Colonel Frank Seely School

3.7.4.3 Energy Stored by a Capacitor

Q1.When fully charged the 2.0 mF capacitor used as a backup for a memory unit has a
potential difference of 5.0 V across it. The capacitor is required to supply a constant
current of 1.0 μA and can be used until the potential difference across it falls by 10%. For
how long can the capacitor be used before it must be recharged?

A 10 s

B 100 s

C 200 s

D 1000 s
(Total 1 mark)

Q2.A capacitor of capacitance 10 μF is charged through a resistor R to a potential difference

(pd) of 20 V using the circuit shown.

When the capacitor is fully charged which one of the following statements is incorrect?

A The energy stored by the capacitor is 2 mJ.

B The total energy taken from the battery during the charging process is 2 mJ.

C The pd across the capacitor is 20 V.

D The pd across the resistor is 0 V.

(Total 1 mark)

Q3.The diagram shows a rigidly-clamped straight horizontal current-carrying wire held mid-way
between the poles of a magnet on a top-pan balance. The wire is perpendicular to the
magnetic field direction.

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The balance, which was zeroed before the switch was closed, read 161 g after the switch
was closed. When the current is reversed and doubled, what would be the new reading on
the balance?

A −322 g

B −161 g

C zero

D 322 g
(Total 1 mark)

Q4.(a) The graph shows how the current varies with time as a capacitor is discharged
through a 150 Ω resistor.

(i) Explain how the initial charge on the capacitor could be determined from a
graph of current against time.

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...............................................................................................................

...............................................................................................................

...............................................................................................................

...............................................................................................................
(1)

(ii) The same capacitor is charged to the same initial potential difference (pd) and
then discharged through a 300 kΩ resistor. Sketch a second graph on the
same axes above to show how the current varies with time in this case.
(3)

(b) In an experiment to show that a capacitor stores energy, a student charges a

capacitor from a battery and then discharges it through a small electric motor. The
motor is used to lift a mass vertically.

(i) The capacitance of the capacitor is 0.12 F and it is charged to a pd of 9.0 V.

The weight of the mass raised is 3.5 N.
Calculate the maximum height to which the mass could be raised.
Give your answer to an appropriate number of significant figures.

maximum height ................................................. m

(4)

(ii) Give two reasons why the value you have calculated in part (i) would not be
achieved in practice.

1 ............................................................................................................

...............................................................................................................

...............................................................................................................

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...............................................................................................................

2 ............................................................................................................

...............................................................................................................

...............................................................................................................

...............................................................................................................
(2)
(Total 10 marks)

Q5.The specification for a pacemaker requires a suitable charge to be delivered in 1.4 ms. A
designer uses a circuit with a capacitor of capacitance 3.0 μF and a 2.5 V power supply to
deliver the charge. The designer calculates that a suitable charge will be delivered to the
heart as the capacitor discharges from a potential difference (pd) of 2.5 V to a pd of 1.2 V
in 1.4 ms.

(a) (i) Calculate the charge on the capacitor when it is charged to a pd of 2.5 V.

charge .................................................. C
(1)

(ii) Draw a graph showing how the charge, Q, on the capacitor varies with the pd,
V, as it discharges through the heart.
Include an appropriate scale on the charge axis.

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(3)

(b) Calculate the energy delivered to the heart in a single pulse from the pacemaker
when the capacitor discharges to 1.2 V from 2.5 V.

energy ................................................... J
(3)

(c) (i) Calculate the resistance of the heart that has been assumed in the design.

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 Colonel Frank Seely School
resistance ................................................. Ω
(3)

(ii) Explain why the rate of change of pd between the capacitor plates decreases
as the capacitor discharges.

...............................................................................................................

...............................................................................................................

...............................................................................................................

...............................................................................................................

...............................................................................................................
(2)
(Total 12 marks)

Q6.The figure below shows a capacitor of capacitance 370 pF. It consists of two parallel metal
plates of area 250 cm2. A sheet of polythene that has a relative permittivity 2.3 completely
fills the gap between the plates.

not to scale

(a) Calculate the thickness of the polythene sheet.

thickness = _____________m
(2)

(b) The capacitor is charged so that there is a potential difference of 35 V between the
plates. The charge on the capacitor is then 13 nC and the energy stored is 0.23 µJ.

The supply is now disconnected and the polythene sheet is pulled out from between
the plates without discharging or altering the separation of the plates.

Show that the potential difference between the plates increases to about 80 V.

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 Colonel Frank Seely School

(2)

(c) Calculate the energy that is now stored by the capacitor.

energy stored = _____________µJ

(2)

(d) Explain why there is an increase in the energy stored by the capacitor when the
polythene sheet is pulled out from between the plates.

........................................................................................................................

........................................................................................................................

........................................................................................................................

........................................................................................................................
(2)
(Total 8 marks)

Q7.Which of the following statements about a parallel plate capacitor is incorrect?

A The capacitance of the capacitor is the amount of charge

stored by the capacitor when the pd across the plates is 1
V.

B A uniform electric field exists between the plates of the

capacitor.

C The charge stored on the capacitor is inversely proportional

to the pd across the plates.

D The energy stored when the capacitor is fully charged is

proportional to the square of the pd across the plates.

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 Colonel Frank Seely School
(Total 1 mark)

Q8.Initially a charged capacitor stores 1600 μJ of energy. When the pd across it decreases by
2.0 V, the energy stored by it becomes 400 μJ.

What is the capacitance of this capacitor?

A 100 μF

B 200 μF

C 400 μF

D 600 μF
(Total 1 mark)

Q9.Switch S in the circuit is held in position 1, so that the capacitor C becomes fully charged to
a pd V and stores energy E.

The switch is then moved quickly to position 2, allowing C to discharge through the fixed

resistor R. It takes 36 ms for the pd across C to fall to What period of time must
elapse, after the switch has moved to position 2, before the energy stored by C has fallen

to ?

A 51 ms

B 72 ms

C 432 ms

D 576 ms
(Total 1 mark)

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Q10.A nuclear fusion device is required to deliver at least 1 MJ of energy using capacitors. If the
largest workable potential difference is 10 kV, what is the minimum capacitance of the
capacitors that should be used?

A 0.01 F

B 0.02 F

C 2F

D 100 F
(Total 1 mark)

Q11.An initially uncharged capacitor of capacitance 20 μF is charged by a constant current of

80 μA. Which line, A to D, in the table gives the potential difference across, and the
energy stored in, the capacitor after 50 s?

potential difference / V energy stored / J

A 4.0 × 10–3 2.0 × 10–3

B 4.0 × 10–3 4.0 × 10–1

C 2. 0 × 102 2.0 × 10–3

D 2. 0 × 102 4.0 × 10–1

(Total 1 mark)

Q12.Which one of the following statements about a parallel plate capacitor is incorrect?

A The capacitance of the capacitor is the amount of charge stored by the capacitor
when the pd across the plates is 1V.

B A uniform electric field exists between the plates of the capacitor.

C The charge stored on the capacitor is inversely proportional to the pd across the
plates.

D The energy stored when the capacitor is fully charged is proportional to the square of
the pd across the plates.
(Total 1 mark)

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Q13. The graph shows the results of an experiment which was carried out to investigate
the relationship between the charge Q stored by a capacitor and the pd V across it.

Which one of the following statements is not correct?

A The energy stored can be calculated by finding the area under the line.

B If a capacitor of smaller capacitance had been used the gradient of the graph would
be steeper.

C If Q were doubled, the energy stored would be quadrupled.

D The gradient of the graph is equal to the capacitance of the capacitor.

(Total 1 mark)

Q14. A 10 μF capacitor is fully charged to a pd of 3.0 kV. The energy stored in the
capacitor can be used to lift a load of 5.0 kg through a vertical height h. What is the
approximate value of h?

