A capacitor is charged with a battery and energy stored is U. After disconnecting battery another capacitor of same capacity is connected in parallel to the first capacitor. Then energy stored in each capacitor is
- U/2
- U/4
- 4U
- 2U
Answer
(2) U/4
Solution
Initially: charge Q = CV and energy U = Q22C
After disconnecting the battery, the charge Q is shared equally by the two identical capacitors (parallel connection, same potential).
Charge on each = Q2
Energy in each = (Q/2)22C = 14 Q22C
Energy in each = U4
Answer: (2)