Chapter 16: Problem 30
If you want to store \(25 \mathrm{~J}\) of energy in a capacitor charged to \(12 \mathrm{~V}\) the required capacitance is (a) \(0.35 \mathrm{~F}\) (b) \(2.9 \mathrm{~F}\) (c) \(2.1 \mathrm{~F}\) (d) \(0.48 \mathrm{~F}\).
Short Answer
Expert verified
The required capacitance is (a) \(0.35 \mathrm{~F}\).
Step by step solution
01
Recall the formula for energy in a capacitor
The energy stored in a capacitor is given by the formula \( U = \frac{1}{2} C V^2 \), where \( U \) is the stored energy, \( C \) is the capacitance, and \( V \) is the voltage across the capacitor.
02
Plug in the given values
We need to find \( C \) when \( U = 25 \mathrm{~J} \) and \( V = 12 \mathrm{~V} \). So, substitute these values into the formula: \[ 25 = \frac{1}{2} C (12)^2 \]
03
Solve for Capacitance \( C \)
Simplify the equation from Step 2: \[ 25 = 72C \] Divide both sides by 72 to solve for \( C \): \[ C = \frac{25}{72} \approx 0.3472 \mathrm{~F} \]
04
Compare with given options
The calculated capacitance \( 0.3472 \mathrm{~F} \) is closest to option (a) \( 0.35 \mathrm{~F} \).
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Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
Capacitance
Capacitance is a fundamental property of capacitors, symbolized by the letter \( C \). It essentially measures a capacitor's ability to store charge per unit voltage. In simple terms, capacitance tells us how much electric charge the capacitor can hold when a certain voltage is applied across it.
- The unit of capacitance is the farad (\( \mathrm{F} \)), which is quite large. Most capacitors you'll encounter in everyday electrical devices have capacitance values in the range of microfarads (\( \mu \mathrm{F} \)) or nanofarads (\( \mathrm{nF} \)).
- In our exercise, we calculated the capacitance of a capacitor needed to store a specific amount of energy using the formula for energy stored: \( U = \frac{1}{2} C V^2 \).
- Understanding capacitance is crucial for designing circuits, especially when you need to store or manage electrical energy effectively.
Voltage
Voltage, denoted by \( V \), is the electrical pressure that drives charge around a circuit. It's the force that pushes electrons through the resistance of a circuit, analogous to water pressure in a pipe.
- The unit of voltage is the volt (\( \mathrm{V} \)).
- In our provided example, the capacitor is charged to \( 12 \mathrm{~V} \), meaning that this is the potential difference used for calculating the stored energy.
- Voltage influences the amount of energy stored in a capacitor, as shown in the formula for stored energy \( U = \frac{1}{2} C V^2 \). A higher voltage means more potential energy stored.
Stored Energy
Stored energy in a capacitor is represented by the symbol \( U \). This energy is the potential energy stored due to the electric field created between the plates of the capacitor when it's charged.
- The formula \( U = \frac{1}{2} C V^2 \) is used to calculate the stored energy, where \( U \) is the energy, \( C \) is the capacitance, and \( V \) is the voltage.
- This formula shows that the stored energy depends on both the capacitance and the square of the voltage. Thus, even a small increase in voltage can significantly increase the storage capacity due to the \( V^2 \) term.
- In our exercise, the goal was to determine the capacitance needed to store \( 25 \, \mathrm{J} \) of energy at \( 12 \, \mathrm{V} \).
Capacitor
A capacitor is a passive electrical component with two terminals. It's designed to store and release electrical energy. Capacitors come in various shapes, sizes, and capacitance ratings, tailored for specific applications.
- They work by accumulating electrical charge on their plates, which are separated by an insulating material known as a dielectric.
- The amount of charge a capacitor can hold is dictated by its capacitance and the voltage applied across it.
- Capacitors are widely used in electronic circuits to filter out noise, stabilize voltage supplies, and store energy for short bursts.