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Capacitors · CAPE Physics Unit 2

121 past-paper questions on Capacitors, part of Electricity and Magnetism, from every CAPE Physics Unit 2 paper on Quelpr.

Practise Capacitors
  1. 3(a)1 mark· CAPE Physics Unit 2 · 2001 · Paper 1Define 'capacitance'.
  2. 3(b)(i)1 mark· CAPE Physics Unit 2 · 2001 · Paper 1Write a formula for the capacitance of a parallel plate air capacitor in terms of the area of the plates, A, and their distance apart, d.
  3. 3(b)(ii)3 marks· CAPE Physics Unit 2 · 2001 · Paper 1Hence show that the energy per unit volume, U, of the capacitor is given by U = (ε₀ E²) / 2, where ε₀ is the permittivity of free space.
  4. 3(c)(i)2 marks· CAPE Physics Unit 2 · 2001 · Paper 1Calculate the capacitance in air.
  5. 3(c)(ii)3 marks· CAPE Physics Unit 2 · 2001 · Paper 1Calculate the energy per unit volume, U.
  6. 2(a)1 mark· CAPE Physics Unit 2 · 2002 · Paper 1Define the 'Farad'.
  7. 2(b)(i)1 mark· CAPE Physics Unit 2 · 2002 · Paper 1Write down a formula for the equivalent capacitance of three capacitors connected in parallel.
  8. 2(b)(ii)1 mark· CAPE Physics Unit 2 · 2002 · Paper 1Write down a formula for the equivalent capacitance of three capacitors connected in series.
  9. 2(c)2 marks· CAPE Physics Unit 2 · 2002 · Paper 1Show that the energy stored, W, in a parallel plate capacitor of capacitance C with a voltage V across its plates is given by W = 1/2 C V^2.
  10. 2(d)(i)1 mark· CAPE Physics Unit 2 · 2002 · Paper 1Calculate the initial charge on the 3 μF capacitor.
  11. 2(d)(ii)1 mark· CAPE Physics Unit 2 · 2002 · Paper 1Calculate the initial charge on the 1 μF capacitor.
  12. 2(d)(iii)2 marks· CAPE Physics Unit 2 · 2002 · Paper 1Calculate the final p.d. across the 3 μF capacitor.
  13. 2(d)(iv)1 mark· CAPE Physics Unit 2 · 2002 · Paper 1Calculate the total energy stored in the capacitors when they are connected together.
  14. 1(a)1 mark· CAPE Physics Unit 2 · 2003 · Paper 1Define the 'Farad'.
  15. 1(b)3 marks· CAPE Physics Unit 2 · 2003 · Paper 1Derive an expression for the total capacitance, C_T, of three capacitors, C_1, C_2 and C_3, connected in series.
  16. 1(c)(i)3 marks· CAPE Physics Unit 2 · 2003 · Paper 1Calculate the capacitance of this capacitor.
  17. 1(c)(ii)3 marks· CAPE Physics Unit 2 · 2003 · Paper 1Calculate the energy stored in this capacitor.
  18. 3(a)(i)1 mark· CAPE Physics Unit 2 · 2004 · Paper 1Define capacitance.
  19. 3(a)(ii)4 marks· CAPE Physics Unit 2 · 2004 · Paper 1Derive an expression for the equivalent capacitance of three capacitors C1, C2, and C3 connected in series.
  20. 3(b)(i)4 marks· CAPE Physics Unit 2 · 2004 · Paper 1Draw the best straight line through the data on Figure 3 and use it to determine the capacitance of the capacitor.
  21. 3(b)(ii)1 mark· CAPE Physics Unit 2 · 2004 · Paper 1Calculate the energy stored in the capacitor when V = 2 volts.
  22. 1(a)2 marks· CAPE Physics Unit 2 · 2006 · Paper 2Explain how energy is stored in the capacitor when the switch is connected to P.
