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Q.Derive an expression for the energy stored in a capacitor of capacitance C, when it is charged with charge Q.

Odisha ChseOdisha CHSE +2 Science Board Exam 2024Subjective· 3mImportance★★★★★
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Integrating the work done to move successive small charges onto the capacitor's plates against the growing potential difference gives U = Q²/(2C) = ½CV².

Consider a capacitor of capacitance C being charged gradually, starting from zero charge, by transferring small amounts of charge from one plate to the other (e.g. by a battery) until the final charge is Q.

At some intermediate stage, suppose the capacitor already carries charge q, so the potential difference across it at that instant is:

V(q) = q/C

To transfer a further small charge dq against this potential difference, the work that must be done is:

dW = V(q) × dq = (q/C) dq

This work goes into increasing the electrostatic potential energy stored in the capacitor. To find the total work done (and hence the total energy stored) in charging the capacitor from 0 to the final charge Q, integrate:

W = ∫ dW = ∫₀^Q (q/C) dq = (1/C) × [q²/2]₀^Q = Q²/(2C)

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