MCQEasyJEE 2025Capacitors & Dielectrics

JEE Physics 2025 Question with Solution

A parallel plate capacitor of capacitance 1μF1 \, \mu\text{F} is charged to a potential difference of 20V20 \, \text{V}. The distance between plates is 1μm1 \, \mu\text{m}. The energy density between the plates of the capacitor is:

  • A

    2×104J/m32 \times 10^{-4} \, \text{J/m}^3

  • B

    1.8×105J/m31.8 \times 10^5 \, \text{J/m}^3

  • C

    1.8×103J/m31.8 \times 10^3 \, \text{J/m}^3

  • D

    2×102J/m32 \times 10^2 \, \text{J/m}^3

Answer

Correct answer:C

Step-by-step solution

Standard Method

Given: Capacitance C=1×106FC = 1 \times 10^{-6} \, \text{F}, potential difference V=20VV = 20 \, \text{V}, and plate separation d=1×106md = 1 \times 10^{-6} \, \text{m}.

Find: The energy density between the plates of the capacitor.

Use the relation for electric field between parallel plates:

E=VdE = \frac{V}{d}

Substituting the given values:

E=201×106=2×107V/mE = \frac{20}{1 \times 10^{-6}} = 2 \times 10^{7} \, \text{V/m}

Now use the energy density formula:

u=12ε0E2u = \frac{1}{2} \varepsilon_0 E^2

with ε0=8.854×1012F/m\varepsilon_0 = 8.854 \times 10^{-12} \, \text{F/m}. Substitute the values:

ν=12×8.854×1012×(2×107)2\nu = \frac{1}{2} \times 8.854 \times 10^{-12} \times (2 \times 10^{7})^2 ν=0.5×8.854×1012×4×1014\nu = 0.5 \times 8.854 \times 10^{-12} \times 4 \times 10^{14} ν=17.708×102=1.77×103J/m3\nu = 17.708 \times 10^{2} = 1.77 \times 10^{3} \, \text{J/m}^3

Approximating,

ν1.8×103J/m3\nu \approx 1.8 \times 10^{3} \, \text{J/m}^3

Therefore, the correct option is C.

Using field and energy-density relation

Given: For the capacitor, V=20VV = 20 \, \text{V} and d=1×106md = 1 \times 10^{-6} \, \text{m}.

Find: Energy density between the plates.

First identify the electric field using the hint relation:

E=VdE = \frac{V}{d}

So,

E=201×106=20×106=2×107V/mE = \frac{20}{1 \times 10^{-6}} = 20 \times 10^{6} = 2 \times 10^{7} \, \text{V/m}

The energy density stored in the electric field is:

U=12ϵ0E2U = \frac{1}{2} \epsilon_0 E^2

Hence,

U=12×8.854×1012×(2×107)2U = \frac{1}{2} \times 8.854 \times 10^{-12} \times (2 \times 10^{7})^2 U=1.77×103J/m3U = 1.77 \times 10^{3} \, \text{J/m}^3

Thus the energy density is approximately 1.8×103J/m31.8 \times 10^{3} \, \text{J/m}^3, so the correct option is C.

Common mistakes

  • Using the formula for total energy stored in a capacitor, 12CV2\frac{1}{2}CV^2, instead of energy density. That gives total energy, not energy per unit volume. First find the electric field and then use u=12ε0E2u = \frac{1}{2}\varepsilon_0 E^2.

  • Incorrectly converting 1μm1 \, \mu\text{m} to metres. If dd is not written as 1×106m1 \times 10^{-6} \, \text{m}, the electric field becomes wrong by many powers of ten. Always convert micro-units carefully before substitution.

  • Substituting E=VdE = Vd instead of E=VdE = \frac{V}{d}. The electric field between parallel plates is potential difference per unit separation, so division must be used.

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