Capacitors - Review for AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism

The video reviews capacitors in AP Physics C, focusing on their role in storing electric potential energy. It covers the definition of capacitance, the process of charging a capacitor, and the derivation of key equations. Practical demonstrations using a disposable camera illustrate energy conversion and safety considerations. The video concludes with a discussion on the energy stored in capacitors and its real-world implications.

What is the primary function of a capacitor?

• To convert chemical energy to mechanical energy

• To store electric potential energy in an electric field

• To generate electricity from light

• To measure electric current

What does the capacitance of a capacitor depend on?

• The net charge on the capacitor

• The physical characteristics of the capacitor

• The type of battery used

• The amount of light energy it can produce

What is the unit of capacitance?

• Farads

• Coulombs

• Volts

• Amperes

Why is the net charge on a capacitor zero?

• Because it has no charge

• Because it is connected to a battery

• Because it is always grounded

• Because the charges on the plates cancel each other out

What happens when a capacitor is fully charged?

• It stops storing energy

• It releases all stored energy immediately

• It has maximum charge separation between its plates

• It converts all energy to sound

What is the role of a dielectric in a capacitor?

• To decrease the capacitance

• To increase the capacitance by reducing the electric field

• To allow charges to flow freely between plates

• To increase the electric field

What is the dielectric constant?

• The amount of charge a dielectric can hold

• The voltage across a dielectric

• The ratio of electric permittivity of the dielectric to free space

• The resistance of a dielectric

What is the significance of the electric permittivity of free space in capacitors?

• It defines the energy conversion efficiency

• It is used to calculate the capacitance of a capacitor

• It measures the resistance of a capacitor

• It determines the maximum voltage a capacitor can handle

How is the energy stored in a capacitor related to the work done?

• It is half the work done

• It is twice the work done

• It is unrelated to the work done

• It is equal to the work done to move charges from one plate to the other

What is the relationship between capacitance and electric potential difference?

• Capacitance is unrelated to electric potential difference

• Capacitance is inversely proportional to electric potential difference

• Capacitance is equal to electric potential difference

• Capacitance is directly proportional to electric potential difference