Homework Help: Potential difference of a capacitor

kbyws37 · Mar 21, 2007

A defibrillator is used to restart a person's heart after it stops beating. Energy is delivered to the heart by discharging a capacitor through the body tissues near the heart. If the capacitance of the defibrillator is 8.00 µF and the energy delivered is to be 100 J, to what potential difference must the capacitor be charged?

I wasn't sure how to start this problem.
Would I need to use
U = qV
but where would the capacitance fit in?

thanks in advance

G01 · Mar 21, 2007

EDIT: My original advice was misguided. Please see my next post.

kbyws37 · Mar 21, 2007

I used the formula.
[tex]q = C\Delta V[/tex]
q = (8)(100) = 800

Then I used the U = qV equation.
U = (800)(100J) = 80000

which is wrong. (It says the answer is 5.00 kV)

G01 · Mar 21, 2007

This is the correct way to do this problem. The previous method I gave you was incorrect, I'm sorry.
The energy stored in a capacitor is:

[tex]U_c=1/2C(\Delta V)^2[/tex]

- If you want the energy delivered to be 100J, then the capacitor must store 100J!

Also, don't forget to convert the 8microfarads to SI.

Good Luck, and sorry about that!

kbyws37 · Mar 21, 2007

It says that I am not getting the answer.
[tex]q = C\Delta V[/tex]
q = (8.0 x 10^-6)(100J) = 8 x 10^-4

[tex]U = q\Delta V[/tex]
100J = (8.0 x 10^-4) V
V = 125000
???

sorry that it's taking me awhile :)

kbyws37 · Mar 21, 2007

I am trying this out and not getting the correct answer.
The answer should be 5.00 kV.
Can anyone help me please?

G01 · Mar 21, 2007

Did you see that I edited my posts with another way to do it? I'm sorry about before, I was wrong.