Concepts Of Physics MCQ Edition [Volume 2]
- Exam
- Concepts Of Physics MCQ Edition [Volume 2]
- Subject
- Physics
- Chapter
- Capacitors
Concepts Of Physics MCQ Edition [Volume 2] · Physics · Capacitors
As illustrated in the figure, each plate possesses a surface area...
As illustrated in the figure, each plate possesses a surface area of on a single side, and the gap separating consecutive plates is . The connected battery provides an emf of . Calculate the magnitude of the charge delivered by the battery to each of the plates linked to it.


Options
- A
- B
- C
- D
Correct answer
B.
Step-by-step solution
Let the four plates be numbered 1, 2, 3, and 4 from left to right.
From the given circuit diagram:
Plate 1 is connected to the positive terminal of the battery, so its potential is .
Plate 3 is connected to the negative terminal of the battery, so its potential is .
Plates 2 and 4 are connected to each other by a wire, forming an isolated system. Let their common potential be .
The arrangement forms three identical capacitors between the consecutive pairs of plates: , , and .
The capacitance of each capacitor is given by:
Given and .
Since Plates 2 and 4 form an isolated system, the net charge on them is zero:
The charge on Plate 2 is the sum of charges on its left and right surfaces:
The charge on Plate 4 is on its left surface (facing Plate 3):
Substituting these into the charge conservation equation:
Now, we calculate the charge on the plates connected to the battery (Plate 1 and Plate 3).
Charge on Plate 1:
q_1 = 24 160 0.16 \, \q_3 = C(V_3 - V_2) + C(V_3 - V_4) = C \left(0 - \dfrac{10}{3}\right) +C \left(0 -\dfrac{10}{3}\right) = --q_3 = -24 160 0.16 \, \mu\text{C}0.16 \, \0.16 \, \mu\text{C}
From the given circuit diagram:
Plate 1 is connected to the positive terminal of the battery, so its potential is .
Plate 3 is connected to the negative terminal of the battery, so its potential is .
Plates 2 and 4 are connected to each other by a wire, forming an isolated system. Let their common potential be .
The arrangement forms three identical capacitors between the consecutive pairs of plates: , , and .
The capacitance of each capacitor is given by:
Given and .
Since Plates 2 and 4 form an isolated system, the net charge on them is zero:
The charge on Plate 2 is the sum of charges on its left and right surfaces:
The charge on Plate 4 is on its left surface (facing Plate 3):
Substituting these into the charge conservation equation:
Now, we calculate the charge on the plates connected to the battery (Plate 1 and Plate 3).
Charge on Plate 1:
q_1 = 24 160 0.16 \, \q_3 = C(V_3 - V_2) + C(V_3 - V_4) = C \left(0 - \dfrac{10}{3}\right) +C \left(0 -\dfrac{10}{3}\right) = --q_3 = -24 160 0.16 \, \mu\text{C}0.16 \, \0.16 \, \mu\text{C}