  23. 1(b)(i)4 marks· CAPE Physics Unit 2 · 2006 · Paper 2When the switch is connected to Q, discharge occurs following I = I_0 e^{-\frac{t}{RC}}. Use data from the discharge graph to complete Table 1 and plot a graph of \ln I against t on the provided grid.
  24. 1(b)(ii)1 mark· CAPE Physics Unit 2 · 2006 · Paper 2What is the equation of this new graph?
  25. 1(c)(i)1 mark· CAPE Physics Unit 2 · 2006 · Paper 2Find the gradient of the graph you have drawn.
  26. 1(c)(ii)2 marks· CAPE Physics Unit 2 · 2006 · Paper 2Given that R = 47\text{ k}\Omega, deduce the capacitance of the capacitor C.
  27. Q101 mark · multiple choice· CAPE Physics Unit 2 · 2007 · Paper 1Which arrangement of four similar capacitors has the HIGHEST effective capacitance?
  28. 5(a)(i)1 mark· CAPE Physics Unit 2 · 2007 · Paper 2Define the farad, the unit of capacitance.
  29. 5(a)(ii)2 marks· CAPE Physics Unit 2 · 2007 · Paper 2Describe how the dimensions of a parallel plate capacitor affect its capacitance.
  30. 5(b)(i)3 marks· CAPE Physics Unit 2 · 2007 · Paper 2Derive the formula for the equivalent capacitance of two capacitors connected in series.
  31. 5(b)(ii)2 marks· CAPE Physics Unit 2 · 2007 · Paper 2Derive the formula for the equivalent capacitance of two capacitors connected in parallel.
  32. 5(c)(i)4 marks· CAPE Physics Unit 2 · 2007 · Paper 2Find the equivalent capacitance of the network of capacitors in the circuit shown in Figure 3.
  33. 5(c)(ii)2 marks· CAPE Physics Unit 2 · 2007 · Paper 2Calculate the total charge stored by this system of capacitors.
  34. 5(c)(iii)2 marks· CAPE Physics Unit 2 · 2007 · Paper 2Determine the charge stored by the 8 μF capacitor and the potential difference across it.
  35. 5(c)(iv)2 marks· CAPE Physics Unit 2 · 2007 · Paper 2Find the charge on the 10 μF capacitor.
  36. 5(c)(v)2 marks· CAPE Physics Unit 2 · 2007 · Paper 2Calculate the total energy stored by this system.
  37. Q101 mark · multiple choice· CAPE Physics Unit 2 · 2007 (Specimen) · Paper 1Each capacitor in the diagram above has capacitance C. What is the effective capacitance between A and B?
  38. Q61 mark · multiple choice· CAPE Physics Unit 2 · 2008 (Rest of Region) · Paper 1Which of the following is a unit of permittivity?
  39. Q91 mark · multiple choice· CAPE Physics Unit 2 · 2008 (Rest of Region) · Paper 1A storage capacitor on a computer memory chip has a capacitance of 65 \times 10^{-15}\text{ F}. The capacitor is charged to 5.0\text{ V}. How much energy is stored on the capacitor?
  40. 1(a)3 marks· CAPE Physics Unit 2 · 2008 (Rest of Region) · Paper 2Write a suitable linear equation and complete the table of t/\text{s}, I/\mu\text{A}, and \ln(I/\mu\text{A}).
  41. 1(b)5 marks· CAPE Physics Unit 2 · 2008 (Rest of Region) · Paper 2Plot the required linear graph using the student's results on the provided grid.
  42. 1(c)(i)2 marks· CAPE Physics Unit 2 · 2008 (Rest of Region) · Paper 2Use the graph to find the value of the current at time t = 0.
  43. 1(c)(ii)2 marks· CAPE Physics Unit 2 · 2008 (Rest of Region) · Paper 2Use the graph to find the time constant for the discharge.
