Two capacitors \(C_{1} \text { and } C_{2}\) are connected to resistor \(R\) via two switchs \(S_{1}\) and…

Two capacitors \(C_{1} \text { and } C_{2}\) are connected to resistor \(R\) via two switchs \(S_{1}\) and \(S_{2}\) as shown in Fig. Capacitor \(C_{1}\) is initially charged to a voltage \(V_{1}=\) \(15 \mathrm{~V}\). Both the switchs are then closed simultaneously. When the steady state is established, the charges on \(C_{1}\) and \(C_{2}\) respectively are
  1. \(6 \mu C, 24 \mu C\)
  2. \(9 \mu C, 36 \mu C\)
  3. \(12 \mu C, 48 \mu C\)
  4. \(15 \mu C, 60 \mu C\)

Solution

Initial charge as \(C_{1}\) is
\(Q=C_{1} V_{1}=3 \mu \mathrm{F} \times 15 \mathrm{~V}=45 \mu \mathrm{C}\).
When \(S_{1}\) and \(S_{2}\) are closed, this charge will flow from \(C_{1}\) to \(C_{2}\) until both the capacitors have the same potential difference \(V\). Let \(Q_{1}\) and \(Q_{2}\) are the charges on \(C_{1}\) and \(C_{2}\) when steady state is established. Since \(C_{1}\) and \(C_{2}\) are in parallel, \(V\) is the same in both, i.e.,
$\begin{aligned} V &= \frac{Q_{1}}{C_{1}} = \frac{Q_{2}}{C_{2}} \\ \text{or } \frac{Q_{1}}{C_{1}} &= \frac{Q-Q_{1}}{C_{2}} \end{aligned}$ \(\Rightarrow \quad \frac{Q_{1}}{3}=\frac{45-Q_{1}}{12}\)
\(\Rightarrow \quad Q_{1}=9 \mu \mathrm{C}\)
and \(Q_{2}=Q-Q_{1}=45-9=36 \mu \mathrm{C}\). So the correct choice is \((b)\).

Asked in: JEE Mains - Capacitance - Test 3

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