Question 15 Marks
A 600pF capacitor is charged by a 200V supply. It is then disconnected from the supply and is connected to another uncharged 600 pF capacitor. How much electrostatic energy is lost in the process?
Answer
View full question & answer→Capacitance of the capacitor, C = 600 pF
Potential difference V = 200 V
Electrostatic energy stored in the capacitor is given by,
$\text{E}=\frac{1}{2}\text{CV}^2$
$=\frac{1}{2}\times(600\times10^{-12})\times(200)^2$
$= 1.2 \times 10^{-5}$ J
If supply is disconnected from the capacitor and another capacitor of capacitance C = 600 pf is connected to it, then equivalent capacitance (C') of the combination is given by,
$\frac{1}{\text{C}'}=\frac{1}{\text{C}}+\frac{1}{\text{C}}$
$=\frac{1}{600}+\frac{1}{600}=\frac{2}{600}=\frac{1}{300}$
$\therefore\text{C}'=300\ \text{pF}$
New electrostatic energy can be calculated as
$\text{E}'=\frac{1}{2}\times\text{C}'\times{\text{V}}^2$
$=\frac{1}{2}\times300\times(200)^2$
$= 0.6 \times 10^{-5}J$
Loss in electrostatic energy = E - E'
$= 1.2 \times 10^{-5} - 0.6 \times 10^{-5}$
$= 0.6 \times 10^{-5}$
$= 6 \times 10^{-6}J$
Therefore, the electrostatic energy lost in the process is $6 \times 10^{-6} J.$
Potential difference V = 200 V
Electrostatic energy stored in the capacitor is given by,
$\text{E}=\frac{1}{2}\text{CV}^2$
$=\frac{1}{2}\times(600\times10^{-12})\times(200)^2$
$= 1.2 \times 10^{-5}$ J
If supply is disconnected from the capacitor and another capacitor of capacitance C = 600 pf is connected to it, then equivalent capacitance (C') of the combination is given by,
$\frac{1}{\text{C}'}=\frac{1}{\text{C}}+\frac{1}{\text{C}}$
$=\frac{1}{600}+\frac{1}{600}=\frac{2}{600}=\frac{1}{300}$
$\therefore\text{C}'=300\ \text{pF}$
New electrostatic energy can be calculated as
$\text{E}'=\frac{1}{2}\times\text{C}'\times{\text{V}}^2$
$=\frac{1}{2}\times300\times(200)^2$
$= 0.6 \times 10^{-5}J$
Loss in electrostatic energy = E - E'
$= 1.2 \times 10^{-5} - 0.6 \times 10^{-5}$
$= 0.6 \times 10^{-5}$
$= 6 \times 10^{-6}J$
Therefore, the electrostatic energy lost in the process is $6 \times 10^{-6} J.$




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