Q.A parallel plate capacitor (Fig. 8.6) made of circular plates each of radius R=6.0 cm has a capacitance C=100 pF. The capacitor is connected to a 230 V ac supply with a (angular) frequency of 300 rad s−1.
Concept understanding — Displacement Current
Displacement Current
The Problem Maxwell Spotted
Ampere's circuital law, in its original form, links the magnetic field around a closed loop to the conduction current (moving charges) threading that loop:
∮B⋅dl=μ0Ic
Maxwell realised this law is incomplete. The classic illustration is a charging capacitor. Consider an Amperian loop encircling the wire that feeds one plate.
- If you cap that loop with a flat surface cut by the wire, a real conduction current Ic passes through it.
- If you instead cap the SAME loop with a bulging surface that passes between the two capacitor plates, no charge crosses the gap — the space between the plates is an insulator. So Ic=0 through this surface.
Ampere's law now gives two different answers for ∮B⋅dl for the same loop, depending on which surface you choose. That is a contradiction — the law cannot be right as it stands.
Maxwell's Fix: A Current Made of Changing Field
Between the plates there is no moving charge, but there is a growing electric field, because charge is piling up on the plates. Maxwell proposed that a changing electric flux acts like a current for the purpose of producing a magnetic field. He called it the displacement current, Id.
Id=ε0dtdΦE
where ΦE=∫E⋅dA is the electric flux through the surface, and ε0=8.85×10−12 C2N−1m−2 is the permittivity of free space.
Check with the capacitor. For a parallel-plate capacitor of area A and plate charge q, the field between the plates is E=ε0Aq, so the flux is ΦE=EA=ε0q. Then
Id=ε0dtdΦE=ε0⋅ε01dtdq=dtdq=Ic
So the displacement current in the gap is exactly equal to the conduction current in the wire. The two surfaces now give the same answer — the contradiction is gone.
The Complete (Ampere–Maxwell) Law
Maxwell rewrote Ampere's law so that the total current is conduction plus displacement current:
∮B⋅dl=μ0(Ic+Id)=μ0Ic+μ0ε0dtdΦE
The deep meaning: a changing electric field produces a magnetic field, just as (by Faraday's law) a changing magnetic field produces an electric field. This symmetry is what makes self-sustaining electromagnetic waves possible — the changing E-field of the wave generates the B-field and vice versa.
Key Points to Remember
- Displacement current is not a flow of charge; it is the effect of a time-varying electric flux.
- It has the same units as ordinary current (ampere) and produces a magnetic field in exactly the same way.
- It restores continuity of current: current is never truly broken, even across a capacitor gap.
- Between capacitor plates Ic=0 but Id=0; in a plain resistive wire Id≈0 and Ic dominates.
With this correction the four Maxwell equations become fully consistent and predict that electromagnetic disturbances travel at speed c=1/μ0ε0≈3×108 m/s — the speed of light.
Bottom line: the displacement current Id=ε0dΦE/dt is Maxwell's term that lets a changing electric field act as a source of magnetic field, completing Ampere's law and opening the door to electromagnetic waves.
Displacement current, introduced by Maxwell to fix Ampere's circuital law, is a defining concept of the NCERT Class 12 Physics chapter on electromagnetic waves, tested in CBSE boards, JEE Main and NEET. Anyone searching "displacement current definition and formula class 12 physics" will find this capacitor-gap explanation matches the NCERT-prescribed derivation of the Ampere-Maxwell law.
Why this formula?
Displacement Current: Why the Formula Holds
The displacement current is one of the most elegant corrections in physics — it fixed a logical flaw in Maxwell's equations and predicted electromagnetic waves. Let's understand why its formula emerges.
1. The Problem That Demanded a Fix
Consider a capacitor being charged in a circuit. Ampère's law (in its original form) states:
∮B⋅dl=μ0Ienc
where Ienc is the current passing through any surface bounded by the loop.
Now take two different surfaces bounded by the same loop:
- Surface S₁: Cuts the wire — current I passes through.
- Surface S₂: Passes between the capacitor plates — no current passes through.
| Surface | Current through it |
|---|---|
| S₁ (cuts wire) | I |
| S₂ (between plates) | 0 |
This is a contradiction: the same loop gives two different values for ∮B⋅dl. Ampère's law is inconsistent for time-varying fields.
2. The Insight: Changing Electric Field
Between the capacitor plates, there is no conduction current, but there is a changing electric field as charge builds up.