A 0.03 mm

B 0.9 mm

C 0.3 m

D 0.9 m
(Total 1 mark)

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Q15. A 400 μF capacitor is charged so that the voltage across its plates rises at a
constant rate from 0 V to 4.0 V in 20 s. What current is being used to charge the
capacitor?

A 5 μΑ

B 20 μΑ

C 40 μΑ

D 80 μΑ
(Total 1 mark)

Q16. A capacitor of capacitance C stores an amount of energy E when the pd across it is

V. Which line, A to D, in the table gives the correct stored energy and pd when the charge
is increased by 50%?

energy pd
A 1.5 E 1.5 V
B 1.5 E 2.25 V
C 2.25 E 1.5 V
D 2.25 E 2.25 V

(Total 1 mark)

Q17. Capacitors and rechargeable batteries are examples of electrical devices that can be
used repeatedly to store energy.

(a) (i) A capacitor of capacitance 70 F is used to provide the emergency back-up in a

low voltage power supply.

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Calculate the energy stored by this capacitor when fully charged to its
maximum operating voltage of 1.2 V. Express your answer to an appropriate
number of significant figures.

answer = ...................................J
(3)

(ii) A rechargeable 1.2 V cell used in a cordless telephone can supply a steady
current of 55 mA for 10 hours. Show that this cell, when fully charged, stores
almost 50 times more energy than the capacitor in part (a)(i).

(2)

(b) Give two reasons why a capacitor is not a suitable source for powering a cordless
telephone.

Reason 1.....................................................................................................

.....................................................................................................................

Reason 2......................................................................................................

......................................................................................................................
(2)
(Total 7 marks)

Q18. The graph shows how the charge stored by a capacitor varies with the pd applied
across it.

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Which line, A to D, in the table gives the capacitance and the energy stored when the
potential difference is 5.0 V?

capacitance/μF energy stored/μJ

A 2.0 25

B 2.0 50

C 10.0 25

D 10.0 50

(Total 1 mark)

Q19. A 10 mF capacitor is charged to 10 V and then discharged completely through a

small motor. During the process, the motor lifts a weight of mass 0.10 kg. If 10% of the
energy stored in the capacitor is used to lift the weight, through what approximate height
will the weight be lifted?

A 0.05 m

B 0.10 m

C 0.50 m

D 1.00 m
(Total 1 mark)

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Q20. (a) A particular heart pacemaker uses a capacitor which has a capacitance of 4.2
μF.
Explain what is meant by a capacitance of 4.2 μF.

......................................................................................................................

......................................................................................................................

......................................................................................................................

......................................................................................................................
(2)

(b) Capacitor A, of capacitance 4.2 μF, is charged to 4.0 V and then discharged through
a sample of heart tissue. This capacitor is replaced by capacitor B and the charge
and discharge process repeated through the same sample of tissue.
The discharge curves are shown in the figure below.

(i) By considering the discharge curve for capacitor A, show that the resistance of
the sample of heart tissue through which the discharge occurs is
approximately 150 Ω.

.............................................................................................................

.............................................................................................................

.............................................................................................................

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.............................................................................................................

.............................................................................................................
(4)

(ii) State and explain whether capacitor B has a larger or smaller capacitance
than that of capacitor A.

.............................................................................................................

.............................................................................................................

.............................................................................................................

.............................................................................................................
(2)

(c) Capacitor A was charged to a potential difference of 4.0V before discharging

through the sample of heart tissue.
Determine how much energy it passed to the sample of heart tissue in the first 0.90
m s of the discharge.

......................................................................................................................

......................................................................................................................

......................................................................................................................

......................................................................................................................

......................................................................................................................

......................................................................................................................

......................................................................................................................

......................................................................................................................

energy ...................................... J
(3)
(Total 11 marks)

Q21. A 1 µF capacitor is charged using a constant current of 10 µA for 20 s. What is the

energy finally stored by the capacitor?

A 2 × 10 J –3

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 Colonel Frank Seely School
B 2 × 10 J
–2

C 4 × 10 J
–2

D 4 × 10 J
–1

(Total 1 mark)

Q22. Figure 1 shows a circuit that is used in a defibrillator in which a short pulse of charge
is used to revive a patient who suffers a cardiac arrest in which their heart stops beating.

Figure 2 shows how the charge on the capacitor varies with time when the capacitor is
charging.

Figure 1

Figure 2

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(a) (i) Use Figure 2 to determine the initial charging current.

.............................................................................................................

.............................................................................................................

.............................................................................................................

.............................................................................................................

.............................................................................................................

.............................................................................................................

.............................................................................................................

initial charging current ....................... A

(2)

(ii) Calculate the emf of the supply used to charge the capacitor.
Assume that the supply has negligible internal resistance.

.............................................................................................................

.............................................................................................................

.............................................................................................................

.............................................................................................................

emf of the supply ...................................... V

(2)

(iii) Explain why the current that charges the capacitor falls as the capacitor
charges.

.............................................................................................................

.............................................................................................................

.............................................................................................................

.............................................................................................................

.............................................................................................................

.............................................................................................................
(3)

(b) For the system to work successfully, the capacitor has to deliver 140 J of energy to

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the heart in a pulse that lasts for 10 ms.

(i) Show that the charge on the capacitor when it is storing this much energy is
about 85 mC.

.............................................................................................................

.............................................................................................................

.............................................................................................................

.............................................................................................................

.............................................................................................................
(2)

(ii) Calculate the average power supplied during the pulse.

.............................................................................................................

.............................................................................................................

.............................................................................................................

average power ....................................... W

(1)

(c) The circuit designer suggests that the capacitor can be used successfully after a
charging time equal to 1.5 time constants of the charging circuit shown in Figure 1.

Explain with a calculation whether or not the designer’s suggestion is valid.

......................................................................................................................

......................................................................................................................

......................................................................................................................

......................................................................................................................

......................................................................................................................

......................................................................................................................

......................................................................................................................

......................................................................................................................

......................................................................................................................

......................................................................................................................
(3)
(Total 13 marks)

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Q23. The graph shows how the potential difference across a capacitor varies with the
charge stored by it.

Which one of the following statements is correct?

A The gradient of the line equals the capacitance of the capacitor.

B The gradient of the line equals the energy stored by the capacitor.

C The reciprocal of the gradient equals the energy stored by the capacitor.

D The reciprocal of the gradient equals the capacitance of the capacitor.

(Total 1 mark)

Q24. A 1000 µF capacitor, X, and a 100 µF capacitor, Y, are charged to the same
potential difference.
Which row, A to D, in the table gives correct ratios of charge stored and energy stored by
the capacitors?

A 1 1

B 1 10

C 10 1

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D 10 10

(Total 1 mark)

Q25. In experiments to pass a very high current through a gas, a bank of capacitors of
total capacitance 50 µF is charged to 30 kV. If the bank of capacitors could be discharged
completely in 5.0 m s what would be the mean power delivered?

A 22 kW

B 110 kW

C 4.5 MW

D 9.0 MW
(Total 1 mark)

Q26. A 680 µF capacitor is charged fully from a 12 V battery. At time t = 0 the capacitor
begins to discharge through a resistor. When t = 25 s the energy remaining in the
capacitor is one quarter of the energy it stored at 12 V.

(a) Determine the pd across the capacitor when t = 25s.

......................................................................................................................

......................................................................................................................

......................................................................................................................

......................................................................................................................
(2)

(b) (i) Show that the time constant of the discharge circuit is 36 s.

.............................................................................................................

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.............................................................................................................

.............................................................................................................

.............................................................................................................

.............................................................................................................

(ii) Calculate the resistance of the resistor.

.............................................................................................................

