PHYSICS · Multi-part · CBSE · Physics · Electrostatic Potential and Capacitance · Electrostatic Potential and Capacitance
Problem
A demonstration board contains Circuit X, which consists of an ideal DC source, a 1.5kΩ resistor, and four identical 3.3μF capacitors arranged as follows: two capacitors are connected in parallel, and that parallel pair is connected in series with a second parallel pair of two capacitors. The capacitor network is in series with the resistor.
During the demonstration, one of the four capacitors in the parallel pair closer to the resistor fails open (it no longer conducts), leaving the remaining three capacitors connected exactly as before. The resistor is unaffected.
(1) Part 1: (a) Determine the equivalent capacitance of the four-capacitor network before the failure occurs.
(2) Part 2: (b) Determine the equivalent capacitance after the failure, assuming one of the capacitors in the parallel pair nearer the resistor is the one that opens.
(3) Part 3: (c) Calculate the time constant of the complete circuit both before and after the failure.
(4) Part 4: (d) State whether the circuit charges faster, slower, or at the same rate after the failure. Justify your conclusion by referring to your calculated values.