- The electric field between plates: E=ε0σ=ε0AQ
- As Q changes, E changes: dtdE=ε0A1dtdQ
Maxwell realized: a changing electric field should produce a magnetic field, just like a current does.
3. Deriving the Displacement Current Formula
Step 1: Relate charge to electric flux
The electric flux through the capacitor plates is:
ΦE=∫E⋅dA=E⋅A=ε0Q
Step 2: Differentiate with respect to time
dtdΦE=ε01dtdQ=ε0I
Step 3: Define displacement current
Maxwell defined the displacement current Id as:
Id=ε0dtdΦE
From Step 2, this equals I — the same conduction current in the wire. The displacement current "bridges" the gap.
4. The Corrected Ampère-Maxwell Law
The full law becomes:
∮B⋅dl=μ0(Ienc+Id)
Or equivalently:
∮B⋅dl=μ0Ienc+μ0ε0dtdΦE
Why this works:
- For surface S₁: Ienc=I, dtdΦE=0 → result = μ0I
- For surface S₂: Ienc=0, dtdΦE=ε0I → result = μ0ε0⋅ε0I=μ0I
Both surfaces give the same answer. The contradiction is resolved.
5. The Key Formula(e) — Summarized
| Quantity | Formula | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Displacement current | Id=ε0dtdΦE | Equivalent "current" from changing E-field |
| Ampère-Maxwell law | ∮B⋅dl=μ0I+μ0ε0dtdΦE | Magnetic field from both real and displacement currents |
| In differential form | ∇×B=μ0J+μ0ε0∂t∂E | Local version (for advanced study) |
6. Why This Matters for Exams
- Conceptual trap: Students often think displacement current is a real current of charges. It is not — it's a term that behaves like a current in producing magnetic fields.
- Numerical problems: You'll often compute Id from dtdE or from the charging rate of a capacitor.
- Key exam point: The displacement current is zero in steady-state DC circuits (constant fields), but non-zero in AC circuits or during charging/discharging.
7. The Deeper "Why"
The displacement current isn't just a mathematical patch — it reveals a profound symmetry:
- A changing magnetic field produces an electric field (Faraday's law)
- A changing electric field produces a magnetic field (Maxwell's correction)
This symmetry is what makes electromagnetic waves possible: each changing field sustains the other, allowing energy to propagate through empty space.
Final takeaway: The formula Id=ε0dtdΦE holds because it makes Ampère's law consistent for all surfaces and reveals the deep symmetry between electricity and magnetism.
XC=1/(ωC)=1/(300×100×10−12)≈3.33×107 Ω, so Irms=230/(3.33×107)≈6.9 μA. By Maxwell's continuity fix, the displacement current between the plates equals this conduction current at every instant. For r=3.0 cm <R=6.0 cm, the Ampere-Maxwell law on a circular loop gives B=μ0I0r/(2πR2), with peak current I0=2Irms≈9.76 μA, giving B≈1.63×10−11 T.
- Irms≈6.9 μA.
- Yes -- conduction current equals displacement current at every instant.
- B≈1.63×10−11 T.
For this AC-driven parallel-plate capacitor, the rms conduction current is Irms=Vrms/XC≈6.9 μA; by Maxwell's continuity argument the displacement current between the plates equals this conduction current at every instant; and applying the Ampere-Maxwell law to a circular loop of radius r=3.0 cm (inside the plates) gives a magnetic field amplitude B≈1.63×10−11 T.
(a) RMS conduction current
The capacitor is driven by Vrms=230 V, angular frequency ω=300 rad/s, and C=100 pF =100×10−12 F. Its capacitive reactance is
XC=ωC1=300×100×10−121=3×10−81≈3.33×107 Ω
so
Irms=XCVrms=3.33×107230≈6.9×10−6 A=6.9 μA
(b) Conduction current vs. displacement current
Yes -- the displacement current between the plates equals the conduction current in the wires at every instant. This is exactly Maxwell's fix to Ampere's law: charge delivered by the conduction current in the wire builds up the changing electric field between the plates, and Id=ε0dΦE/dt=dq/dt=Ic, so current is continuous even across the insulating capacitor gap.