.............................................................................................................
(4)
(Total 6 marks)

Q27. (a) As a capacitor was charged from a 12 V supply, a student used a coulomb
meter and a voltmeter to record the charge stored by the capacitor at a series of
values of potential difference across the capacitor. The student then plotted a graph
of pd (on the y-axis) against charge (on the x-axis).

(i) Sketch the graph obtained.

(ii) State what is represented by the gradient of the line.

.............................................................................................................

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(iii) State what is represented by the area enclosed by the line and the x-axis of
the graph.

.............................................................................................................
(3)

(b) The student then connected the capacitor as shown in the diagram below to carry
out an investigation into the discharge of the capacitor.

The student used a voltage sensor, datalogger and computer to obtain values for
the pd across the capacitor at various times during the discharge.

(i) At time t = 0, with switch S open, switch S was moved from position A to
2 1

position B. Calculate the pd across the capacitor when t = 26 s.

.............................................................................................................

.............................................................................................................

.............................................................................................................

.............................................................................................................

(ii) At time t = 26 s, as the discharge continued, the student closed switch S . 2

Calculate the pd across the capacitor 40 s after switch S was moved from 1

position A to position B.

.............................................................................................................

.............................................................................................................

.............................................................................................................

.............................................................................................................

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(iii) Sketch a graph of pd against time for the student’s experiment described in
parts (b)(i) and (b)(ii).

(7)
(Total 10 marks)

Q28. A 1.0 µF capacitor is charged by means of a constant current of 10 µA for 20 s.

What is the energy finally stored in the capacitor?

A 4.0 × 10 J
–4

B 2.0 × 10 J
–3

C 2.0 × 10 J
–2

D 4.0 × 10 J
–2

(Total 1 mark)

Q29. In the circuit shown, the capacitor C is charged to a potential difference V when the
switch S is closed.

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Which line, A to D, in the table gives a correct pair of graphs showing how the charge and
current change with time after S is closed?

charge current

A graph 1 graph 1

B graph 1 graph 2

C graph 2 graph 2

D graph 2 graph 1

(Total 1 mark)

Q30. The graph shows how the charge stored by a capacitor varies with the potential
difference across it as it is charged from a 6 V battery.

Which one of the following statements is not correct?

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A The capacitance of the capacitor is 5.0 µF.

B When the potential difference is 2 V the charge stored is 10 µC.

C When the potential difference is 2 V the energy stored is 10 µJ.

D When the potential difference is 6 V the energy stored is 180 µJ.

(Total 1 mark)

Q31. A capacitor of capacitance 330 µF is charged to a potential difference of 9.0 V. It is

then discharged through a resistor of resistance 470 kΩ.

Calculate

(a) the energy stored by the capacitor when it is fully charged,

......................................................................................................................

......................................................................................................................

......................................................................................................................

......................................................................................................................
(2)

(b) the time constant of the discharging circuit,

......................................................................................................................

......................................................................................................................
(1)

(c) the p.d. across the capacitor 60 s after the discharge has begun.

......................................................................................................................

......................................................................................................................

......................................................................................................................

......................................................................................................................

......................................................................................................................

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......................................................................................................................
(3)
(Total 6 marks)

Q32. A 10 mF capacitor is charged to 10 V and then discharged completely through a

small motor. During this process, the motor lifts a weight of mass 0.10 kg. If 10% of the
energy stored in the capacitor is used to lift the weight, through what approximate height
will the weight be lifted?

A 0.05 m

B 0.10 m

C 0.50 m

D 1.00 m
(Total 1 mark)

Q33.A 1 μF capacitor is charged using a constant current of 10 μA for 20 s. What is the energy
finally stored by the capacitor?

A 2 × 10−3 J

B 2 × 10−2 J

C 4 × 10−2 J

D 4 × 10−1 J
(Total 1 mark)

Q34.

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 Colonel Frank Seely School

A capacitor of capacitance 10 μF is fully charged through a resistor R to a p.d. of 20 V

using the circuit shown. Which one of the following statements is incorrect?

A The p.d. across the capacitor is 20 V.

B The p.d. across the resistor is 0 V.

C The energy stored by the capacitor is 2 mJ.

D The total energy taken from the battery during the charging process is 2 mJ.
(Total 1 mark)

Q35.A capacitor of capacitance C stores an amount of energy E when the pd across it is V.

Which line, A to D, gives the correct stored energy and pd when the charge is increased
by 50%?

energy p.d.

A 1.5E 1.5V

B 2.25E 1.5V

C 1.5E 2.25V

D 2.25E 2.25V

(Total 1 mark)

Q36.A student used a voltage sensor connected to a datalogger to plot the discharge curve for
a 4.7 μF capacitor. She obtained the following graph.

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Use data from the graph to calculate

(a) the initial charge stored,

........................................................................................................................
(2)

(b) the energy stored when the capacitor had been discharging for 35 ms,

........................................................................................................................

........................................................................................................................
(3)

(c) the time constant for the circuit,

........................................................................................................................

........................................................................................................................

........................................................................................................................

........................................................................................................................
(3)

(d) the resistance of the circuit through which the capacitor was discharging.

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........................................................................................................................

........................................................................................................................

........................................................................................................................
(2)
(Total 10 marks)

Q37.(a) For a capacitor of capacitance C, sketch graphs of charge, Q, and energy stored, E,
against potential difference, V.

graph A graph b

What is represented by the slope of graph A?

........................................................................................................................
(3)

(b) A capacitor of capacitance 0.68 F is charged to 6.0 V. Calculate

(i) the charge stored by the capacitor,

...............................................................................................................

...............................................................................................................

(ii) the energy stored by the capacitor.

...............................................................................................................

...............................................................................................................
(2)
(Total 5 marks)

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Q38.In experiments to pass a very high current through a gas, a bank of capacitors of total
capacitance 50 μF is charged to 30 kV. If the bank of capacitors could be discharged
completely in 5.0 ms what would be the mean power delivered?

A 9.0 MW

B 4.5 MW

C 110 kW

D 22 kW
(Total 1 mark)

Q39.(a) A capacitor is made from two parallel metal plates of the same area, separated by an
air gap. It is connected across a battery of constant e.m.f.

The plates are moved further apart, maintaining the same area of overlap, whilst the
battery remains connected. State and explain what change, if any, occurs to

(i) the potential difference across the plates,

...............................................................................................................

(ii) the capacitance of the capacitor,

...............................................................................................................

(iii) the charge on each plate of the capacitor,

...............................................................................................................

(iv) the energy stored by the capacitor.

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...............................................................................................................
(4)

(b) A thunder cloud and the earth beneath it can be considered to form a parallel plate
capacitor. The area of the cloud is 8.0 km2 and it is 0.75 km above the earth.

(i) Calculate the energy stored if the potential difference between the cloud and
the earth is 200 kV.

...............................................................................................................

...............................................................................................................

...............................................................................................................

...............................................................................................................

(ii) The air suddenly conducts, allowing all the charge to flow to earth in 120 μs.
Calculate the mean current flowing between the cloud and the earth when this
happens.

...............................................................................................................

...............................................................................................................

...............................................................................................................

...............................................................................................................
(6)
(Total 10 marks)

Q40.A 10μF capacitor is connected across the terminals of a 100 V d.c. power supply and
allowed to charge fully.

(a) Calculate

(i) the charge on the capacitor,

...............................................................................................................

...............................................................................................................

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(ii) the energy stored by the capacitor.

...............................................................................................................

...............................................................................................................
(2)

(b) The fully-charged capacitor is disconnected from the power supply and connected
via two wires across the terminals of an uncharged 10 μF capacitor as shown.

The charge on the original 10 μF capacitor is shared equally between the capacitors
in the parallel combination.

(i) Calculate the potential difference across the terminals of each capacitor.

