Calculating Heat Generated from Capacitors

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SUMMARY

This discussion focuses on calculating the heat generated from capacitors under various scenarios. The key equations involved include the energy stored in a capacitor, expressed as E = ½CV². The specific cases analyzed include a parallel plate capacitor with increased plate separation, a capacitor charged to voltage V and then connected to a lower voltage V', and a capacitor connected to another capacitor of smaller capacitance. The calculated heat generated for these scenarios are 0, 7.2 mJ, and 1.77 mJ, respectively.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of capacitor fundamentals, including capacitance and voltage.
  • Familiarity with energy storage in capacitors and the equation E = ½CV².
  • Knowledge of electrical circuits and the behavior of current flow in capacitors.
  • Basic principles of thermodynamics related to energy conversion and heat generation.
NEXT STEPS
  • Study the derivation and application of the energy stored in capacitors using E = ½CV².
  • Learn about equivalent capacitance in series and parallel configurations.
  • Explore the concept of energy conservation in electrical circuits involving capacitors.
  • Investigate the relationship between work done on capacitors and heat generation in electrical systems.
USEFUL FOR

Electrical engineers, physics students, and anyone interested in understanding capacitor behavior and heat generation in electrical circuits.

cupid.callin
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I was studying capacitors when I came across these three questions:
Please refer the jpg with the topic.

Note: I wrote the quoted text before I realized I could post the pic of questions … but I had written all this anyway and didn’t wanted it to go to waste … so I posed it anyway!


1st: A parallel plate capacitor is connected with a battery and after it is fully charged the separation b/w the plates is increased, --- of course capacitance decrease and charge flows backwards --- I am supposed to find heat generated in the process …

2nd: A capacitor is charged to some voltage V and then disconnected from it and connected to another battery of voltage V’ (<V) … so this time the current flows backwards … question is again to calculate the heat.

3rd: this time a capacitor is connected to a battery, removed after long time, connected to a capacitor of smaller capacitance! And again I need to calculate the heat generated!


Answer to 1st=
1st= 0
2st= 7.2 mJ
3st= 1.77 mJ

Now…
How am I supposed to know how to find the heat generated? What basis do I use… well my questions are insane I know... but just because I have no idea what to do!
Please help me find a way to find heat generated … not only for these cases but also for any other random case!
 

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To start, note that the energy stored in a capacitor (of a given, constant capacitance C and voltage V) is
E = ½CV2.​
You'll have to use this equation a little differently for each part of the problem. But essentially, it means finding the equivalent capacitance before and after; and also finding the voltage across the equivalent terminals, before and after. Then compare the energies before and after.
 
But for Ques 3 work done on battery will be QV'
Shouldn't that be heat produced?
 
Well I'll try what u said and get back if it works!

Thanks for help
 

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