(c) Magnetic field amplitude at r=3.0 cm
Since r=3.0 cm <R=6.0 cm, the point lies inside the plate region, where only displacement current threads a circular Amperian loop of radius r. Because the field (and hence the displacement current density) is uniform across the plate area, the enclosed displacement current scales with area:
Id,enc=I0R2r2
where I0=2Irms=2×6.9×10−6≈9.76×10−6 A is the peak current. Applying the Ampere-Maxwell law to the loop:
B⋅2πr=μ0I0R2r2⇒B=2πR2μ0I0r
Substituting μ0=4π×10−7 T*m/A, I0=9.76×10−6 A, r=0.03 m, R=0.06 m:
B=2π×(0.06)2(4π×10−7)(9.76×10−6)(0.03)≈1.63×10−11 T
- Irms≈6.9 μA.
- Yes -- the displacement current equals the conduction current at every instant.
- B≈1.63×10−11 T.
Method: Magnetic Field Inside an AC-Driven Capacitor (Ampere–Maxwell Law with a Growing Enclosed Area)
Use this method whenever a question gives an AC-driven capacitor and asks for the magnetic field at a point between the plates, at some radius r less than the plate radius R.
Steps
Step 1: Find the (rms or peak) conduction current from the AC circuit
Treat the capacitor as an impedance XC=1/(ωC) and use an Ohm's-law-style relation:
Irms=XCVrms=VrmsωC
Convert to amplitude with I0=2Irms if the field amplitude (not rms value) is asked for.
Step 2: Confirm displacement current equals conduction current
As with any parallel-plate capacitor, Id=Ic at every instant — no conduction current crosses the gap, but the changing electric flux reproduces the same value.
Step 3: Apply the Ampere–Maxwell law to a loop of radius r<R
∮B⋅dl=μ0Id,enclosed
Because the field (and hence the displacement current density) between uniform circular plates is spread evenly over the plate area, a loop smaller than the plates encloses only a fraction of the total displacement current, proportional to the enclosed area:
Id,enclosed=IdπR2πr2
Step 4: Solve for B
B⋅2πr=μ0IdR2r2⟹B=2πR2μ0Idr
Substitute the current amplitude found in Step 1 to get the amplitude of B at the given radius.
- TG EAPCET 2026Set eng-2026-05-10-AN1 markMCQQ.In an ac circuit, if the rms value of current is 2 A and the wattless current is 3 A, then the power factor of the circuit is (A) 23 (B) 0.3 (C) 0.5 (D) 31
›Reveal solutionSolution
The power factor is the cosine of the phase angle between voltage and current, which equals the ratio of the real (active) current to the total RMS current. Given RMS current = 2 A and wattless (reactive) current = √3 A, the power factor is 1/2, so the correct option is (C).
Concept & Intuition
In an AC circuit, the total RMS current Irms can be split into two perpendicular components:
- Active current Ia: in phase with the voltage, responsible for real power.
- Wattless (reactive) current Ir: 90° out of phase with the voltage, responsible for reactive power.
These form a right triangle:
Irms2=Ia2+Ir2
The power factor is cosϕ=IrmsIa. So if we know the total current and the reactive component, we can find the active component and then the power factor.
Step-by-step solution
-
Identify given quantities
RMS current: Irms=2 A
Wattless (reactive) current: Ir=3 A
-
Find the active current
Using the Pythagorean relation:
Ia=Irms2−Ir2=22−(3)2=4−3=1=1 A
- Compute the power factor
cosϕ=IrmsIa=21=0.5
- Match with options Option (C) is 0.5.
TipA common mistake is to take the ratio of wattless current to total current, giving 23 (option A). But power factor uses the active component, not the reactive one.
✓Final answerThe correct option is (C).
ANSWER: C
- TG EAPCET 2025Set ap-2025-04-30-FN1 markMCQQ.In an LCR series circuit, if ωC1<ωL, then the incorrect option among the following is (A) Phase angle is negative (B) Power factor is zero (C) The circuit is predominantly inductive (D) Current in the circuit lags source voltage
›Reveal solutionSolution
In an LCR circuit with ωC1<ωL, the inductive reactance dominates, making the circuit inductive with current lagging voltage and a positive phase angle. The power factor is generally non-zero (only zero at resonance or in purely reactive circuits). The incorrect statement is (B).
Understanding Impedance in LCR Circuits
In a series LCR circuit, the total impedance determines the phase relationship between current and voltage. The impedance is:
Z=R+j(ωL−ωC1)
The term (ωL−ωC1) is the net reactance:
- ωL is the inductive reactance XL
- ωC1 is the capacitive reactance XC
The condition ωC1<ωL means XC<XL, so the net reactance is positive and inductive.
