proportional to the distance between the plates.
Step 6: Since the charge (Q) remains constant and the capacitance (C) decreases, the potential difference (V) must increase to maintain the relationship Q = C * V.
Step 7: Conclude that if the distance is doubled, the potential difference also doubles, resulting in a new potential difference of 24V.
Capacitance and Voltage Relationship – The relationship between capacitance, voltage, and distance between plates in a capacitor, particularly how voltage changes when the distance is altered.
