Question

A 5.00-μf parallel-plate capacitor has charges of 30.0 μc on its plates. how much potential energy is stored in this capacitor?

Answer 1

The potential energy stored by a capacitor is given by:

`U= (1)/(2) (Q^2)/(C)`
where Q is the charge stored in the capacitor and C is the capacitance.

In this problem,

`Q=30.0 \mu C=30.0 \cdot 10^(-6) C`

`C=5.0 \mu F=5.0 \cdot 10^(-6) F`
Therefore, the potential energy stored in the capacitor is

`U= (1)/(2) ((30.0 \cdot 10^(-6)C)^2)/(5.0 \cdot 10^(-6)F)=9.0 \cdot 10^(-5) J`