Analyzing Each Option
Let me work through what this condition implies:
1. Phase angle and its sign
The phase angle ϕ between voltage and current is given by:
tanϕ=RXL−XC=RωL−ωC1
Since ωL>ωC1, the numerator is positive. Assuming R>0 (as in any real circuit), we have tanϕ>0, which means ϕ is positive, not negative.
2. The circuit's character
When XL>XC, the inductive reactance dominates. The circuit behaves as if it has a net inductance, making it predominantly inductive. This confirms option (C) is correct.
3. Current-voltage relationship
In an inductive circuit (positive phase angle), the voltage leads the current, or equivalently, the current lags the voltage. This confirms option (D) is correct.
4. Power factor
The power factor is:
cosϕ=∣Z∣R=R2+(XL−XC)2R
Watch outThe power factor is zero only when R=0 (purely reactive circuit) or at certain extreme conditions. In a typical LCR circuit with finite resistance, cosϕ=0.
Since we have a series circuit with resistance R (which must be present for any real circuit), the power factor is:
cosϕ=R2+(ωL−ωC1)2R=0
The power factor would only be zero if the circuit were purely reactive (no resistance), which is not implied by the given condition.
Summary of Options
Option Statement Validity (A) Phase angle is negative ✗ Incorrect - phase angle is positive (B) Power factor is zero ✗ Incorrect - power factor is non-zero (unless R=0) (C) Circuit is predominantly inductive ✓ Correct (D) Current lags source voltage ✓ Correct Both (A) and (B) are incorrect statements. However, option (A) makes a definitive error about the sign, while option (B) makes an unjustified claim. In standard LCR circuits with resistance, (B) is the more fundamentally incorrect statement as it assumes a purely reactive circuit.
✓Final answerThe correct option is (B).
ANSWER: B
- TG EAPCET 2024Set eng-2024-05-10-AN1 markMCQQ.The efficiency of a bulb of power 60 W is 16%. The peak value of the electric field produced by the electromagnetic radiation from the bulb at a distance of 2 m from the bulb is (4πϵ01=9×109 Nm2C−2) (A) 24 Vm−1 (B) 16 Vm−1 (C) 9 Vm−1 (D) 12 Vm−1
›Reveal solutionSolution
The peak electric field is found by relating the bulb’s radiated power (only 16% of 60 W) to the intensity at 2 m, then using the vacuum intensity–field relation. The result is about 12 V/m, so option (D) is correct.
Concept & Intuition
A light bulb emits electromagnetic radiation, but not all the electrical power becomes light — only the efficiency fraction does. That radiated power spreads uniformly over a sphere of radius r. The intensity (power per area) at distance r is linked to the peak electric field E0 by the formula for a plane wave in vacuum:
I=21ϵ0cE02.
We work backwards: from the bulb’s useful power → intensity → peak field.
Step-by-step solution
- Find the actual radiated power The bulb’s total power is 60 W, but only 16% is converted to electromagnetic radiation.
Prad=0.16×60=9.6 W.
- Intensity at distance r=2 m The radiation spreads uniformly over a sphere of radius 2 m. The surface area is 4πr2.
I=4πr2Prad=4π(2)29.6=16π9.6=π0.6 W/m2.
- Relate intensity to peak electric field For an electromagnetic wave in vacuum, the time‑averaged intensity is
I=21ϵ0cE02.
We know c=3×108 m/s and ϵ0 from the given constant:
4πϵ01=9×109 ⇒ ϵ0=4π×9×1091.
It’s cleaner to use the relation in terms of the given constant. Recall that
ϵ0c1=3×1084π×9×109=120π(since ϵ0c1=μ0c=120π Ω).
Actually, we can solve directly:
E02=ϵ0c2I.
Substitute I=0.6/π:
E02=ϵ0c2×(0.6/π)=π1.2⋅ϵ0c1.
Now ϵ0c1=4π×9×109×3×108? Wait carefully:
ϵ01=4π×9×109,so ϵ0c1=3×1084π×9×109=120π.
Thus
E02=π1.2×120π=1.2×120=144.
Hence
E0=144=12 V/m.
- Select the matching option The value 12 V/m corresponds to option (D).
TipA common shortcut: the factor ϵ0c1 equals 120π ohms (the impedance of free space). Memorizing this can speed up such calculations.
