Question

A capacitor of capacitance 55.0 pF is immersed in silicone oil (Κ=2.10). While the capacitor is connected to a 21-volt battery, what will be the amount of energy stored in the capacitor?

Answer 1

The energy stored in a 55.0 pF capacitor immersed in silicone oil with a dielectric constant of 2.10 and connected to a 21-volt battery is calculated using the formula U = ½ CV².

Step-by-step explanation:

The student is asking about the energy stored in a capacitor that is immersed in silicone oil and connected to a 21-volt battery. The capacitance of the capacitor is 55.0 pF and the dielectric constant (κ) of the silicone oil is 2.10.

To answer this, we use the formula for the energy stored in a capacitor:

U = ½ CV²

Where U is the stored energy, C is the capacitance, and V is the potential difference across the capacitor.

When the dielectric is present, the effective capacitance C' increases to κC, where κ is the dielectric constant. For silicone oil, this is:

C' = κC = 2.10 × 55.0 pF

Then we can substitute C' and V (21 volts) into the energy formula:

U = ½ × (2.10 × 55.0 pF) × (21 V)²

Doing the math will yield the energy stored in the capacitor.