SF026: PAST YEAR PSPM QUESTIONS

CHAPTER 2: CAPACITORS AND DIELECTRICS

PSPM II 2005/2006 NO. 10
10. (a) (i) Derive the capacitance of a concentric spherical capacitor of radii a and b
( < ).
(ii) From 10(a)(i), calculate its capacitance if a and b are 0.05 and 0.07
respectively. [Ans: = . ]
(iii) From 10(a)(ii), calculate the energy stored if the charge in the capacitor is
1.20 . [Ans: = . ]
[9 marks]
(b) A 20 capacitor has a charge of 240 is connected to a 50 resistor.
(i) Calculate the time constant. [Ans: = ]
(ii) Calculate the initial current. [Ans: = . ]
(iii) Sketch a graph of current against time.
[6 marks]
PSPM II 2006/2007 NO. 10(B)
10. (b)

FIGURE 6
A battery of emf is connected to three capacitors as in FIGURE 6. The potential
difference across the 2 capacitor is 12 . Calculate

(i)
The equivalent capacitance. [Ans: = ]
(ii)
The voltage across the 3 capacitor. [Ans: = = = ]
(iii)
The total energy stored in the capacitors. [Ans: = . ]
[8 marks]

PCH

SF026: PAST YEAR PSPM QUESTIONS

PSPM II 2007/2008 NO. 10(C)
10. (c)

FIGURE 3
FIGURE 3 shows a parallel plate capacitor of area and separation distance filled
with two dielectric materials of dielectric constants 1 and 2 .
(i)
Draw the equivalent circuit for the capacitor.
(ii)
Determine the equivalent capacitance if the dielectric materials have equal

volume. [Ans: = ( + )]
[4 marks]
PSPM II 2008/2009 NO. 2
2. A 24 capacitor is charged to 180 . Calculate the additional energy required
to charge the capacitor to 300 . [Ans: = . ]
[3 marks]
PSPM II 2009/2010 NO. 2
2. (a) Define capacitance.
(b) Why electrical energy can still be stored in a capacitor even though the net charge
is zero?
(c) How to increase the capacitance of an air-filled capacitor without changing its
dimension?
[3 marks]

PCH

SF026: PAST YEAR PSPM QUESTIONS

PSPM II 2010/2011 NO. 2
2.

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1 shows a circuit consists of a battery, two capacitors 1 and 2 , and two
switches 1 and 2 . Initially, 1 and 2 are uncharged, and 1 and 2 are opened.
(a) When 1 is closed but 2 remains open, calculate the charge of 1 . [Ans: =
]
(b) After 1 is fully charged, 1 is opened and 2 is closed. What is the potential
difference across 2 ? [Ans: = ]
[4 marks]
PSPM II 2012/2013 NO. 1(C)
1. (c)

FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2 shows a 2 capacitor connected to a 10 battery, a 2 resistor and
switches 1 and 2 .
(i)
Explain in words the meaning of capacitance.
(ii)
Calculate the charge of the capacitor when switch 1 is closed and switch
2 is opened. [Ans: = ]
(iii)
Switch 1 is then opened and switch 2 closed. Calculate the charge in the
capacitor, 8.0 after 2 is closed. [Ans: = . ]
[5 marks]
PCH

SF026: PAST YEAR PSPM QUESTIONS

PSPM II 2013/2014 NO. 1(A),(B)
1. (a) (i) Name a quantity that indicates how fast a capacitor is charging and
discharging. State your reasoning.
(ii) Explain why inserting a dielectric between the plates of a capacitor increases its
capacitance.
[5 marks]
(b)

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1 shows an arrangement of capacitors. If the equivalent capacitance is
0.5 , calculate the value of capacitor . [Ans: = ]
[3 marks]
PSPM II 2014/2015 NO. 1(C)
1. (c)

FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2 shows two parallel plate capacitors 1 and 2 connected in series and
fully charged by a 6 battery. The capacitors have the same plate area and are filled
with similar dielectric material. The distance of separation of the plates for 1 and 2
are 2 and 4 respectively.
(i)
Sketch and label the electric field lines and equipotential surfaces between
the plates of capacitor.
(ii)
Calculate the potential difference across capacitor 2 . [Ans: = ]
(iii)
Calculate the electric field strength in the region between the plates of
capacitor 1 . [Ans: = ( )]
[8 marks]
PCH