Watch outA typical mistake is using the full 60 W instead of the radiated 9.6 W, which would give a field about 2.5 times larger — leading to a wrong option.
✓Final answerThe correct option is (D).
ANSWER: D
- TG EAPCET 2023Set ap-2023-05-10-FN1 markMCQQ.A message signal amplitude modulates a carrier signal of amplitude 30 V. If the modulation index is 0.4, the amplitude of the side bands is (A) 12 V (B) 15 V (C) 30 V (D) 16 V
›Reveal solutionSolution
The amplitude of the sidebands in an amplitude-modulated wave is directly proportional to the carrier amplitude and the modulation index. Given the options, the question likely refers to the amplitude of the modulating signal, which is μAc. The amplitude of the sidebands is 12 V.
Concept and Intuition
Amplitude Modulation (AM) is a technique where the amplitude of a high-frequency carrier wave is varied in accordance with the instantaneous amplitude of a low-frequency message signal. This process allows the message signal to be transmitted over long distances.
Mathematically, if a carrier signal is given by c(t)=Acsin(ωct) and a message signal by m(t)=Amsin(ωmt), then the amplitude-modulated wave s(t) can be represented as:
s(t)=(Ac+Amsin(ωmt))sin(ωct)
Here, Ac is the amplitude of the carrier wave and Am is the amplitude of the message signal. ωc and ωm are the angular frequencies of the carrier and message signals, respectively.
The modulation index, denoted by μ, is a crucial parameter in AM. It is defined as the ratio of the amplitude of the modulating signal to the amplitude of the carrier signal:
μ=AcAm
Substituting Am=μAc into the equation for s(t):
s(t)=(Ac+μAcsin(ωmt))sin(ωct)
s(t)=Acsin(ωct)+μAcsin(ωmt)sin(ωct)
Using the trigonometric identity 2sinAsinB=cos(A−B)−cos(A+B), we can rewrite the second term:
μAcsin(ωmt)sin(ωct)=2μAc[cos((ωc−ωm)t)−cos((ωc+ωm)t)]
So, the AM wave can be expressed as:
s(t)=Acsin(ωct)+2μAccos((ωc−ωm)t)−2μAccos((ωc+ωm)t)
This equation shows that an AM wave consists of three frequency components:
- The carrier wave, with frequency ωc and amplitude Ac.
- A lower sideband (LSB) wave, with frequency (ωc−ωm) and amplitude 2μAc.
- An upper sideband (USB) wave, with frequency (ωc+ωm) and amplitude 2μAc.
The term "amplitude of the sidebands" typically refers to the amplitude of each individual sideband component, which is 2μAc. However, in some contexts, especially when options are provided, it might refer to the amplitude of the modulating signal (Am=μAc) or the sum of the amplitudes of the two sideband components (2×2μAc=μAc). We will explore this ambiguity in the steps below.
Step-by-step Solution
-
Identify the given values:
- Amplitude of the carrier signal, Ac=30 V.
- Modulation index, μ=0.4.
-
Calculate the amplitude of the modulating signal (Am):
The modulation index is defined as μ=AcAm.
Therefore, the amplitude of the modulating signal is Am=μAc.
Am=0.4×30 V=12 V
- Determine the amplitude of each sideband: From the expanded form of the AM wave, the amplitude of the lower sideband (LSB) and the upper sideband (USB) is 2μAc.
Amplitude of each sideband=20.4×30 V=212 V=6 V
-
Address the ambiguity in the question and options:
The calculated amplitude of each sideband is 6 V. However, 6 V is not among the given options. This suggests that the question "the amplitude of the side bands" might be interpreted differently in this context.
A common alternative interpretation, especially when options are given, is that "amplitude of the side bands" refers to the amplitude of the modulating signal (Am) which is responsible for creating the sidebands. It is also the sum of the amplitudes of the two sideband components (2×2μAc=μAc).
In this case, the amplitude of the modulating signal is Am=12 V, which matches option (A).
Watch outBe careful with the phrasing "amplitude of the side bands". Strictly speaking, the amplitude of each sideband component is 2μAc. However, if this value is not an option, consider if the question is asking for the amplitude of the modulating signal (Am=μAc), which is also the sum of the amplitudes of the two sideband components.
-
Conclude based on the options:
Given the options, the most plausible intended answer is the amplitude of the modulating signal, Am.
The amplitude of the side bands (interpreted as the amplitude of the modulating signal) is 12 V.
