How Do You Calculate Voltage Across Vcd in a Capacitor Circuit?

[chronicals]

Homework Statement

http://img4.imageshack.us/img4/3144/capaeo.jpg

Homework Equations

Q=CV

The Attempt at a Solution

a) i found Ceq=4.00 μF
Qtotal =CV=(4.00 μF) (210 V)=8.40×10−4C. How i can find Vcd=?
b)i have solved this.
c)i have no idea about this.

 

[Fazza3_uae]

(a) The switch S is open. The top two capacitors are in series: Ctop = 1/(1/3+1/6) = 2 μF, and the
bottom two are also in series: Cbot = 1/(1/6 + 1/3) = 2 μF. The top and bottom capacitors are in
parallel: Ceq = Ctop + Cbot = 4 μF. The total charge on the capacitors is: Qtot = CeqVab = 840 μC.
Recall that capacitors in parallel split charge. From symmetry, the top capacitors have half the
charge and the bottom capacitors have half the charge. Capacitors in series have the same charge.
Thus, both top capacitors each have 420 μC and both bottom capacitors each have 420 μC. That
is, all four capacitors have exactly the same charge Q = 420 μC. The potential drop from a to d is
thus: Vad = Q/C = (420 μC)/(3 μF) = 140 V, and the potential drop from a to c is: Vac = Q/C =
(420 μC)/(6 μF) = 70 V. Thus, the potential difference between c and d is: Vcd = Vad −Vac = 70 V.



(b) The switch S is now closed. Now the two left capacitors are in parallel: Cleft = 3 + 6 = 9 μF,
and the two right capacitors are in parallel: Cright = 6 + 3 = 9 μF. The left and right sets are in
series: Ceq = 1/(1/9 + 1/9) = 4.5 μF. Recall that for capacitors in series, the potential drops add.
From symmetry, the potential drop across the left capacitors is the same as the potential drop across
the right capacitors: Vleft = Vright = Vab/2 = 105 V. The two right capacitors must have the same
potential drop because they are parallel, and the same goes for the two left capacitors. That is, the
potential drop across each and every capacitor in this configuration is: V = Vad = Vdb = Vac =
Vcb = 105 V.



(c) After the switch is closed, the charge on the top left capacitor is: QTL = CTLVad = 315 μC;
the charge on the top right capacitor is: QTR = CTRVdb = 630 μC; the charge on the bottom
left capacitor is: QBL = CBLVac = 630 μC; and the charge on the bottom right capacitor is:
QBR = CBRVcb = 315 μC. The right side of the top left plate is the negative side, and has charge
−315 μC, and the left side of the top right plate is the positive side, and has charge +630 μC. Thus,
the total charge on the two plates closest to point d is +630 − 315 = 315 μC. Before the switch
closed, there was zero net charge on the two plates closest to d: 420− 420 = 0 μC. So 315 μC must
have flowed through the switch from bottom to top.




I hope this would help you . c ya

 

[kerimek]

I would first like to commend you for your efforts in solving this problem. It appears that you have correctly found the equivalent capacitance and total charge for the given circuit. To find the voltage across the capacitor Vcd, we can rearrange the equation Q = CV to solve for V. This gives us V = Q/C. Plugging in the values we have, we get Vcd = (8.40x10^-4 C) / (4.00 μF) = 0.21 V. This means that the voltage across the capacitor is 0.21 volts.

For part c), it seems like you may be asked to find the total energy stored in the capacitor. The formula for energy stored in a capacitor is E = 1/2 * C * V^2. Plugging in the values we have, we get E = 1/2 * (4.00 μF) * (210 V)^2 = 0.882 J. This is the total energy stored in the capacitor.

I hope this helps and encourages you to keep up the good work in your scientific endeavors. Remember, science is all about asking questions and finding solutions. Keep exploring and learning!