Question:

64 small drops of water having same charge and same radius are combined to form one big drop. The ratio of capacitance of big drop to small drop is

Updated On: Jun 23, 2023
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The Correct Option is C

Solution and Explanation

Let the radius of each small drop is r and the radius of big drop
is R. When 64 small drops of water are combined to form one
big drop, then the volume remains constant. So, the voiume of
64 small drops = the volume of big drop
ie,$\hspace30mm 64 \times \frac{4}{3} \pi r^3 = \frac{4}{3} \pi R^3$
$\Rightarrow \hspace40mm 64r^3 = R^3$
$\Rightarrow \hspace40mm 4r = R$
$\Rightarrow \hspace40mm R = 4r \hspace35mm ... (i)$
Now, the capacitance of a spherical conductor is
$\hspace40mm C = 4 \pi \varepsilon_0 a$
$\hspace50mm$ [ a is the radius of the conductor]
Now, the .capacitance of small drop
$\hspace40mm C_1 = 4 \pi \varepsilon_0 r \hspace35mm ... (ii)$
and the capacitance of big drop is
$\hspace40mm C_2 = 4 \pi \varepsilon_0 R$
On putting the value of R from E (i), then
$\hspace40mm C_2 = 4 \pi \varepsilon_0 (4r)$
$\Rightarrow \hspace30mm C_2 = 16 \pi \varepsilon_0 r \hspace35mm ... (iii)$
On dividing the E (iii) by E (ii)
$\hspace40mm \frac{C_2}{C_1} = \frac{16 \pi \varepsilon_0 r}{4 \pi \varepsilon_0 r}$
$\Rightarrow \hspace30mm \frac{C_2}{C_1} = \frac{4}{1}$
$\Rightarrow \hspace30mm C_2 : C_1 = 4 : 1$
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Concepts Used:

Electrostatic Potential and Capacitance

Electrostatic Potential

The potential of a point is defined as the work done per unit charge that results in bringing a charge from infinity to a certain point.

Some major things that we should know about electric potential:

  • They are denoted by V and are a scalar quantity.
  • It is measured in volts.

Capacitance

The ability of a capacitor of holding the energy in form of an electric charge is defined as capacitance. Similarly, we can also say that capacitance is the storing ability of capacitors, and the unit in which they are measured is “farads”.

Read More: Electrostatic Potential and Capacitance

The capacitor is in Series and in Parallel as defined below;

In Series

Both the Capacitors C1 and C2 can easily get connected in series. When the capacitors are connected in series then the total capacitance that is Ctotal is less than any one of the capacitor’s capacitance.

In Parallel

Both Capacitor C1 and C2 are connected in parallel. When the capacitors are connected parallelly then the total capacitance that is Ctotal is any one of the capacitor’s capacitance.