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Capacitors: Edexcel A‑Level Physics questions

Every Edexcel A-Level Physics exam question on Capacitors (specification points 116–120), 2016–2025, with its mark scheme and examiner’s report.

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1,540 questions

  1. Q7

    June 2025 · Paper 1

    1 markCapacitors
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Paper 1, question 7: Decreasing the distance between the two plates increases the capacitance of the two parallel plates. The separation was decreased at time X. At time Y the separ

  2. Q8

    June 2025 · Paper 1

    1 markCapacitors
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Paper 1, question 8: The initial potential difference (p.d.) across a capacitor is V0. The capacitor is discharged through a resistor. The p.d. across the capacitor decreases to V0

  3. Q16(c)

    June 2024 · Paper 1

    4 marksCapacitors
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Paper 1, question 16(c): The student connects the filament bulb in the circuit shown below. The capacitor is initially uncharged and has a capacitance of 1.2 F. The resistance of the fi

  4. Q3

    June 2023 · Paper 1

    1 markCapacitors
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 1, question 3: A charged capacitor is discharged through a resistor. The potential difference across the capacitor halved in a time t. The time constant is T. Which of the fol

  5. Q18(b)(i)

    June 2023 · Paper 1

    2 marksCapacitors
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 1, question 18(b)(i): Explain how cell E10 has been calculated. (2)

  6. Q18(b)(ii)

    June 2023 · Paper 1

    1 markCapacitors
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 1, question 18(b)(ii): State the formula used to calculate cell G11. (1)

  7. Q18(b)(iii)

    June 2023 · Paper 1

    2 marksCapacitors
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 1, question 18(b)(iii): Calculate the maximum energy stored on the capacitor. (2) Maximum energy stored on the capacitor =

  8. Q18(c)

    June 2023 · Paper 1

    4 marksCapacitors
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 1, question 18(c): The spreadsheet data are used to plot a graph to show how I varies with t. This is shown as a dashed line below. 6 V / V 4 2 I / A 0 0.005 0.01 0.015 0.02 0.025

  9. Q8(a)

    June 2023 · Paper 3

    5 marksCapacitors
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 3, question 8(a): The capacitor was marked 220 μF ± 20%. Deduce whether the student’s data give a value of capacitance within the stated range. R = 82 kΩ (5)

  10. Q8(b)

    June 2023 · Paper 3

    3 marksCapacitors
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 3, question 8(b): The student suggested that her results would have been more accurate if she had used a data logger to record the data. Assess the student’s suggestion. (3)

  11. Q14(b)(ii)

    June 2022 · Paper 1

    3 marksCapacitors
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2022 Paper 1, question 14(b)(ii): A capacitor is added between points X and Y in the circuit. The new graph of Vout against time is shown below. 4 3 Vout / V 2 1 0 0 10 20 30 Time / ms Determine

  12. Q9

    November 2021 · Paper 1

    1 markCapacitors
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2021 Paper 1, question 9: A capacitor is connected to a power supply and charged to a potential difference V0. The graph shows how the potential difference V across the capacitor varies

  13. Q13(b)

    November 2021 · Paper 1

    5 marksCapacitors
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2021 Paper 1, question 13(b): A parallel plate capacitor consists of a thin layer of insulator of thickness d between two plates of conducting material of area A. insulator conducting materi

  14. Q15(a)

    October 2020 · Paper 1

    3 marksCapacitors
    The whole paper ↗
    October 2020 Paper 1, question 15(a): Initially the capacitor is uncharged. The switch S1 is closed. Sketch a graph to show how the potential at point Y varies with time. (3) 10 20 30 Time / ms

  15. Q15(b)(i)

    October 2020 · Paper 1

    3 marksCapacitors
    The whole paper ↗
    October 2020 Paper 1, question 15(b)(i): Calculate the time taken for the potential at Y to decrease to 2.0 V. (3) Time taken =

  16. Q15(b)(ii)

    October 2020 · Paper 1

    2 marksCapacitors
    The whole paper ↗
    October 2020 Paper 1, question 15(b)(ii): Calculate the energy stored on the capacitor when the potential at Y is 2.0 V. (2) Energy stored =

  17. Q18(b)(i)

    June 2018 · Paper 1

    2 marksCapacitors
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2018 Paper 1, question 18(b)(i): Calculate the energy stored in the capacitor when it was fully charged. (2) Energy stored =

  18. Q18(b)(ii)

    June 2018 · Paper 1

    2 marksCapacitors
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2018 Paper 1, question 18(b)(ii): The voltmeter reading halved in the time taken for the ball bearing to travel between the two foil strips. Show that the time taken for the ball bearing to trav