✓Final answerThe amplitude of the side bands is 12 V.
- TG EAPCET 2023Set eng-2023-05-13-FN1 markMCQQ.A series LCR circuit is connected to an ac source of voltage 150sin(80πt) volt. If the resistance of the resistor in the circuit is 25 Ω and the impedance in the circuit is 75 Ω, the average power dissipated per cycle in the circuit is (A) 75 W (B) 200 W (C) 50 W (D) 100 W
›Reveal solutionSolution
The average power in an AC circuit depends only on the resistor, not on the total impedance; using P=Irms2R with the given values gives 50 W, so the correct option is (C).
Concept & Intuition
In an LCR series circuit connected to an AC source, the average power dissipated per cycle is not simply Vrms2/Z — that would give the apparent power. The real power is dissipated only in the resistor, because the inductor and capacitor store and return energy each cycle without net loss. So the key is to find the rms current through the circuit and then use P=Irms2R. The impedance Z tells us how the total voltage relates to current, but only R matters for power.
Step-by-step solution
- Identify the source voltage and its rms value The source is v(t)=150sin(80πt) volts. The peak voltage is V0=150 V. The rms voltage is
Vrms=2V0=2150 V.
- Find the rms current using the impedance For any series AC circuit, the rms current is
Irms=ZVrms,
where Z is the total impedance. Here Z=75 Ω, so
Irms=75150/2=752150=22=2 A.
- Compute the average power Only the resistor dissipates power. The average power is
P=Irms2R.
With R=25 Ω and Irms=2 A,
P=(2)2×25=2×25=50 W.
- Check the other options
- Option (A) 75 W would come from mistakenly using Vrms2/Z or Irms2Z.
- Option (B) 200 W might come from using peak values instead of rms.
- Option (D) 100 W could arise from VrmsIrms (apparent power). Only 50 W matches the correct calculation.
Watch outA common mistake is to compute P=ZVrms2 or P=VrmsIrms. Both give the apparent power, not the real power. Always remember: average power in an AC circuit is dissipated only in the resistive part.
TipSince Z=3R here, the power factor is cosϕ=R/Z=1/3, and P=VrmsIrmscosϕ=(150/2)(2)(1/3)=50 W — a quick cross-check.
✓Final answerThe correct option is (C).
ANSWER: C
- TG EAPCET 2023Set eng-2023-05-12-FN1 markMCQQ.When a potentiometer is connected between the points A and B as shown in the circuit, balance point is obtained at 64 cm. When it is connected between A and C, the balance point is 8 cm. If the potentiometer is connected between B and C the balance point will be (A) 8 cm (B) 56 cm (C) 64 cm (D) 72 cm
›Reveal solutionSolution
Balancing length is proportional to the p.d. being balanced, so lengths combine like voltages: ℓBC=∣ℓAC−ℓAB∣=∣8−64∣=56 cm. The answer is option (B).
The concept first: the potentiometer is a voltage ruler
A potentiometer works because the driver cell sets up a uniform potential gradient k (volts per cm) along the wire. When the galvanometer shows null deflection at length ℓ, the unknown p.d. exactly equals the p.d. across that stretch of wire:
V=kℓ
Because k is the same for every measurement on the same setup, length is a faithful stand-in for voltage. So any relation among the voltages translates, term for term, into the same relation among the lengths.
Step-by-step
Step 1 — Translate each measurement.
VAB=k(64),VAC=k(8)
Step 2 — Use the fact that potentials add along the path A→B→C.
VAC=VAB+VBC
Step 3 — Solve for VBC.
VBC=VAC−VAB=k(8)−k(64)=−56k
Step 4 — Interpret the minus sign. It simply tells us that E2 opposes E1 in the series string (the balance across the pair, 8 cm, is smaller than across E1 alone, 64 cm — a clear sign the second cell subtracts). A potentiometer reading is a magnitude; you connect BC the right way round and read the length:
ℓBC=k∣VBC∣=56 cm
Step 5 — Cross-check. E1↔64 cm and E2↔56 cm; in opposition they give 64−56=8 cm, exactly the measured AC value. ✓
✓Final answerThe balancing length between B and C is 56 cm, so the correct option is (B).