...............................................................................................................

...............................................................................................................

(ii) Calculate the total energy stored by the two capacitors.

...............................................................................................................

...............................................................................................................

(iii) Account for the difference between the energy stored by the two capacitors in
parallel and that stored by the original single 10 μF capacitor.

...............................................................................................................

...............................................................................................................

...............................................................................................................

...............................................................................................................
(4)

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(Total 6 marks)

Q41. (a) A 500 µF capacitor and a 1000 µF capacitor are connected in series. Calculate
the total capacitance of the combination.

(2)

(b) The figure below shows a diagram of an arrangement used to investigate the energy
stored by a capacitor.

The bundle of constantan wire has a resistance of 8.5 Ω. The capacitor is initially
charged to a potential difference of 9.0 V by closing S .
1

(i) Calculate the charge stored by the 0.25 F capacitor.

(ii) Calculate the energy stored by the capacitor.

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 Colonel Frank Seely School
(iii) Switch S is now opened and S is closed so that the capacitor discharges
1 2

through the constantan wire. Calculate the time taken for the potential
difference across the capacitor to fall to 0.10 V.

(7)

(c) The volume of constantan wire in the bundle in the figure above is 2.2 × 10 m . –7 3

density of constantan = 8900 kg m –3

specific heat capacity of constantan = 420 J kg K –1 –1

(i) Assume that all the energy stored by the capacitor is used to raise the
temperature of the wire. Use your answer to part (b)(ii) to calculate the
expected temperature rise when the capacitor is discharged through the
constantan wire.

(ii) Give two reasons why, in practice, the final temperature will be lower than that
calculated in part (c)(i).

...............................................................................................................

...............................................................................................................

...............................................................................................................
(5)
(Total 14 marks)

Q42. The Earth’s surface and the base of a charged cloud can be considered to be two
plates of a parallel-plate capacitor.

(a) Calculate the capacitance of an Earth-cloud system when the base of the cloud has
an area of 1.4 × 10 m and is 800 m above the Earth’s surface.
6 2

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 Colonel Frank Seely School

= 8.9 × 10 F m
–12 –1

for air = 1.0

(2)

(b) A potential difference of 3.0 × 10 V across each metre of air will cause the air to
6

break down and allow the cloud to discharge to the Earth.

(i) Show that the average breakdown p.d. for the 800 m layer of air between the
Earth and the base of the cloud is about 2.5 × 10 V.
9

(1)

(ii) Calculate the maximum energy that the charged Earth – cloud system can
store.

(2)

(iii) Calculate the maximum charge stored by the system before breakdown
commences.

(1)

(c) By considering the cloud discharge to be modelled by a resistor connected across a

capacitor, calculate the resistance that would allow a cloud to discharge 99% of its
charge to Earth in a time of 0.25 s.

(3)
(Total 9 marks)

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 Colonel Frank Seely School

Q43. (a) Explain what is meant by a capacitance of 1 farad (F).

........................................................................................................................

........................................................................................................................
(1)

(b) A parallel plate capacitor was made from two circular metal plates with air between
them.
The distance between the plates was 1.8 mm. The capacitance of this capacitor was
found to be 2.3 × 10 F. –11

The permittivity of free space ε = 8.9 ×10 F m 0

–12 –1

The relative permittivity of air = 1.0

Calculate:

(i) the radius of the plates used in the capacitor;

(3)

(ii) the energy stored when the potential difference between the capacitor plates is
6.0 V.

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 Colonel Frank Seely School

(2)

(c) A student charged the capacitor and then tried to measure the potential difference
between the plates using an oscilloscope. The student observed the trace shown in
the diagram below and concluded that the capacitor was discharging through the
oscilloscope.

Calculate the resistance of the oscilloscope.

(3)
(Total 9 marks)

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 Colonel Frank Seely School

Q44.The graph shows the charge stored in a capacitor as the voltage across it is varied.

The energy stored, in μJ, when the potential difference across the capacitor is 5 V, is

A 25

B 50

C 100

D 200

(Total 1 mark)

Q45.A capacitor is first charged through a resistor and then discharged through the same
resistor.

The magnitude of which one of the following quantities varies with time in the same way
during both charging and discharging?

A Energy stored

B Current

C Potential difference

D Charge
(Total 1 mark)

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 Colonel Frank Seely School

M1.D
[1]

M2.B
[1]

M3.A
[1]

M4.(a) (i) determine area under the graph

[or determine area between line and time axis] ✓
1

(ii) as seen
line starts at very low current (within bottom half of first square) ✓
either line continuing as (almost) horizontal straight line to end ✓✓
or very slight exponential decay curve ✓
which does not meet time axis ✓

OR suitable verbal comment that shows appreciation of difficulty of

representing this line on the scales involved ✓✓✓
Use this scheme for answers which treat the information in
the question literally.
3

as intended
line starts at half of original initial current ✓
slower discharging exponential (ie. smaller initial gradient)
than the original curve ✓
correct line that intersects the original curve
(or meets it at the end) ✓
Use this scheme for answers which assume that both
resistance values should be in Ω or kΩ.
½ initial current to be marked within ±2mm of expected

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 Colonel Frank Seely School
value.
3

(b) (i) energy stored (= ½ CV2) = ½ × 0.12 × 9.02 ✓ ( = 4.86 (J) )

4.86 = 3.5 Δh ✓
gives Δh = (1.39) = 1.4 (m) ✓
to 2SF only ✓
SF mark is independent.
Students who make a PE in the 1st mark may still be awarded
the remaining marks: treat as ECF.
4

(ii) energy is lost through heating of wires or heating the motor

(as capacitor discharges) ✓
Allow heating of circuit or I R heating.
2

energy is lost in overcoming frictional forces in the motor

(or in other rotating parts) ✓
Location of energy loss (wires, or motor, etc) should be
indicated in each correct answer.

[or any other well-expressed sensible reason that is valid

e.g. capacitor will not drive motor when voltage becomes low ✓ ]
Don’t allow losses due to sound, air resistance or resistance
(rather than heating of) wires.
max 2
[10]

M5.(a) (i) 7.5 × 10−6 (C) or 7.5 µ(C)

B1
1

(ii) Suitable scale and charge from (i) correctly plotted at 2.5 V
Large square = 1 or 2 µC or
With false origin then large square = 0.5 µC

B1

Only a Straight line drawn through or toward origin

C1

Line must be straight, toward origin and only drawn

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 Colonel Frank Seely School
between 2.5 V and 1.2 V (± 1 / 2 square on plotted
points)

A1
3

(b) Attempted use of E= ½ CV2 Or attempted use of E=½ QV

C1

9.38 (µJ) − 2.16 (µJ) seen

or E = ½ × 3 × 10−6 × 2.52 ‒ ½ × 3 × 10−6 × 1.22 seen
or E = ½ × 3 × 10−6 × (2.52 ‒ 1.22) seen
or E =½ × 7.5 × 10−6 × 2.5 ‒ ½ × 3.6 × 10−6 × 1.2 seen

C1

7.2 × 10−6 (J) c.a.o

A1
3

(c) (i) Use of V = V 0

or equivalent with

Q = Q0

C1

R=− or R = − or R =

C1

636 or 640 (Ω)

A1
3

(ii) Current decreases (I = V / R) / describes rate of flow of

electrons decreasing / rate of flow of charge decreases

M1

Charge lost more slowly so pd falls more slowly

because V∝Q or Q=CV where C is constant

Page 41
 Colonel Frank Seely School
A1
MAX 2
[12]

