Advertisements
Advertisements
Question
Two conducting spheres of radii R1 and R2 are kept widely separated from each other. What are their individual capacitances? If the spheres are connected by a metal wire, what will be the capacitance of the combination? Think in terms of series−parallel connections.
Solution
We need to calculate the capacitance of an isolated charged sphere.
Let us assume that the charge on the sphere is Q and its radius is R.
Capacitance of the charged sphere can be found by imagining a concentric sphere of infinite radius consisting of −Q charge.
Potential difference between the spheres = `1/(4pi∈_0) Q/R` - 0 = `1/(4pi∈_0) Q/R`
Capacitance is the ratio of the magnitude of the charge on each conductor to the potential difference between them.
`C = Q/(1/(4pi∈_0) Q/R` = `4pi∈_0 R`
Therefore, the capacitances of spheres of radii R1 and R2 are C1 and C2, respectively. They are given by
`C_1 = 4pi∈_0 R_1`
`C_2 = 4pi∈_0 R_2`
If the spheres are connected by a metal wire, the charge will flow from one sphere to another till their potentials become the same.
As there potentials become the same, the potential difference between the conductors for both the capacitors also becomes the same. Thus, it can be concluded that the capacitors are connected in parallel.
Thus, the capacitance of the combination is given by `C_(eq) = C_1 + C_2`
= `4pi∈_0(R_1 + R_2)`
APPEARS IN
RELATED QUESTIONS
A capacitor of capacitance C is charged fully by connecting it to a battery of emf E. It is then disconnected from the battery. If the separation between the plates of the capacitor is now doubled, how will the following change?
(i) charge stored by the capacitor.
(ii) Field strength between the plates.
(iii) Energy stored by the capacitor.
Justify your answer in each case.
A spherical capacitor consists of two concentric spherical conductors, held in position by suitable insulating supports. Show that the capacitance of a spherical capacitor is given by
C = `(4piin_0"r"_1"r"_2)/("r"_1 - "r"_2)`
where r1 and r2 are the radii of outer and inner spheres, respectively.
A spherical capacitor has an inner sphere of radius 12 cm and an outer sphere of radius 13 cm. The outer sphere is earthed and the inner sphere is given a charge of 2.5 µC. The space between the concentric spheres is filled with a liquid of dielectric constant 32.
(a) Determine the capacitance of the capacitor.
(b) What is the potential of the inner sphere?
(c) Compare the capacitance of this capacitor with that of an isolated sphere of radius 12 cm. Explain why the latter is much smaller.
(i) Find equivalent capacitance between A and B in the combination given below. Each capacitor is of 2 µF capacitance.
(ii) If a dc source of 7 V is connected across AB, how much charge is drawn from the source and what is the energy stored in the network?
A capacitor of capacitance ‘C’ is being charged by connecting it across a dc source along with an ammeter. Will the ammeter show a momentary deflection during the process of charging? If so, how would you explain this momentary deflection and the resulting continuity of current in the circuit? Write the expression for the current inside the capacitor.
Two capacitors each having capacitance C and breakdown voltage V are joined in series. The capacitance and the breakdown voltage of the combination will be
When 1⋅0 × 1012 electrons are transferred from one conductor to another, a potential difference of 10 V appears between the conductors. Calculate the capacitance of the two-conductor system.
The plates of a parallel-plate capacitor are made of circular discs of radii 5⋅0 cm each. If the separation between the plates is 1⋅0 mm, what is the capacitance?
Each capacitor shown in figure has a capacitance of 5⋅0 µF. The emf of the battery is 50 V. How much charge will flow through AB if the switch S is closed?
Convince yourself that parts (a), (b) and (c) figure are identical. Find the capacitance between the points A and B of the assembly.
Find the equivalent capacitances of the combinations shown in figure between the indicated points.
The two square faces of a rectangular dielectric slab (dielectric constant 4⋅0) of dimensions 20 cm × 20 cm × 1⋅0 mm are metal-coated. Find the capacitance between the coated surfaces.
A capacitor is formed by two square metal-plates of edge a, separated by a distance d. Dielectrics of dielectric constant K1 and K2 are filled in the gap as shown in figure . Find the capacitance.
Define ‘capacitance’. Give its unit.
A capacitor is charged by a battery. The battery is removed and another identical uncharged capacitor is connected in parallel. The total electrostatic energy of resulting system ______.
The capacitance of a parallel plate capacitor is 60 µF. If the distance between the plates is tripled and area doubled then new capacitance will be ______.
A capacitor of 4 µ F is connected as shown in the circuit (Figure). The internal resistance of the battery is 0.5 Ω. The amount of charge on the capacitor plates will be ______.
For changing the capacitance of a given parallel plate capacitor, a dielectric material of dielectric constant K is used, which has the same area as the plates of the capacitor.
The thickness of the dielectric slab is `3/4`d, where 'd' is the separation between the plate of the parallel plate capacitor.
The new capacitance (C') in terms of the original capacitance (C0) is given by the following relation:
A 5µF capacitor is charged fully by a 220 V supply. It is then disconnected from the supply and is connected in series to another uncharged 2.5 µF capacitor If the energy change during the charge redistribution is `"X"/100`J then value of X to the 100 nearest integer is ______.
A leaky parallel plate capacitor is filled completely with a material having dielectric constant K = 5 and electric conductivity σ = 7.4 × 10-12 Ω-1 m-1. If the charge on the plate at the instant t = 0 is q = 8.85 µC, then the leakage current at the instant t = 12 s is ______ × 10-1 µA.
