Math Problem Statement
You measure the capacitance C1 of a capacitor by doing the following: First connect capacitors C1 and C2 in series to a power supply that provides a voltage V that can be varied. The capacitance of С2 is known to be 5.00 μF . Then vary the applied voltage V , and for each value of V measure the voltage V2 across C2 . After plotting your data as V2 versus V , you find that the data fall close to a straight line that has slope 0.650. What is the capacitance C1 ?
Solution
In this setup, we can use the relationship between the total voltage , the voltage across (which is ), and the capacitances and when they are connected in series.
Step 1: Voltage division in series capacitors
For capacitors and connected in series, the voltage across each capacitor is related to the total voltage by the following voltage division rule:
Here, is the voltage across , and is the total voltage applied across the series combination.
Step 2: Linear relationship between and
From the given information, the plot of versus results in a straight line, implying that:
Where is the slope of the line, which is given as . This slope represents the fraction of the total voltage that appears across :
Step 3: Solve for
Now, we can solve for using the known values for and :
Multiply both sides by to get:
Expanding:
Now, isolate on one side:
Solve for :
Final Answer:
The capacitance is approximately 9.29 μF.
Would you like more details on this solution or have any other questions?
Here are some related questions that you might find interesting:
- How does the series combination of capacitors affect the overall capacitance?
- What would happen if the capacitors were connected in parallel instead of series?
- How can you calculate the total capacitance when capacitors are connected in series?
- What is the relationship between the voltage across capacitors in parallel and series circuits?
- Why does the slope of the versus graph give us information about the capacitance?
Tip: When dealing with series capacitors, remember that the total capacitance is always smaller than the smallest individual capacitor in the series.
Ask a new question for Free
By Image
Drop file here or Click Here to upload
Math Problem Analysis
Mathematical Concepts
Capacitor Circuits
Voltage Division
Linear Relationships
Algebra
Formulas
V2/V = C1 / (C1 + C2)
V2 = m * V
m = C1 / (C1 + C2)
Theorems
Voltage Division Rule in Series Circuits
Suitable Grade Level
Grades 10-12
Related Recommendation
Equivalent Capacitance between Points a and b for Capacitors C1 = 3.0 µF and C2 = 6.0 µF
Calculate Equivalent Capacitance for a Mixed Circuit of Capacitors
Calculate Equivalent Capacitance in Series Circuit - Step-by-Step Guide
Calculate Energy Stored in Series and Parallel Capacitors with a 100V Potential
Calculate Net Capacitance of Circuit with Capacitors in Series and Parallel