M6.(a) d= ✓

1.4 ×10 m (1.4 (1.38) mm)✓

–3

Data substitution – condone incorrect powers of 10 for C and

A✓
2

(b) New capacitance = 161 pF✓

New V = 0.13 nC / 161pF = 81 V✓

2

(c) Energy stored = ½ × 161 × 10 × 81 ✓

-12 2

0.53 μJ✓
2

(d) Energy increases because:

In the polar dielectric molecules align in the field with positive charged end
toward the negative plate (or WTTE).✓

Work is done on the capacitor separating the positively charged surface of the
dielectric from the negatively charged plate (or vice versa).✓
2
[8]

M7.C
[1]

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 Colonel Frank Seely School
M8.B
[1]

M9.B
[1]

M10.B
[1]

M11.D
[1]

M12.C
[1]

M13. D
[1]

M14. D
[1]

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 Colonel Frank Seely School
M15. D
[1]

M16. C
[1]

M17. (a) (i) energy stored by capacitor (= ½ CV ) 2

= ½ × 70 × 1.2 2
(= 50.4) = 50 (J)

to 2 sf only
3

(ii) energy stored by cell (= I V t) = 55 × 10 × 1.2 × 10 × 3600

–3

(= 2380 J)

= (ie about 50)

2

(b) capacitor would be impossibly large (to fit in phone)

capacitor would need recharging very frequently

[or capacitor could only power the phone for a short time]

capacitor voltage [or current supplied or charge] would fall

continuously while in use
max 2
[7]

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 Colonel Frank Seely School

M18. A
[1]

M19. A
[1]

M20. (a) ratio of charge to potential

C1

4.2 μC per volt etc

A1
2

(b) (i) method: time for voltage to half/tangent at

origin/use of decay equation/1/e value

B1

appropriate reading from graph (T = 440 or 450 μs)

½

B1

substitution into correct equation

B1

R correct for method (151/152/155 Ω)

B1

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 Colonel Frank Seely School
4

(ii) B smaller than A M0

B discharges faster/A discharges slower

B1

reference to decay equation/calculation for B

B1
2

(c) E = ½ CV or ½ QV seen
2

C1

both 4.0 (V) and 0.9 (V)/16.8 (μC) and 3.8 (μC) seen

C1

31.9 (μJ)

A1
3
[11]

M21. B
[1]

M22. (a) (i) tangent drawn at t = 0

M1

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 Colonel Frank Seely School
coordinates correct and manipulated correctly
0.015 to 0.020 (A) 15 mA – 20 mA
or V = 4000 V as in (ii) then I = 18 mA

A1
2

(ii) V = 220 × their (i) condoning powers of 10

C1

about 4000 V (3300 – 4400 V)

A1

or use of V = Q/C; V = 100 mC/25 µF

C1

4000 V

A1
2

(iii) more charge leads to increased potential difference across

the capacitor

M1

pd = V + V
R C

or if V increases then V decreases

C R

M1

(if V falls) so I falls

R

A1
3

(b) (i) use of energy = ½ Q /C or use of C = Q/V and ½ QV

2

C1

0.083(7) or 0.084 C condone 0.083 C

A1
2

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 Colonel Frank Seely School
(ii) power = 14 kW

B1
1

(c) time constant = 5.5 s

M1

sensible attempt to find the charge after 8.3 s – by

calculation or reading from graph

M1

about 78 mC and needs to be 85 mC/has not reached

85 mC so designer’s suggestion is not valid

A1
3
[13]

M23. D
[1]

M24. D
[1]

M25. C
[1]

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 Colonel Frank Seely School

M26. (a) E V (or E = / CV ) (1)

2 1
2
2

pd after 25 s = 6 V (1)
2

(b) (i) use of Q = Q e 0

−t/RC
or V = V e
0
−t/RC
(1)

(e.g. 6 = 12e −25/RC

) gives e  and = 1n 2 (1)

(RC = 36(.1) s)

[alternatives for (i):

V = 12 e −25/36
gives V = 6.0 V (1) (5.99 V)

or time for pd to halve is 0.69RC

RC = (1) = 36(.2) s]

(ii) R= (1) = 5.3(0) × 10 Ω(1) 4

4
[6]

M27. (a) (i) straight line through origin (1)

(ii) (1)

(iii) energy (stored by capacitor) (1) (or work done

(in charging capacitor))
3

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 Colonel Frank Seely School
(b) (i) RC = 5.6 × 10 × 6.8 × 10 (1) (= 38.1 s)
3 –3

V(= V e ) = 12 e
0
–t/RC
(1) –26/38.1

= 6.1 V (1) (6.06 V)

[or equivalent using Q = Q e and Q = CV] 0
–t/RC

(ii) (RC)’ = 2.8 × 10 × 6.8 × 10 (1) (= 19.0 s)

3 –3

V (= 6.06 e ) = 2.9(0) V (1)

–14/19

(use of V’ = 6.1 V gives V = 2.9(2) V)

(iii)

7
[10]

M28. C
[1]

M29. D
[1]

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 Colonel Frank Seely School

M30. D
[2]

M31. (a) Q (= CV = 330 × 9.0) = 2970 (μC) (1)

E (= ½QV) = ½ x 2.97 × 10 × 9.0 = 1.34 × 10 J (1)
–3 –2

[or E (= ½CV ) = ½ × 300 × 10 × 9.0 (1) = 1.34 × 10 J (1)]

2 –6 2 –2

(b) time constant (= RC) = 470 × 103 × 330 × 10 = 155 s (1) –6

(c) = 2970 × e –60/155

= 2020 (μC)

(allow C.E. for time constant from (b))

(1)

(allow C.E. for Q)

[or V = V e 0
–t/RC
(1) = 9.0 e –60/155
(1) = 6.11 V (1)]
3
[6]

M32. A
[1]

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 Colonel Frank Seely School

M33.B
[1]

M34.D
[1]

M35.B
[1]

M36.(a) Q = CV (1)
(= 4.7 × 10 × 6.0) = 28 × 10 C or 28 μC (1)
-6 -6

(b) E = ½CV (1)

2

= ½ × 4.7 × 10 × 2.0 (1)-6 2

= 9.4 × 10 J (1)
-6

[or E = ½QV (1)

= ½ × 9.4 × 10 × 2.0 (1)-6

= 9.4 × 10 J (1)]
-6

(c) time constant is time taken for V to fall to (1)

∴V must fall to 2.2 V (1)

time constant = 32 ms (1)
[or draw tangent at t = 0 (1)
intercept of tangent on t axis is time constant (1)
accept value 30 - 35 ms (1)]

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 Colonel Frank Seely School
[or V = V exp(-t / RC) or Q = Q exp(-t / RC) (1)
0 0

correct substitution (1)

time constant = 32 ms (1)]
3

(d) time constant = RC (1)

R= = 6800 Ω (1)

(allow C.E. for value of time constant from (c))

2
[10]

M37.(a)

capacitance [or charge per volt or Q/V] (1)

(3)

(b) (i) Q = CV (= 0.68 × 6.0) = 4.1 C (1)

(ii) = 12 J (1)
(2)
[5]

M38.B
[1]

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 Colonel Frank Seely School

M39.(a) (i) remains constant since connected to constant p.d. (1)

(ii) decreases because C ∝ (1)

(iii) decreases because Q = CV and C has decreased (1)

(iv) decreases because E = CV and C has decreased (1)

2

(b) (i) C (1) (= 9.44 × 10–8 F)

E (= CV2) = × 9.44 × 10–8 × (200 × 103)2 (1)

= 1890J (1)

(ii) I use of Q = CV (1) use of I = (1)

= 157 A (1)
6
[10]

M40.(a) (i) Q = 1.0 × 10 C (1)

–3

(ii) E = 5.0 × 10 J (1)

–2

(b) (i) V = 50 V (1)

(ii) (E1 = QV = 1.25 × 10 J) E = 2.5 × 10 J (1)

