Module 6 - 6.1.1 Capacitors

Question 1

A Capacitor is a circuit component that

Answer 1

stores energy by separating charges onto two electrical conductors (plates)

Question 2

The plates of a capacitor are separated by

Answer 2

an insulating material called a dielectric

Question 3

When charging a capacitor one plate becomes

Answer 3

positively charged and the other becomes negatively charged

Question 4

Capacitors can only store

Answer 4

relatively small quantities of energy

Question 5

The bigger the capacitor (2)

Answer 5

• the bigger the charge it can hold
• the bigger the capacitance

Question 6

Charging a Capacitor (5)

Answer 6

• when a capacitor is connected to a source of emf, charge cannot flow between the plates
• electrons are transferred from the -ve terminal onto one plate (-ve charged) and off of the other plate (+ve charged)
• results in a pd across the plates
• once fully charged, no more charge can flow since the electrons on the -ve plate will repel any further electrons
• at this point the pd across the plates = the emf

Question 7

Series Equations

Answer 7

• Q1 = Q2 = QTotal
• 1/CT = 1/C1 + 1/C2

Question 8

Parallel Equations

Answer 8

• QTotal = Q1 + Q2
• CTotal = C1 + C2

Question 9

Capacitance is measured in

Answer 9

Farads (F)