  44. 1(d)(i)2 marks· CAPE Physics Unit 2 · 2008 (Rest of Region) · Paper 2On the provided grid, sketch a graph showing how the potential difference across the capacitor varies with time during this discharge.
  45. 1(d)(ii)1 mark· CAPE Physics Unit 2 · 2008 (Rest of Region) · Paper 2Write an equation for this voltage change using the actual values for the constants in it.
  46. Q51 mark · multiple choice· CAPE Physics Unit 2 · 2008 (T&T) · Paper 1A capacitor of capacitance 100\ \mu\text{F} is fully charged by a 200\text{ V} battery. How much energy is stored by the capacitor?
  47. Q121 mark · multiple choice· CAPE Physics Unit 2 · 2008 (T&T) · Paper 1Item 12 refers to the following diagram. The capacitor in the circuit above has capacitance, C. It is charged to a voltage, V, and then discharged through a resistor with resistance, R. The charge at any time,…
  48. Q81 mark · multiple choice· CAPE Physics Unit 2 · 2009 · Paper 1A capacitor of capacitance 100\text{ }\mu\text{F} is fully charged by a 200\text{ V} battery. How much energy is stored by the capacitor?
  49. Q91 mark · multiple choice· CAPE Physics Unit 2 · 2009 · Paper 11\text{ farad} is equivalent to
  50. Q81 mark · multiple choice· CAPE Physics Unit 2 · 2010 · Paper 1A capacitor of capacitance 100\text{ }\mu\text{F} is fully charged by a 200\text{ V} battery. How much energy is stored by the capacitor?
  51. Q91 mark · multiple choice· CAPE Physics Unit 2 · 2010 · Paper 1The diagram shows two capacitors of different capacitances C_1 and C_2 connected in parallel to a d.c. source. Which statement is correct?
  52. 1(a)(i)1 mark· CAPE Physics Unit 2 · 2010 · Paper 2Define the term 'capacitance'.
  53. 1(a)(ii)a)2 marks· CAPE Physics Unit 2 · 2010 · Paper 2A capacitor of capacitance 2100 μF is charged to a potential difference of 6.0 V between plates. Determine the charge on one of the plates.
  54. 1(a)(ii)b)2 marks· CAPE Physics Unit 2 · 2010 · Paper 2Determine the energy stored by the 2100 μF capacitor charged to 6.0 V.
  55. 1(b)(i)8 marks· CAPE Physics Unit 2 · 2010 · Paper 2Test the hypothesis that V is inversely proportional to t by reading data from Figure 2 to complete Table 1, and then plotting 1/V against t on the provided grid.
  56. 1(b)(ii)2 marks· CAPE Physics Unit 2 · 2010 · Paper 2State, with reasons, the conclusion which may be drawn from the data.
  57. Q81 mark · multiple choice· CAPE Physics Unit 2 · 2011 · Paper 1The energy stored in a capacitor is given by
  58. Q91 mark · multiple choice· CAPE Physics Unit 2 · 2011 · Paper 1One farad is equivalent to
  59. 4(a)3 marks· CAPE Physics Unit 2 · 2011 · Paper 2Derive an equation for the equivalent capacitance of two capacitors connected in series.
  60. 4(b)4 marks· CAPE Physics Unit 2 · 2011 · Paper 2A 'black box' contains a 4.7 microfarad capacitor in series with an unknown capacitor C. It was connected to a battery with emf E and discharged through a 10 M-ohm resistor. Describe, with the aid of a circuit diagram,…
  61. 4(c)(i)4 marks· CAPE Physics Unit 2 · 2011 · Paper 2Calculate the gradient of the graph in Figure 4 and hence determine the time constant of the circuit.
  62. 4(c)(ii)3 marks· CAPE Physics Unit 2 · 2011 · Paper 2Calculate the value of the unknown capacitance, C.
  63. 4(c)(iii)1 mark· CAPE Physics Unit 2 · 2011 · Paper 2Determine the value of the unknown source of emf, E.
