Question

A parallel plate capacitor has 1uF capacitance. One of its two plates is given +2 uC charge and the other plate, +4uC charge. The potential difference developed across the capacitor is :

A. 3 V
B. 2 V
C. 5 V
D. 1V

Answer 1

The potential difference across the capacitor is 2 V, calculated using the formula V = Q / C after recognizing the effective charge on each plate is 2 uC.

Step-by-step explanation:

The question concerns a parallel-plate capacitor with a given capacitance of 1 uF (microfarads), where one plate has been given a charge of +2 uC (microcoulombs) and the other plate a charge of +4 uC. To find the potential difference across the capacitor, one must first recognize that a capacitor can only have equal and opposite charges on its two plates.

Since the charges are not equal, there is an excess charge of 2 uC (4 uC - 2 uC). This excess charge effectively reduces the charge on each plate to +2 uC. Now, to find the potential difference (V), we use the formula V = Q / C, where Q is the charge on one plate and C is the capacitance of the capacitor. Plugging in the values, we get V = 2 uC / 1 uF = 2 V.