A parallel-plate capacitor in air has a plate separation of 1.30 cm and a plate area of 25.0 cm2. The plates are charged to a potential difference of 255 V and dis-connected from the source. The capacitor is then immersed in distilled water. Determine a) the charge on the plates before and after immersion. b) the capacitance and potential difference after immersion. c) the change in energy of the capacitor.

Explanation:

capacitance of air capacitor

C = ε₀ A /  d

ε₀ is permittivity of medium , A is plate area , d is distance between plate .

C = 8.85 x 10⁻¹² x 25 x 10⁻⁴ / 1.3 x 10⁻²

= 170.19 x 10⁻¹⁴ F .

charge on the capacitor when it is charged to  potential of 255 V

= CV , C is capacitance and V is potential

= 170.19 x 10⁻¹⁴  x 255

= 4.34 x 10⁻¹⁰ C .

After it is disconnected from the source , and it is immersed in water , charge on it remains the same .

So its charge when immersed in water will be constant at 4.34 x 10⁻¹⁰ C.

b )

When it is immersed in water its capacity increases  k times where k is dielectric constant of water which is 80 .

capacitance of capacitor in water = 80 x 170.19 x 10⁻¹⁴  F

= 13615.2  x 10⁻¹⁴ F .

= 1.36 x 10⁻¹⁰ F

potential difference = charge / capacitance

= 4.34 x 10⁻¹⁰ / 1.36 x 10⁻¹⁰

= 3.2 V

c )

Energy of capacitor = 1/2 C V²

Initial energy = 1/2 x 170.19 x 255² x 10⁻¹⁴

=  55.33 x 10⁻⁹ J

Final energy = 1/2 x 1.36 x 10⁻¹⁰ x 3.2²

= .7  x 10⁻⁹ J .

decrease of energy = 54.63 x 10⁻⁹ J .