A pair of 10μF capacitors in a high-power laser are charged to 1.7 kV.

a. What charge is stored in each capacitor?

b. How much energy is stored in each capacitor?

a. 17 μC b. 14.45 J

Explanation:

Here is the complete question

A pair of 10μF capacitors in a high-power laser are charged to 1.7 kV.

a. What charge is stored in each capacitor?

b. How much energy is stored in each capacitor?

a. The charge Q stored in a capacitor is Q = CV where C = capacitance  and V = voltage. Here, C = 10μF = 10 × 10⁻⁶ F and V = 1.7 kV = 1.7 × 10³ V.

So, Q = CV = 10 × 10⁻⁶ × 1.7 × 10³ = 1.7 × 10⁻² C = 17 × 10⁻³ C = 17 μC

b. The energy stored in a capacitor is given by W = 1/2CV² = 1/2 × 10 × 10⁻⁶ F × (1.7 × 10³ V)² =  1/2 × 10 × 10⁻⁶ F × 2.89 × 10⁶ V² = 1/2 × 10 × 2.89 × 10⁶ × 10⁻⁶ J = 14.45 J

at positions a, g kinetic energy is maximum.

at position d, potential energy is maximum.

heat the gas and measure the pressure