  64. Q81 mark · multiple choice· CAPE Physics Unit 2 · 2012 · Paper 1A capacitor of capacitance, C, is made using two parallel metal plates separated by 1\text{ mm} in air. The area of overlap of the plates is 20\text{ cm}^2. If the distance between the plates is increased to…
  65. Q91 mark · multiple choice· CAPE Physics Unit 2 · 2012 · Paper 1The diagram shows two capacitors of different capacitances, C_1 and C_2, connected in parallel to a d.c. source. Which statement is correct?
  66. 4(a)(i)2 marks· CAPE Physics Unit 2 · 2012 · Paper 2Define the terms 'capacitance' and 'farad'.
  67. 4(a)(ii)a)1 mark· CAPE Physics Unit 2 · 2012 · Paper 2Write an expression for the net capacitance of three capacitors C1, C2, C3 connected in series.
  68. 4(a)(ii)b)1 mark· CAPE Physics Unit 2 · 2012 · Paper 2Write an expression for the net capacitance of three capacitors C1, C2, C3 connected in parallel.
  69. 4(a)(iii)1 mark· CAPE Physics Unit 2 · 2012 · Paper 2State what is meant by the term 'time constant' for a capacitor discharge circuit.
  70. 4(b)(i)a)2 marks· CAPE Physics Unit 2 · 2012 · Paper 2Calculate the time between flashes (time for the uncharged capacitor to reach 110 V from a 120 V supply via 1.0 MΩ and 1.0 μF).
  71. 4(b)(i)b)2 marks· CAPE Physics Unit 2 · 2012 · Paper 2Calculate the duration of each flash, given discharge through 10 Ω takes three time constants.
  72. 4(b)(i)c)2 marks· CAPE Physics Unit 2 · 2012 · Paper 2Calculate the energy released in each flash.
  73. Q91 mark · multiple choice· CAPE Physics Unit 2 · 2013 · Paper 1One farad is equivalent to
  74. Q111 mark · multiple choice· CAPE Physics Unit 2 · 2013 · Paper 1The capacitor in the circuit above has capacitance, C. It is charged to a voltage, V, and then discharged through a resistor with resistance, R. The charge at any time, t, is given by
  75. 6(b)(i)1 mark· CAPE Physics Unit 2 · 2013 · Paper 2Write the equation expressing τ in terms of R and C.
  76. 6(b)(ii)1 mark· CAPE Physics Unit 2 · 2013 · Paper 2If the capacitive discharge is used to model radioactive decay, where voltage is the analogue of number of particles, what would be the relationship between time constant, τ, and decay constant, λ?
  77. 6(c)(i)2 marks· CAPE Physics Unit 2 · 2013 · Paper 2Describe the change in the voltages across R and C, both of which initially had no voltage across them.
  78. 6(c)(ii)4 marks· CAPE Physics Unit 2 · 2013 · Paper 2After a sufficiently long time, voltages across R and C become stable and S1 is switched to terminal b to model decay. Using R = 1 MΩ, calculate the value of C needed to model the radioactive decay of Francium-221.
  79. Q111 mark · multiple choice· CAPE Physics Unit 2 · 2014 · Paper 1Figure 1 shows a parallel plate capacitor with the space between the plates filled with air. Figure 2 shows the same capacitor with the space between the plates filled with a dielectric whose permittivity is twice that…
  80. 1(a)(i)1 mark· CAPE Physics Unit 2 · 2014 · Paper 2Define the term 'capacitance'.
  81. 1(a)(ii)1 mark· CAPE Physics Unit 2 · 2014 · Paper 2State the unit in which capacitance is measured.
  82. 1(a)(iii)1 mark· CAPE Physics Unit 2 · 2014 · Paper 2Identify the two SI units that comprise the unit for capacitance stated in (a)(ii).
  83. 1(b)(i)2 marks· CAPE Physics Unit 2 · 2014 · Paper 2Calculate the value of the voltage, V_A, when the switch, S, is in Position 1.
