Fundamentals of Physics Extended (10th Edition)

Published by Wiley
ISBN 10: 1-11823-072-8
ISBN 13: 978-1-11823-072-5

Chapter 25 - Capacitance - Problems - Page 741: 23c

Answer

$3.0\times 10^{14}~~$ electrons travel through point $c$

Work Step by Step

We can find the equivalent capacitance of $C_1$ a,d $C_2$ which are in parallel: $C_{12} = C_1 + C_2 = 12~\mu F$ We can find the equivalent capacitance of the three capacitors: $\frac{1}{C_{eq}} = \frac{1}{C_{12}}+\frac{1}{C_3}$ $\frac{1}{C_{eq}} = \frac{1}{12~\mu F}+\frac{1}{12~\mu F}$ $C_{eq} = 6.0~\mu F$ We can find the charge $q$: $q = C_{eq}~V = (6.0~\mu F)(12~V) = 72~\mu C$ Note that this charge moves through point $a$ We can find the number of electrons: $\frac{72\times 10^{-6}~C}{1.6\times 10^{-19}~C} = 4.5\times 10^{14}$ $4.5\times 10^{14}~~$ electrons travel through point $a$ Therefore, the total number of electrons which move through point $b$ and point $c$ is also $~~4.5\times 10^{14}$ Note that the potential difference across $C_1$ and $C_2$ must be equal since they are in parallel. We can find the ratio $\frac{q_1}{q_2}$: $V_1 = V_2$ $\frac{q_1}{C_1} = \frac{q_2}{C_2}$ $\frac{q_1}{q_2} = \frac{C_1}{C_2}$ $\frac{q_1}{q_2} = \frac{4.0~\mu F}{8.0~\mu F}$ $\frac{q_1}{q_2} = \frac{1}{2}$ We can find the number of electrons that travel through point $c$: $\frac{2}{3}~(4.5\times 10^{14}) = 3.0\times 10^{14}$ $3.0\times 10^{14}~~$ electrons travel through point $c$
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