A capacitor of capacitance 2 mF, is charged to a potential of 10 V. Th...
Explanation:
Given, capacitance of each capacitor, C = 2 mF, potential of first capacitor, V1 = 10 V, and potential of second capacitor, V2 = 20 V.
Calculation of Charge on Capacitors:
The charge on a capacitor is given by the formula, Q = CV.
Charge on the first capacitor, Q1 = CV1 = 2 × 10-3 × 10 = 0.02 C.
Charge on the second capacitor, Q2 = CV2 = 2 × 10-3 × 20 = 0.04 C.
Calculation of Total Charge:
When the two capacitors are connected, the charges on the two capacitors get redistributed such that the potentials become equal. The total charge remains conserved.
Therefore, the total charge, Q = Q1 + Q2 = 0.02 + 0.04 = 0.06 C.
Calculation of Final Potential:
The final potential, Vf, is given by the formula, Vf = Q/C. As the two capacitors are identical, the final potential across each capacitor will be the same.
Therefore, Vf = Q/(2C) = 0.06/(2 × 2 × 10-3) = 15 V.
Calculation of Energy Loss:
The initial energy stored in the capacitors, Ui, is given by the formula, Ui = (1/2)CV12 + (1/2)CV22.
Substituting the given values, Ui = (1/2) × 2 × 10-3 × 102 + (1/2) × 2 × 10-3 × 202 = 0.6 J.
The final energy stored in the capacitors, Uf, is given by the formula, Uf = (1/2)CVf2.
Substituting the calculated value of Vf, Uf = (1/2) × 2 × 10-3 × 152 = 0.45 J.
The energy loss, ΔU, is given by the formula, ΔU = U
i - U