–2
2
–2

(iii) current flows (when capacitors connected together) (1)

(energy lost due to) heat in wires (1)

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 Colonel Frank Seely School
4
[6]

M41. (a) 1/C = 1/500 + 1/1000 or

C1

330 (333) µF

A1
2

(b) (i) Q = VC or Q = 0.25 × 9

C1

2.3 or 2.25 C (c.a.o. unit essential)

A1

(ii) energy = ½ CV or 0.5 × 0.25 × 9 or ½ QV used

2 2

C1

10(.1) J (allow e.c.f. for Q)

A1

(iii) V=V e o
−t/RC

C1
7

0.1 = 9 e −t/(8.5 x 0.25)

C1

9.6 (9.56) s

A1

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 Colonel Frank Seely School
(c) (i) Q = mc∆θ or mass = volume × density

C1

correct substitution 10.1 = (2.2 × 10 × 8900 × 400 × ∆θ)

−7

C1

12 (12.3) K or °C ecf for energy from (b) (ii)

A1
5

(ii) some energy raises temperature of the thermometer

B1

energy/heat lost to (raise temperature of) surroundings

B1
[14]

M42. (a) C= A/d

C1

15.6 nF or 16 nF

A1
2

(b) (i) 2.4 × 10 (V)

9

B1
1

(ii) ½ CV (or ½QV if attempt to calculate Q made)

2

C1

4.3–5.0 × 10 J 10

A1
2

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 Colonel Frank Seely School
(iii) 36–40 C

B1
1

(c) recognition that 1% of charge or voltage remains

C1

any appropriate form of decay equation (either exponential

or logarithmic)

C1

3.48 × 10 Ω cao (but do not allow if physics error)

6

A1
3
[9]

M43. (a) 1 coulomb of charge is stored for a p.d. of 1 V between

the plates
(or equivalent statement) Condone I coulomb per volt

B1
1

(b) (i) Correct substitution in C = (ignore powers of 10)

C1

Plate area = 4.65 × 10 m or C =

–3 2
with correct
data

A1

Radius = (their area /3.14)1/2; 0.038(4 or 5) m if correct

B1
3

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 Colonel Frank Seely School

(ii) E = ½ CV or correct numerical substitution or

2

E = ½ QV & Q = VC

C1

4.1(4) × 10 J –10

A1
2

(c) Time constant = RC or Time to halve = 0.69 RC

or V = V e 0
– t/RC

C1

Time to fall to 1/e (0. 19 ms) or time to halve (0. 13 ms)

or V = 6 V and correct coordinates of point on line
0

(0.6 ms max)

C1

8.1 - 8.6 MΩ

A1
3
[9]

M44.A
[1]

M45.B
[1]

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 Colonel Frank Seely School

E1.This question was similar but a little more demanding, because its facility was 67%. The
15% of students who gave distractor B may have had difficulty in combining mF with μA,
because they arrived at an answer of 100 s instead of 1000 s.

E2.This question looked at various factors − energy stored, energy supplied, voltages across C
and R − for a capacitor that had been fully charged from a battery through a resistor. An
incorrect statement had to be identified. The facility of the question was 61%. 21% of the
students chose distractor D; evidently they did not understand that there is no current
once C has been fully charged.

E3.In this question the students needed to know that reversing the current in a wire placed in a
magnetic field would reverse the direction of the force on it, and that doubling the current
would double the force. 60% of the responses were correct, up from 41% the last time this
question appeared in an examination. The most common incorrect answer was distractor
D (22%), where the force would be doubled but not reversed.

E4.AQA apologises for the unfortunate typographical error which crept in to the resistor values
in part (a) of this question. Both values ought to have been given in kΩ. The majority of
students actually answered the question as it had been intended to appear, and so the
mark scheme that would have applied to the intended question in part (ii) was used when
marking their work. The students who answered the question as it appeared in the paper
were not disadvantaged, because an alternative mark scheme which gave full credit for
completely correct responses was adopted for them. The main weaknesses in either
approach were a lack of appreciation of the effect of the resistor value on the initial
current, and doubt as to whether increasing resistance would speed up the decay or slow
it down. In the case of the question as it had been intended, the curve crosses the original
curve within the time scale of the graph; this was rarely spotted and so the award of all
three marks was quite unusual. The determination of the initial charge on the capacitor
from the area under the curve was not as well known as expected. There were many
references to the intercept on the current axis, to the initial gradient, and some to “the
initial area under the curve”.

Page 59
 Colonel Frank Seely School

Most students wrote correct and complete answers in part (b)(i). A small number of
students mixed up mass and weight, leading to the unnecessary introduction of g into the
calculation. The more able ones who had done this then realised that g was self-
cancelling. It was pleasing to see that an appropriate number of significant figures was
generally quoted in the final answers. The reasons looked for in the answers to part (b)(ii)
were those which cause the greatest energy loss as the weight is raised by an electric
motor: losses caused by heating of the connecting wires or the motor and energy lost in
overcoming frictional forces as the motor rotates. By comparison, the energy lost in
overcoming air resistance (for example) is trivial and was therefore discounted. Examiners
expected to see that the locations of the energy losses (wires, motor, circuit, etc) were
identified in acceptable answers.

E5.(a) (i) This calculation was very well done with over 90% of candidates able to
complete it successfully. Mistakes seen were mostly power of ten errors on
the value of the capacitor (3 × 10−3 often quoted).

(ii) The majority of candidates were able to achieve at least 2 marks. Of course,
many candidates attempted to draw discharge curves instead of the required
straight line. Candidates should treat these graphs with caution and be aware
of the Q∝ V is always directly proportional irrespective of charging and
discharging.

(b) There were lots of mistakes in this calculation. The most common error was the use

of E = CV2 where candidates substituted ΔV = 1.3 V into this formula, effectively

calculating

1.32 instead of calculating 2.52 × 1.22. Another common mistake seen was treating Q

as a constant in the equation E= QV , that is E = × 7.2 × 10−6×ΔV

(c) (i) A common mistake seen here was the use of the wrong formula, a significant
number of candidates chose to use = 0.69 RC even though the fall in
voltage was not quite 50%. Other candidates selected the correct formula but
then had difficulty in their rearranging of the formula; many made the mistake

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 Colonel Frank Seely School

of misplacing C in the rearrangement of the equation: R = instead of

R=

(ii) Candidates found this explanation difficult, with only the best candidates able
to deliver a detailed, coherent response. Most answers were limited to less
charge less potential difference arguments rather than dealing with the rate
aspect of the question.

E8.This question, with a facility of 45%, was concerned with energy storage by a capacitor and
was one of the more demanding questions in the test. This is more likely to have been

applied pd of 2.0 V caused the energy stored to decrease from 1600 μJ to 400 μJ. E ∝ V2,
caused by mathematical difficulty than by lack of knowledge of ½CV2. A decrease in the

so the initial pd must have been 4.0 V. Direct substitution of E = 1600 μJ when V = 4.0 V
into E = ½CV2 then gives the value of C. Distractors C (20%) and D (25%) were both
common incorrect choices.

E9.This question tested students’ understanding of exponential decay as well as energy

storage. The “half value period” of the RC circuit was 36ms; in this time the pd would
decrease to V / 2 and the energy stored would fall to E / 4. In a further 36ms the energy
stored would fall to E / 16. 62% of the responses were correct. Distractor C was selected
by 17% of the students.

E10.This question was a direct test of energy storage by a capacitor using ½ CV . The facility
2

was 73% and the question discriminated reasonably well.

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 Colonel Frank Seely School

E11.Capacitors were the topic tested by this question. The question needed knowledge of how
to apply Q = I t for a constant current, C = Q / V and energy stored = ½ CV . Three
2

quarters of the candidates succeeded.

