fficial (Closed) - Sensitive Normal
A capacitor is made of two plates, with an area of , and separated by a
distance of 0.001 m . The space between the plates is filled by a sheet of mylar, of
relative permittivity . Find its capacitance ,

To find the capacitance of the capacitor, we can use the formula , where is the area of the plates, is the permittivity of free space, is the relative permittivity of the dielectric material (mylar in this case), and is the separation between the plates.

Given:

Plugging in the numbers, we get:

So, the capacitance is indeed .

Now, let’s highlight how capacitors have evolved historically to their current forms and some common issues people face when working with them.

Capacitors have been around since the 18th century, with the invention of the Leyden jar in 1745 marking a pivotal moment in electricity storage. As our understanding of electricity grew, so did capacitor technology, leading to the development of various dielectric materials and forms, ultimately leading to modern capacitors that are ubiquitous in electronic circuits today.

When working with capacitors, a common mistake is forgetting to discharge them before handling, which can lead to accidental shocks or damage to sensitive equipment. Consider using a resistor to safely discharge a capacitor to avoid these hazards. It’s also crucial to double-check the polarity in polarized capacitors to ensure they are connected correctly, as reverse connections can result in failure.