  84. 1(b)(ii)3 marks· CAPE Physics Unit 2 · 2014 · Paper 2Use your results from (b)(i) to calculate the value of the capacitance, C_A.
  85. 1(b)(iii)2 marks· CAPE Physics Unit 2 · 2014 · Paper 2Show that the two capacitors in series in Figure 1 are equivalent to a single capacitor of value 20\text{ }\mu\text{F}.
  86. 1(c)(i)3 marks· CAPE Physics Unit 2 · 2014 · Paper 2On the grid provided on page 7, plot a graph of V_R against t for these results.
  87. 1(c)(ii)1 mark· CAPE Physics Unit 2 · 2014 · Paper 2Draw the tangent to the curve at the point where t = 0.
  88. 1(c)(iii)1 mark· CAPE Physics Unit 2 · 2014 · Paper 2Hence, determine the time constant of the voltage decay.
  89. Q91 mark · multiple choice· CAPE Physics Unit 2 · 2015 · Paper 1Diagram 1 shows a parallel plate capacitor with the space in between the plates filled with air. Diagram 2 shows the same capacitor with the space in between the plates filled with a dielectric whose permittivity is…
  90. Q101 mark · multiple choice· CAPE Physics Unit 2 · 2015 · Paper 1The energy stored in a capacitor is given by
  91. Q41 mark · multiple choice· CAPE Physics Unit 2 · 2016 · Paper 1The equivalent capacitance, C, due to C_1, C_2 and C_3 is
  92. Q111 mark · multiple choice· CAPE Physics Unit 2 · 2016 · Paper 1In the circuit above, a 9\text{ V} battery is used to charge the 6\ \mu\text{F} capacitor by connecting the switch to S. The energy stored in the 6\ \mu\text{F} capacitor when fully charged is
  93. Q81 mark · multiple choice· CAPE Physics Unit 2 · 2017 · Paper 1The energy stored in a capacitor is given by
  94. Q121 mark · multiple choice· CAPE Physics Unit 2 · 2017 · Paper 1The mathematical equation for the discharge of a capacitor, C, through a resistor, R, is given by Q = Q_0 e^{-\left(\frac{t}{RC}\right)} The value of RC is called the
  95. 1(a)2 marks· CAPE Physics Unit 2 · 2017 · Paper 2Complete Columns 3 and 4 in Table 1 by calculating 1/d in mm⁻¹ and 1/d in m⁻¹.
  96. 1(b)4 marks· CAPE Physics Unit 2 · 2017 · Paper 2Use the results in Table 1 to plot a graph of capacitance, C (nF), versus 1/d (m⁻¹) on the grid provided in Figure 1, and draw the line of best fit.
  97. 1(c)(i)2 marks· CAPE Physics Unit 2 · 2017 · Paper 2A capacitor of capacitance 10 nF is constructed using the same materials. Determine from the graph the dielectric thickness required for this 10 nF capacitor.
  98. 1(c)(ii)2 marks· CAPE Physics Unit 2 · 2017 · Paper 2Sketch a graph showing the voltage charging characteristic when the 10 nF capacitor is charged to 200 V.
  99. 1(d)(i)1 mark· CAPE Physics Unit 2 · 2017 · Paper 2State the formula used to calculate the capacitance of a parallel plate capacitor of area A and plate separation d with dielectric constant k.
  100. 1(d)(ii)1 mark· CAPE Physics Unit 2 · 2017 · Paper 2State another term for the dielectric constant, k.
  101. 1(e)3 marks· CAPE Physics Unit 2 · 2017 · Paper 2Calculate the capacitance of a parallel-plate capacitor constructed from two circular metal plates of radius 15 cm separated by 1.0 mm of dielectric material with dielectric constant 10.
