List the factors that affect the capacitance of a parallel plate capacitor. The plates of an air filled parallel plate capacitor have a common area of 40 cm² and are 1 cm apart. The capacitor is connected to a 12 V d.c. supply. Calculate (i) the capacitance of the capacitor; (ii) the magnitude of the charge on each plate. What is the net charge on the capacitor? Give a use for a capacitor. (permitsivity of free space = 8.85 × 10⁻¹² F m⁻¹)

Leaving Cert Physics Potential Difference & Capacitance: List the factors that affect the

List the factors that affect the capacitance of a parallel plate capacitor - Leaving Cert Physics - Question b - 2006

Question b

List the factors that affect the capacitance of a parallel plate capacitor. The plates of an air filled parallel plate capacitor have a common area of 40 cm² and ar... show full transcript

Worked Solution & Example Answer:List the factors that affect the capacitance of a parallel plate capacitor - Leaving Cert Physics - Question b - 2006

Step 1

List the factors that affect the capacitance of a parallel plate capacitor.

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Answer

Area of the plates (A): Larger plates allow for greater capacitance as more charge can be stored.
Distance between the plates (d): Closer plates increase capacitance, as the electric field strength is higher.
**Permittivity of the dielectric (\

Step 2

Calculate (i) the capacitance of the capacitor;

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Answer

To calculate the capacitance (C) of the capacitor, we can use the formula: $C = \frac{\varepsilon A}{d}$ Where:

Step 3

Calculate (ii) the magnitude of the charge on each plate.

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The magnitude of the charge (Q) on each plate can be determined using the formula: $Q = C \cdot V$ Where:

V = 12 V
From the previous step, we calculated C $

Substituting the values: $Q = (3.54 \times 10^{-12} ext{ F})(12 ext{ V})$ Calculating gives: $Q = 4.25 \times 10^{-11} ext{ C}$

Step 4

What is the net charge on the capacitor?

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Answer

The net charge (Q net) on the capacitor is 0 when considering the system as a whole, as the charges on the plates are equal and opposite.

Step 5

Give a use for a capacitor.

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Answer

Capacitors are commonly used in electronic circuits for filtering, smoothing out voltage fluctuations, and in timing circuits. They can also be found in flash guns for cameras.

List the factors that affect the capacitance of a parallel plate capacitor - Leaving Cert Physics - Question b - 2006

Worked Solution & Example Answer:List the factors that affect the capacitance of a parallel plate capacitor - Leaving Cert Physics - Question b - 2006

List the factors that affect the capacitance of a parallel plate capacitor.

Calculate (i) the capacitance of the capacitor;

Calculate (ii) the magnitude of the charge on each plate.

What is the net charge on the capacitor?

Give a use for a capacitor.

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