A parallel plate capacitor of capacitance $12.5 \mathrm{pF}$ is charged by a battery connected between its…
A parallel plate capacitor of capacitance $12.5 \mathrm{pF}$ is charged by a battery connected between its plates to potential difference of $12.0 \mathrm{~V}$. The battery is now disconnected and a dielectric slab $\left(\epsilon_{\mathrm{r}}=6\right)$ is inserted between the plates. The change in its potential energy after inserting the dielectric slab is _____ $10^{-12} \mathrm{~J}$.
Solution
Before inserting dielectric capacitance is given $\mathrm{C}_0=12.5 \mathrm{pF}$ and charge on the capacitor $\mathrm{Q}=\mathrm{C}_0 \mathrm{~V}$ After inserting dielectric capacitance will become $\epsilon_{\mathrm{r}} \mathrm{C}_0$.
Change in potential energy of the capacitor
$\begin{aligned}
& =\mathrm{E}_{\mathrm{i}}-\mathrm{E}_{\mathrm{f}} \\
& =\frac{\mathrm{Q}^2}{2 \mathrm{C}_{\mathrm{i}}}-\frac{\mathrm{Q}^2}{2 \mathrm{C}_{\mathrm{f}}}=\frac{\mathrm{Q}^2}{2 \mathrm{C}_0}\left[1-\frac{1}{\epsilon_{\mathrm{r}}}\right] \\
& =\frac{\left(\mathrm{C}_0 \mathrm{~V}\right)^2}{2 \mathrm{C}_0}\left[1-\frac{1}{\epsilon_{\mathrm{r}}}\right]=\frac{1}{2} \mathrm{C}_0 \mathrm{~V}^2\left[1-\frac{1}{\epsilon_{\mathrm{r}}}\right]
\end{aligned}$ Using $\mathrm{C}_0=12.5 \mathrm{pF}, \mathrm{V}=12 \mathrm{~V}, \epsilon_{\mathrm{r}}=6$
$\begin{aligned}
& =\frac{1}{2}(12.5) \times 12^2\left[1-\frac{1}{6}\right]=\frac{1}{2}(12.5) \times 12^2 \times \frac{5}{6} \\
& =750 \mathrm{pJ}=750 \times 10^{-12} \mathrm{~J}
\end{aligned}$