E12.The Capacitors were the topic tested by this question which needed knowledge of how to
apply Q = I t for a constant current, C = Q/V and energy stored = ½ CV2.

E13. The relationship defining capacitance, C = Q/V, was involved in y This question
(facility 54%). Distractor C in the latter is clearly a correct statement; no doubt it was
misreading of the question (an incorrect statement was required) that caused 30% of the
students to choose it.

E14. This question was a simple test of conservation of energy in the context of energy
storage by a capacitor. The question had a facility of 69% and was the most discriminating
question in the test

E15. This question involved finding the current when a capacitor is charged using a
constant current, by combining Q = CV and Q = I t. 68% of candidates chose the correct
alternative.

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 Colonel Frank Seely School

E16. This question was more demanding, with a facility of 49%. Here the energy and
voltage of a capacitor had to be considered when the charge is increased by half;
distractors A and B each attracted over 20% of the responses.

E17. The data used in this question is realistic. A low voltage 70 F capacitor is available
for back-up purposes, and there is a rechargeable cell with the specification quoted. Part
(a)(i) was readily answered by the application of ½ CV . The choice of an inappropriate
2

number of significant figures, typically three, caused the loss of a mark. Candidates
should realise that a final value should only be quoted to two significant figures when the
data in the question is given to no more than two significant figures.

Part (a)(ii) was answered poorly, usually because the calculation was approached from
the capacitor energy equation (½ QV), instead of that giving the energy delivered by a cell
(QV). Examiners were ready to penalise the candidates who, having started from the
wrong principle, introduced a mysterious factor of two in order to show that the energy
stored was 50× greater, rather than 25× greater.

In part (b) candidates’ responses were often inadequate because of incompleteness,

and/or an inability to express ideas sufficiently clearly. It was expected that satisfactory
answers would relate to the use of the capacitor in a cordless telephone. ‘A capacitor
discharges quickly’ is an incomplete answer; ‘a capacitor would need recharging
frequently’ or ‘a capacitor would only power the phone for a short time’ were much more
explicit in the context of the question. Other acceptable answers were that a 70 F
capacitor would be too large to fit in the telephone, or that the voltage supplied by it would
decrease continuously whilst in use.

E18. This was the easiest question in the test, with a facility of 86%. The candidates were
obviously competent when applying the equations C = Q/V and E = ½ CV to find the
2

capacitance and energy stored from data on the graph of charge against pd.

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 Colonel Frank Seely School

E19. This question had been used in an earlier examination. Its facility of 58% this time
was a slight improvement on that achieved previously. Either arithmetic errors, or failure to
account for the 10% efficiency, were probably responsible for almost a quarter of the
candidates choosing distractor C (0.50 m) rather than the correct 0.05 m.

E20. For part (a), most candidates knew the definition of capacitance, but frequently
omitted the 4.2 μC per V aspect.

There was a variety of techniques used in part (b) (i) but most answers were complete.

In part (b) (ii), nearly all candidates recognised that B had a smaller capacitance than A
but most answers only gained a single mark for stating that the discharge happens faster
in B without explaining why this meant that the capacitance was smaller.

Few candidates correctly calculated the change in energy in part (c) – most used ½ QV
but did not calculate the values of Q and V before and afterwards.

E21. This question had appeared in a previous examination paper. Students now appear
to be much more confident when dealing with a capacitor that is charged by a constant
current, and so the facility of 73% was 13% higher than when the question last appeared.

E22. Candidates were penalised heavily for poor technique in this part (a) (i). It was
expected that, at this level candidates, would draw a tangent to the curve and not simply
read off coordinates in the first few small squares of the graph to find the initial rate of
change of charge. Some who appreciated that a tangent would be useful drew one in the
wrong place.

Most candidates used the V = IR approach in part (a) (ii). Some candidates incorporated
the 510 Ω heart resistance into the resistance of the charging circuit.

Part (a) (iii) was not done well and very few candidates gave completely convincing
arguments and many who seem to have no idea where to start. There were many
candidates who wrote about charge build up on the capacitor increasing the resistance of
Page 64
 Colonel Frank Seely School
the capacitor. Others appreciating the rise in pd as charge accumulates on the capacitor
stated that this reduced the emf of the supply. Appreciation of the reduction in the pd
across the resistor as the pd across the capacitor increases was rare. Arguments such as
‘charge accumulating repels other charges’ gained some credit. There was a significant
proportion who wrote that as charge builds up there is less space on the capacitor for
more charge or that because charge has been added to the capacitor there is less
available in the circuit to provide further charge.

A surprising number failed to obtain the correct answer to part (b) (i). Many used ½ QV or
½ CV assuming V to be the value of the emf that had been calculated in (a) (ii).
2

Those who failed to obtain 14000 W in part (b) (ii) usually failed because of problems with
powers of 10.

Only the more able candidates made progress with part (c). Most of these obtained the
time constant correctly. Fewer went on to determine the charge after 8.3 s using the graph
and to compare this with 85 mC required or to state that the graph showed that about 10.5
s was needed to achieve the 85 mC. There was a small minority of candidates who
showed that the energy stored would be insufficient after 8.3 s although this was not
necessary.

E23. This question was a test of C = Q/V in a graphical application. Because Q is on the x-
axis and V on the y-axis, the gradient is 1/C (answer D). The majority of candidates
recognised this, making the 72%. It may not be surprising that distractor A was the most
popular incorrect response, chosen by 15%, since this suggests that the gradient would
be C. This question was another good discriminator.

E24. This question was a test of C = Q/V, but in combination with E = ½ CV . Candidates
2

found this question also to be relatively easy, for the facility was 72% – but it was the most
discriminating question in the test.

E25. This question concerned the power delivered from a bank of charged capacitors. It
had been used in a previous A level examination, when the facility was 60%. In 2006 the
facility dropped to 50% but the discrimination was unchanged. The most popular incorrect
choice was distractor D, selected by no less than 30%; this is almost certainly because
these candidates forgot about the ½ in ½ CV . 2

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E26. Candidates with a sound knowledge of capacitors and capacitor discharge had little
difficulty in gaining all six marks. However, it did seem that some centres had not been
able to cover these areas fully (if at all) in time for the January examination; candidates
from such centres were frequently unable to make anything of the complete question.

Almost inevitably, misunderstanding of E = ² QV in part (a) led many candidates to believe

that the pd at 25 s would be 3 V. These candidates were then unable to arrive at a time of
36 s for the time constant in part (b), but could still access both marks in part (b) (ii). Many
excellent responses were seen in part (b) (i), where familiarity with logarithmic solutions to
exponential relationships was almost essential. Examiners gave no credit in part (a) to
those candidates who attempted an exponential solution by using the 36 s given in part
(b); a successful solution had to come from the energy information. Similarly, only one of
the two marks in part (b) (i) was available for those who turned the question on its head by
showing that V would be 6 V after 25 s, if the time constant were 36 s.

E27. This question was often well answered, with marks of 9 or 10 frequently being
awarded. Part (a) (ii) proved troublesome for most. Although almost all candidates
recognised that V = Q/C would lead to a straight line through the origin, relatively few were
sufficiently alert to spot that the gradient was 1/C; a far more popular choice was C. Most
knew that the area represented energy (or work done).

In part (b), the two resistors in parallel posed a problem for some, but there were many
correct solutions to (b) (i). The principal errors in (b) (ii) were to take the wrong resistance
value (11.2 kΩ instead of 2.8 kΩ), or to use the wrong time (40 s instead of 14 s), or both.
The sketch graphs in (b) (iii) were often drawn well, even by some candidates who had
not been successful with the previous calculations. Examiners were expecting the
exponential decay curve to start at t = 0 and to become steeper after a discontinuity at t =
26 s. Some candidates drew a linear decay graph, whilst others showed an exponential
curve passing continuously through t = 26s.