  102. Q91 mark · multiple choice· CAPE Physics Unit 2 · 2018 · Paper 1The capacitor in the circuit above has capacitance, \text{C}. It is charged to a voltage, \text{V}, and then discharged through a resistor with resistance, \text{R}. The charge at any time, t, is given by
  103. Q111 mark · multiple choice· CAPE Physics Unit 2 · 2018 · Paper 1In the circuit above, a 9\text{ V} battery is used to charge the 6\ \mu\text{F} capacitor by connecting the switch to \text{S}. The energy stored in the 6\ \mu\text{F} capacitor when fully charged is
  104. Q81 mark · multiple choice· CAPE Physics Unit 2 · 2019 · Paper 1The energy stored in a capacitor is given by
  105. Q121 mark · multiple choice· CAPE Physics Unit 2 · 2019 · Paper 1The mathematical equation for the discharge of a capacitor, C, through a resistor, R, is given by Q = Q_0 e^{\left[-\frac{t}{RC}\right]}. The value of RC is called the
  106. 1(a)1 mark· Physics · Unit 2 Q1 1(a)Define the term 'capacitance' as it relates to electric circuits.
  107. 1(a)(i)3 marks· Physics · Unit 2 Q1 1(a)(i)Describe the procedure involved in storing a quantity of electric charge on an initially uncharged parallel plate capacitor.
  108. 1(a)(ii)3 marks· Physics · Unit 2 Q1 1(a)(ii)Explain the movement of charges in the procedure described in (a) (i).
  109. 1(b)3 marks· Physics · Unit 2 Q1 1(b)The formula below is used to calculate the capacitance of a parallel plate capacitor: C = εA/d. State the meaning of EACH symbol on the right-hand side of the formula and the SI unit in which each quantity is usually…
  110. 1(b)4 marks· Physics · Unit 2 Q1 1(b)On the grid provided in Figure 2 on page 7, plot a graph of the discharge current, I_D, versus time, t. Draw a smooth curve through the points.
  111. 1(c)(i)4 marks· Physics · Unit 2 Q1 1(c)(i)The time constant for the type of discharge curve obtained in (b) may be defined as the time taken for the current to decay to 1/e of its initial value (where e is Euler's number, the mathematical constant which is the…
  112. 1(c)(ii)2 marks· Physics · Unit 2 Q1 1(c)(ii)Calculate the value of the unknown capacitor in Figure 1.
  113. 1(c)(iii)5 marks· Physics · Unit 2 Q1 1(c)(iii)Calculate the charge on the capacitor before the switch is closed.
  114. 1(c)(iv)5 marks· Physics · Unit 2 Q1 1(c)(iv)The capacitor consists of two metal plates separated by a layer of insulating material 0.5 mm thick and of dielectric constant 450. Determine the area of the plates.
  115. 1(d)(i)3 marks· Physics · Unit 2 Q1 1(d)(i)Calculate the capacitance of the system formed by the cloud, air and the ground.
  116. 1(d)(ii)3 marks· Physics · Unit 2 Q1 1(d)(ii)Calculate the energy stored in the cloud-ground capacitor.
  117. 1(d)(iv)3 marks· Physics · Unit 2 Q1 1(d)(iv)State how the values calculated in (d) (i), (ii) and (iii) will change if the true value of the permittivity of air was used.
  118. 1(e)(i)2 marks· Physics · Unit 2 Q1 1(e)(i)Complete Columns 3 and 4 of Table 1.
  119. 1(e)(ii)4 marks· Physics · Unit 2 Q1 1(e)(ii)On the grid provided in Figure 1 on page 9, plot a graph of ln (Q/Q₀) versus t. Draw the line of best fit through the points.
  120. 1(e)(iii)4 marks· Physics · Unit 2 Q1 1(e)(iii)Determine the slope of the graph in (e) (ii) and state what this value represents.
  121. 1(e)(iv)2 marks· Physics · Unit 2 Q1 1(e)(iv)Based on the result obtained in (e) (iii), estimate the duration of the lightning strike.

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