ANSWER: B
- TG EAPCET 2022Set ap-2022-07-30-FN1 markMCQQ.A parallel plate capacitor of capacitance 8μF is connected to a 20V battery and is allowed to charge completely. The battery is then disconnected and a dielectric material of dielectric constant 8 is introduced between the plates of the capacitor. The energy dissipated in this process is (A) 1600μJ (B) 1400μJ (C) 1500μJ (D) 1200μJ
›Reveal solutionSolution
The key idea is that when the battery is disconnected, the charge on the capacitor is fixed. Inserting a dielectric reduces the electric field and thus the stored energy; the lost energy is dissipated as heat. The energy dissipated is 1400μJ, so the correct option is (B).
Concept and Intuition
When the battery is disconnected before inserting the dielectric, the capacitor plates are isolated, so the charge Q on them cannot change. The dielectric reduces the electric field inside the capacitor (by a factor equal to the dielectric constant K), which lowers the voltage between the plates and therefore reduces the stored electrostatic energy. Energy is conserved overall: the decrease in stored energy must appear as heat (or other forms of energy) — that’s the “energy dissipated.” The problem asks for that amount.
A common pitfall is to treat this as if the battery remained connected (where voltage stays constant and charge changes). Here, because the battery is removed, the charge is constant, not the voltage. That changes the calculation completely.
Step-by-step solution
- Find the initial charge and energy The capacitor is fully charged by the battery. Capacitance C0=8μF, battery voltage V0=20V. Charge stored:
Q=C0V0=(8×10−6)(20)=160μC.
Initial stored energy:
Ui=21C0V02=21(8×10−6)(20)2=21(8×10−6)(400)=1600μJ.
- After inserting the dielectric (battery disconnected) The dielectric constant K=8. With the battery disconnected, charge Q remains 160μC. The new capacitance becomes:
C=KC0=8×8μF=64μF.
The new voltage across the plates:
V=CQ=64μF160μC=2.5V.
The new stored energy:
Uf=21CV2=21(64×10−6)(2.5)2=21(64×10−6)(6.25)=200μJ.
- Energy dissipated The energy lost by the capacitor is the difference between initial and final stored energy:
ΔU=Ui−Uf=1600μJ−200μJ=1400μJ.
This energy is dissipated (typically as heat) during the insertion process.
Watch outA common mistake is to use the formula U=21CV2 with the original voltage 20V and the new capacitance 64μF, giving 12800μJ — that would be the energy if the battery were still connected. But here the battery is disconnected, so voltage drops; the correct approach uses constant charge.
TipYou can also compute the energy dissipated directly using the constant-charge formula:
Ui=2C0Q2,Uf=2(KC0)Q2,
so
ΔU=2C0Q2(1−K1)=Ui(1−K1).
With Ui=1600μJ and K=8, we get 1600×87=1400μJ. This is faster and avoids computing the new voltage.
✓Final answerThe correct option is (B).
ANSWER: B
- TG EAPCET 2022Set ap-2022-07-30-FN1 markMCQQ.A bulb and capacitor are connected in series to a source of alternating current. If frequency is increased, while keeping the voltage of the source constant, then (A) Bulb will give more intense light (B) Bulb will give less intense light (C) Bulb will give light of same intensity as before (D) Bulb light will fluctuate
›Reveal solutionSolution
For an RC series circuit driven by constant‑voltage AC, increasing the frequency reduces the capacitive reactance, which lowers the total impedance and increases the current, making the bulb brighter. The correct option is (A).
The key idea is that the bulb’s brightness depends on the power it dissipates, which is proportional to the square of the current through it. In an RC series circuit, the total impedance is Z=R2+XC2, where XC=ωC1=2πfC1. As frequency f increases, XC decreases, so Z decreases. With the source voltage fixed, the current I=V/Z increases, and the bulb glows more intensely.
- Identify the circuit behavior The bulb acts as a resistor R. The capacitor has reactance XC=ωC1. They are in series, so the total impedance is
Z=R2+(ωC1)2.
The source voltage V is constant.
-
Effect of increasing frequency
Angular frequency ω=2πf. When f increases, ω increases, so XC=1/(ωC) decreases. This makes the denominator Z smaller.
-
Current through the bulb
By Ohm’s law for AC circuits,
I=ZV.
Since Z decreases, I increases.
- Power dissipated in the bulb The bulb’s brightness is determined by the average power P=I2R. With R fixed and I larger, P increases. Hence the bulb gives more intense light.
Watch outA common mistake is to think that the capacitor “blocks” more current at higher frequencies. In fact, the opposite is true: capacitive reactance is inversely proportional to frequency, so higher frequency means less opposition to current.
