QuestionQuestionConceptConceptDocumentDocument

19. Capacitance

Start with Concept to understand a topic, then use Question Bank to check what you know.

3 topics · 9 learning objectives

Your progress

Sign in to see your mastery and mistakes.

  1. 19.1 Capacitors and capacitance

    1. 19.1.1Capacitance, as applied to both isolated spherical conductors and to

      • define capacitance, as applied to both isolated spherical conductors and to parallel plate capacitors

    2. 19.1.2C = Q / V

      • recall and use C = Q / V

    3. 19.1.3C = Q / V, formulas for the combined capacitance of capacitors in series and

      • derive, using C = Q / V, formulas for the combined capacitance of capacitors in series and in parallel

    4. 19.1.4The capacitance formulas for capacitors in series and in parallel

      • use the capacitance formulas for capacitors in series and in parallel

  2. 19.2 Energy stored in a capacitor

    1. 19.2.1The electric potential energy stored in a capacitor

      • determine the electric potential energy stored in a capacitor from the area under the potential–charge graph

    2. 19.2.2W = 1/2 QV = 1/2 CV 2

      • recall and use W = 1/2 QV = 1/2 CV 2

  3. 19.3 Discharging a capacitor

    1. 19.3.1The variation with time of potential difference, charge and current

      • analyse graphs of the variation with time of potential difference, charge and current for a capacitor discharging through a resistor

    2. 19.3.2Τ = RC for the time constant for a capacitor discharging through a resistor

      • recall and use τ = RC for the time constant for a capacitor discharging through a resistor

    3. 19.3.3Equations of the form x = x0 e–(t / RC) where x could represent current

      • use equations of the form x = x0 e–(t / RC) where x could represent current, charge or potential difference for a capacitor discharging through a resistor