  19. Q5

    June 2017 · Paper 1

    1 markCapacitors
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2017 Paper 1, question 5: A capacitor of capacitance C is charged to a potential difference V by a power supply. The energy stored on the charged capacitor is W. What would be the energy

  20. Q15(a)

    June 2017 · Paper 1

    4 marksCapacitors
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2017 Paper 1, question 15(a): Describe what happens to the potential difference across the resistor and the potential difference across the capacitor after the switch is closed. (4)
All 21 questions on Capacitors, as a list
  1. June 2025, Paper 1, Q7 (1 mark): Decreasing the distance between the two plates increases the capacitance of the two parallel plates. The separation was decreased at time X. At time Y the separ
  2. June 2025, Paper 1, Q8 (1 mark): The initial potential difference (p.d.) across a capacitor is V0. The capacitor is discharged through a resistor. The p.d. across the capacitor decreases to V0
  3. June 2024, Paper 1, Q16(c) (4 marks): The student connects the filament bulb in the circuit shown below. The capacitor is initially uncharged and has a capacitance of 1.2 F. The resistance of the fi
  4. June 2023, Paper 1, Q3 (1 mark): A charged capacitor is discharged through a resistor. The potential difference across the capacitor halved in a time t. The time constant is T. Which of the fol
  5. June 2023, Paper 1, Q18(b)(i) (2 marks): Explain how cell E10 has been calculated. (2)
  6. June 2023, Paper 1, Q18(b)(ii) (1 mark): State the formula used to calculate cell G11. (1)
  7. June 2023, Paper 1, Q18(b)(iii) (2 marks): Calculate the maximum energy stored on the capacitor. (2) Maximum energy stored on the capacitor =
  8. June 2023, Paper 1, Q18(c) (4 marks): The spreadsheet data are used to plot a graph to show how I varies with t. This is shown as a dashed line below. 6 V / V 4 2 I / A 0 0.005 0.01 0.015 0.02 0.025
  9. June 2023, Paper 3, Q8(a) (5 marks): The capacitor was marked 220 μF ± 20%. Deduce whether the student’s data give a value of capacitance within the stated range. R = 82 kΩ (5)
  10. June 2023, Paper 3, Q8(b) (3 marks): The student suggested that her results would have been more accurate if she had used a data logger to record the data. Assess the student’s suggestion. (3)
  11. June 2022, Paper 1, Q14(b)(ii) (3 marks): A capacitor is added between points X and Y in the circuit. The new graph of Vout against time is shown below. 4 3 Vout / V 2 1 0 0 10 20 30 Time / ms Determine
  12. November 2021, Paper 1, Q9 (1 mark): A capacitor is connected to a power supply and charged to a potential difference V0. The graph shows how the potential difference V across the capacitor varies
  13. November 2021, Paper 1, Q13(b) (5 marks): A parallel plate capacitor consists of a thin layer of insulator of thickness d between two plates of conducting material of area A. insulator conducting materi
  14. October 2020, Paper 1, Q15(a) (3 marks): Initially the capacitor is uncharged. The switch S1 is closed. Sketch a graph to show how the potential at point Y varies with time. (3) 10 20 30 Time / ms
  15. October 2020, Paper 1, Q15(b)(i) (3 marks): Calculate the time taken for the potential at Y to decrease to 2.0 V. (3) Time taken =
  16. October 2020, Paper 1, Q15(b)(ii) (2 marks): Calculate the energy stored on the capacitor when the potential at Y is 2.0 V. (2) Energy stored =
  17. June 2018, Paper 1, Q18(b)(i) (2 marks): Calculate the energy stored in the capacitor when it was fully charged. (2) Energy stored =
  18. June 2018, Paper 1, Q18(b)(ii) (2 marks): The voltmeter reading halved in the time taken for the ball bearing to travel between the two foil strips. Show that the time taken for the ball bearing to trav
  19. June 2017, Paper 1, Q5 (1 mark): A capacitor of capacitance C is charged to a potential difference V by a power supply. The energy stored on the charged capacitor is W. What would be the energy
  20. June 2017, Paper 1, Q15(a) (4 marks): Describe what happens to the potential difference across the resistor and the potential difference across the capacitor after the switch is closed. (4)
  21. June 2017, Paper 1, Q15(b) (5 marks): The battery and switch are replaced by a signal generator providing a square wave output of peak potential difference 5 V. The signal generator has negligible i

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