TipAt very high frequencies, XC→0, so the capacitor behaves like a short circuit, and the current approaches V/R — the maximum possible. At very low frequencies, XC is huge, so current is tiny and the bulb barely glows.
✓Final answerThe correct option is (A).
ANSWER: A
- TG EAPCET 2022Set eng-2022-07-18-AN1 markMCQQ.A 2μF capacitor is charged to 50V by a battery. The battery is removed after capacitor is fully charged. At time t=0, a 10mH coil is connected in series with the capacitor. The maximum rate at which the current changes in the circuit is (A) 2000A/s (B) 5000A/s (C) 2500A/s (D) 10000A/s
›Reveal solutionSolution
The maximum rate of change of current in an LC circuit occurs when the capacitor voltage is maximum, and equals LV0. Here, that gives 5000 A/s.
The key idea is that in an LC circuit (no resistance), the current oscillates sinusoidally. The rate of change of current, dtdi, is directly related to the voltage across the inductor by Faraday's law: VL=Ldtdi. Since the inductor and capacitor are in series, the voltage across the inductor equals the voltage across the capacitor at every instant (with opposite sign). So the maximum dtdi occurs when the capacitor voltage is maximum — which is the initial voltage 50 V, because there's no resistance to dissipate energy.
Let's work through it step by step.
-
Identify the circuit and the relevant physics. After the battery is removed and the coil is connected, we have a pure LC circuit. The capacitor is initially charged to V0=50 V with capacitance C=2 μF=2×10−6 F. The inductor has L=10 mH=10−2 H. There is no resistor, so the total energy oscillates between capacitor and inductor without loss.
-
Relate dtdi to the voltage. For an inductor, VL=Ldtdi. In the series LC loop, Kirchhoff's voltage law gives VC+VL=0, so VL=−VC. Therefore,
Ldtdi=−VC⇒dtdi=−LVC.
The magnitude of the rate of change of current is ∣dtdi∣=L∣VC∣.
-
Find when ∣VC∣ is maximum. In an undamped LC oscillation, the capacitor voltage varies sinusoidally between +V0 and −V0. The maximum magnitude is V0=50 V, which occurs at t=0 (and again every half-period). So the maximum ∣VC∣ is simply the initial voltage.
-
Compute the maximum rate of change of current.
dtdimax=LV0=10−250=5000 A/s.
Watch outA common mistake is to think the maximum dtdi occurs when the current is maximum. That's wrong — when current is maximum, the capacitor is fully discharged (VC=0), so dtdi=0. The maximum dtdi happens when the capacitor voltage is maximum, i.e., at the turning points of the current.
TipYou don't need to solve the differential equation or find the oscillation frequency. The relation Ldtdi=−VC directly gives the answer once you realize the maximum capacitor voltage is the initial voltage.
✓Final answerThe maximum rate of change of current is 5000 A/s, which corresponds to option (B).
-
- TG EAPCET 2022Set eng-2022-07-19-FN1 markMCQQ.A resistor of resistance of 100 Ω is connected to an AC source ε=10sin(250 π s−1)t. The energy dissipated as heat during t=0 to t=1 ms is approximately. (A) π0.57 mJ (B) π1.141 mJ (C) 1 mJ (D) 0.5 mJ
›Reveal solutionSolution
Integrate the instantaneous power P=ε2/R over 0 to 1 ms. The heat dissipated is (21−π1)mJ=π0.57 mJ — option (A).
The interval 1 ms is only a fraction of the AC period, so the average power is not the full-cycle value; the energy must be found by direct integration of the instantaneous power.
1. Instantaneous power.
With ε(t)=10sin(250πt) (volts, t in seconds) and R=100 Ω,
P(t)=Rε(t)2=100100sin2(250πt)=sin2(250πt) W.
2. Energy integral.
E=∫010−3sin2(250πt)dt=21∫010−3[1−cos(500πt)]dt.
3. Evaluate.
E=21[t−500πsin(500πt)]010−3=21[10−3−500πsin(0.5π)].
Since sin(0.5π)=1,
E=210−3−21⋅500π1=0.5×10−3−1000π1 J.
4. Convert to millijoules (multiply by 103):
E=21−π1 mJ=π2π−1 mJ=π1.5708−1 mJ≈π0.57 mJ.
✓Final answerHeat dissipated =(21−π1)mJ=π0.57 mJ — option (A).
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