E28. This question was about capacitors. It dealt with energy storage. Generally it was
probably inability to handle powers of 10 that caused over one in five of the candidates to

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choose distractor B. This question had a facility of 63%.

E29. This question was about capacitors. It dealt with the time-dependent variations of
charge and current. It had a facility of 63%. In this question, the incorrect responses were
almost equally divided between the three distractors.

E30. This question involved calculations of capacitance, charge stored and energy stored
by a capacitor, using data from a graph. When the question was pre-tested, 56% gave the
correct response, but this advanced to 73% in the examination. Presumably it was
confusion between E = (1/2) QV and E = QV that caused 18% of the candidates to select
distractor C.

E31. The mathematical competence of the majority of candidates in this question was
much better than has been seen in several recent papers and full marks were frequently
awarded. Previous reports have emphasised that ½ CV is a safer route to the energy of a
2

capacitor than ½ QV, and in part (a) the message appeared to have got through to the
candidates. In part (b) the main problems appeared to be with the meaning of micro in μF
and of kilo in kΩ; the unit of time constant was expected to be shown as s and not ΩF.

The exponential decay equation was usually used correctly in part (c), where approaches
via Q = Q e and V = V e were equally valid. Only a tiny minority of the candidates
0
–t/RC
0
–t/RC

attempted any other approach and almost all of them were wrong.

E32. Energy stored by a capacitor was the subject tested in this question, which had been
used before in an Advanced level examination. In June 2003 the examination facility was
56%, as opposed to 67% when it was used before. The discrimination index was very
similar on both occasions.

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E36.It was satisfying to see so many excellent answers to a question on a subject area that has
caused problems in the recent past, and also on those sections testing parts of the
specification dealing with the mathematics of exponential discharge, which have been re-
introduced at A level. Part (a) only seemed to trouble those candidates who had not learnt
Q = CV, together with those who did not know that 1 μF = 10-6 F. When finding the stored
energy in part (b), many more candidates realised that E = ½CV2 is a safer approach than
E = ½QV, but the latter equation also provided a large number of correct answers.
Three alternative routes were possible when answering part (c). Most candidates
preferred to start from the exponential decay equation (either in terms of V or in terms of
Q), substituted values, took logs and proceeded to a solution. It was pleasing that so
many succeeded. The most elegant solutions came from the candidates who knew that
the charge stored falls to (1 / e) of the initial charge in a time equal to the time constant.
Solutions that made use of the gradient of the initial section of the graph were exceedingly
rare. Part (d) was usually well rewarded in most scripts, with candidates working from their
knowledge of the time constant as RC.

E37.Most candidates answered this question well and full marks were not unusual. As
mentioned in the introduction, some candidates were very careless in drawing their sketch
graphs. It was sometimes not clear whether the candidate intended the first graph to be a
straight line. The calculations did not cause many problems, although some candidates
did pick up a significant figure penalty here.

Part (c)(ii) required a descriptive answer and caused problems. Even though most
candidates did get the idea, they found it difficult to express themselves in a clear and
concise way. A minority did not really understand the question and discussed a capacitor
charging circuit or became very confused discussing how the resistance of the lamp
filament changes with temperature.

E39.In part (a) a substantial number of candidates stated the various changes without
explanation, or gave an explanation that was inadequate. In part (a)(i) references to the

examiners were expecting candidates to refer to C ∝ l / d, Q = CV, and E = ½ CV2

battery maintaining a constant p.d. were rare. In parts (a)(ii), (a)(iii) and (a)(iv) the

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respectively, in a fully-reasoned answer.

The first stage of the calculation on part (b) involved calculating the capacitance of the
arrangement. Converting 8.0 km2 into m2 was a major source of trouble. Here 8.0 × 103 m2
was the most common wrong result, and 8 × 8 km2 was a not infrequent
misunderstanding. However, candidates who made this type of error were still able to
achieve five marks in part (b) if the rest of the calculation followed the correct principles.
Inappropriate use of E = IVt (or P = IV). in a situation where the discharging voltage
would not be constant, was a frequent mistake in the final part of the question. This
caused the value of the current to be half of the correct answer. There was evidence in
some scripts of candidates confusing E for field strength with E for energy; they attempted
to use E = V / d in part (b)(i).

E40.In part (a) the majority of the candidates were able to calculate correctly the charge on the
capacitor and the energy stored by the capacitor. There was confusion by some
candidates as to the meaning of the symbol C in the relevant equations. Such candidates
were quite happy to interpret the meaning of C to be capacitance when calculating the
charge and charge when calculating the energy.

In part (b)(i) the majority of candidates realised that since the charge is shared between
the two identical capacitors the potential difference across the terminals of the original
single capacitor must be halved. In part (b)(ii) the total energy stored by the combination
was correctly calculated by the majority of candidates. In part (b)(iii) many candidates
failed to account correctly for the difference between the energy stored by the two
capacitors in parallel and that stored by the single capacitor.

E41. The vast majority of candidates found this a very accessible question and marks
were generally very high.

(a) The correct formula was used by most candidates. The main errors arising were

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failure to do the final reciprocal, inappropriate significant figures and units.

(b) (i) This was usually successfully completed.

(ii) This was also usually correct.

(iii) Although there were many correct answers some confused V and Vo, others
used the value of charge from (i) and some were unable to do the calculation
having substituted correctly.

(c) (i) The majority knew which formula to use but a significant proportion did not
know how to calculate the mass and some used the value for charge from (b)
(i) for the energy (confusing Q in Q = VC and Q = mc∆θ).

(ii) The majority gained credit for appreciating losses to the surroundings but few
referred to the effect of the heat capacity of the thermometer which is the other
most significant reason for the lower temperature. Some suggested that the
lower temperature was because not all the heat energy supplied went to
the thermometer.

E42. (a) Although the capacitance equation was used well, a surprisingly large number
of candidates rounded the capacitance down from 15.6 nF to 15 nF to incur a mark
penalty.

(b) (i) The majority of candidates correctly calculated the average breakdown
voltage to be 2.4 × 10 V. A sizeable minority were penalised for simply
9

equating 3.0 × 10 × 800 to 2.5 × 10 without comment.

6 9

(ii) Those candidates using the ½CV formula usually had no difficulty with this
2

part; use of ½QV meant that the charge needed to be calculated first and
presented more of a problem to candidates. Errors arose from wrongly
selecting the p.d. to be 3.0 × 10 V.
6

(iii) Most candidates were able to calculate the maximum charge but a surprising
number, having calculated this value in the previous part of the question, were
floored by this calculation.

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(c) A common mistake made by candidates here was to substitute 99% of the charge
(or voltage) value into the decay equation, i.e. to calculate the time for 99% left
rather than 1% left. The exponential or logarithmic form of the equation presented a
significant problem for the less mathematic candidates and a mark of 1 out of 3 for
this part was regularly gained.

E43. (a) Most of the candidates were able to provide an acceptable explanation. Some
weaker candidates defined capacitance in general and others thought that the farad
was a charge unit.

(b) (i) Failure to use correct powers of 10 for the separation and an incorrect formula
for area were not uncommon but most were able to gain 2 of the 3 available
marks.

(ii) This was generally well done. Some did not square V having quoted the
formula correctly and others forgot the ½.

(c) Most candidates knew what was to be done but many made errors somewhere
along the way. When quoting formulae candidates need to be absolutely clear as to
whether the ‘T’ they use is the period or the time to halve. As a start point T = RC
and T = 0.69 RC were both common and unless they proceeded correctly this
gained no compensation mark. There were many who misread the scales. Use of
0.13 s for the time to halve was common as was 0.65 ms and 1.25 s.

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