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Capacitance: WJEC A‑Level Physics questions

Every WJEC A-Level Physics exam question on 4.1 Capacitance, 2016–2025, with its mark scheme and examiner’s report.

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Calculations

1,173 questions

  1. Q6(a)(i)

    Summer 2025 · Unit 4

    3 marks4.1 Capacitance
    The whole paper ↗
    Summer 2025 Unit 4, question 6(a)(i): Jezebel states that this capacitor has a capacitance of less than 1 nF. Determine whether Jezebel is correct. [3]

  2. Q6(a)(ii)

    Summer 2025 · Unit 4

    2 marks4.1 Capacitance
    The whole paper ↗
    Summer 2025 Unit 4, question 6(a)(ii): Calculate the pd applied to the plates when the electric field between the plates is 77 kN C–1. [2]

  3. Q6(b)(i)

    Summer 2025 · Unit 4

    2 marks4.1 Capacitance
    The whole paper ↗
    Summer 2025 Unit 4, question 6(b)(i): Draw the lines of minimum and maximum gradient through the points. [2] /m Mean h 0.40 0.30 0.20 0.10 0 0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350 V2/V2

  4. Q6(b)(ii)

    Summer 2025 · Unit 4

    5 marks4.1 Capacitance
    The whole paper ↗
    Summer 2025 Unit 4, question 6(b)(ii): Calculate the mean gradient and its percentage uncertainty. [5]

  5. Q6(b)(iii)

    Summer 2025 · Unit 4

    5 marks4.1 Capacitance
    The whole paper ↗
    Summer 2025 Unit 4, question 6(b)(iii): Applying the principle of conservation of energy gives: where η is the overall efficiency of the electric motor. 2CV 2 This means that the gradient of the graph

  6. Q6(b)(iv)

    Summer 2025 · Unit 4

    2 marks4.1 Capacitance
    The whole paper ↗
    Summer 2025 Unit 4, question 6(b)(iv): The experimenter used a charging time of 10 s, that is, the switch was placed in position A for 10 s. Determine whether 10 s is a suitable charging time to ensu

  7. Q1(a)

    Summer 2024 · Unit 4

    3 marks4.1 Capacitance
    The whole paper ↗
    Summer 2024 Unit 4, question 1(a): Calculate the separation of the metal plates in order to produce this capacitance. [3]

  8. Q1(b)

    Summer 2024 · Unit 4

    3 marks4.1 Capacitance
    The whole paper ↗
    Summer 2024 Unit 4, question 1(b): when it stores a charge of 20 nC on its plates. Determine whether or not the technician is correct. [3]

  9. Q1(c)

    Summer 2024 · Unit 4

    3 marks4.1 Capacitance
    The whole paper ↗
    Summer 2024 Unit 4, question 1(c): By discussing the pd and charge on each of the capacitors, explain why the capacitance of the two 230 pF capacitors connected in parallel is 460 pF. [3] 230pF 2

  10. Q1(d)

    Summer 2024 · Unit 4

    1 mark4.1 Capacitance
    The whole paper ↗
    Summer 2024 Unit 4, question 1(d): Draw a diagram to show how you could combine three capacitors of 230 pF to provide a capacitance of approximately 150 pF. [1]

  11. Q2

    Summer 2024 · Unit 4

    6 marks4.1 Capacitance
    The whole paper ↗
    Summer 2024 Unit 4, question 2: Describe how you would carry out an experiment to investigate the discharging of a capacitor through a resistor to determine the time constant. [6 QER]

  12. Q1(a)(i)

    Summer 2023 · Unit 4

    6 marks4.1 Capacitance
    The whole paper ↗
    Summer 2023 Unit 4, question 1(a)(i): Calculate the total capacitance of each of the following capacitor combinations. [6] 2 pF 4 pF 2 pF 4 pF 8 pF 2 pF 4 pF 8 pF 8 pF

  13. Q1(a)(iii)

    Summer 2023 · Unit 4

    4.1 Capacitance
    The whole paper ↗
    Summer 2023 Unit 4, question 1(a)(iii): (i) (ii) (iii)

  14. Q1(b)

    Summer 2023 · Unit 4

    4 marks4.1 Capacitance
    The whole paper ↗
    Summer 2023 Unit 4, question 1(b): Michael, a laboratory technician, must make a 2.7 μF capacitor using only two square sheets of aluminium of side 42.0 cm. Determine whether or not it is realist

  15. Q1(c)

    Summer 2023 · Unit 4

    1 mark4.1 Capacitance
    The whole paper ↗
    Summer 2023 Unit 4, question 1(c): State what happens to the capacitance of a parallel plate capacitor when a dielectric is placed between the plates. [1]

  16. Q4(a)

    Summer 2022 · Unit 4

    2 marks4.1 Capacitance
    The whole paper ↗
    Summer 2022 Unit 4, question 4(a): Calculate the capacitance of the capacitor shown. [2] 13.5cm 0.13mm

  17. Q4(b)(i)

    Summer 2022 · Unit 4

    2 marks4.1 Capacitance
    The whole paper ↗
    Summer 2022 Unit 4, question 4(b)(i): Calculate the pd across the terminals of a 5.0 mF capacitor when it stores 1.00 J of energy. [2]

  18. Q4(b)(ii)

    Summer 2022 · Unit 4

    2 marks4.1 Capacitance
    The whole paper ↗
    Summer 2022 Unit 4, question 4(b)(ii): In the space provided, draw a diagram to show how you would combine three 5.0 mF capacitors to produce a capacitance of 7.5 mF. [2]

  19. Q4(c)(i)

    Summer 2022 · Unit 4

    1 mark4.1 Capacitance
    The whole paper ↗
    Summer 2022 Unit 4, question 4(c)(i): State why a force must be exerted to separate the charged plates. [1]

  20. Q4(c)(ii)

    Summer 2022 · Unit 4

    2 marks4.1 Capacitance
    The whole paper ↗
    Summer 2022 Unit 4, question 4(c)(ii): Explain why the capacitor stores more energy when the separation of the plates is increased even though the charge remains constant. [2]
All 45 questions on Capacitance, as a list
  1. Summer 2025, Unit 4, Q6(a)(i) (3 marks): Jezebel states that this capacitor has a capacitance of less than 1 nF. Determine whether Jezebel is correct. [3]
  2. Summer 2025, Unit 4, Q6(a)(ii) (2 marks): Calculate the pd applied to the plates when the electric field between the plates is 77 kN C–1. [2]
  3. Summer 2025, Unit 4, Q6(b)(i) (2 marks): Draw the lines of minimum and maximum gradient through the points. [2] /m Mean h 0.40 0.30 0.20 0.10 0 0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350 V2/V2
  4. Summer 2025, Unit 4, Q6(b)(ii) (5 marks): Calculate the mean gradient and its percentage uncertainty. [5]
  5. Summer 2025, Unit 4, Q6(b)(iii) (5 marks): Applying the principle of conservation of energy gives: where η is the overall efficiency of the electric motor. 2CV 2 This means that the gradient of the graph
  6. Summer 2025, Unit 4, Q6(b)(iv) (2 marks): The experimenter used a charging time of 10 s, that is, the switch was placed in position A for 10 s. Determine whether 10 s is a suitable charging time to ensu
  7. Summer 2024, Unit 4, Q1(a) (3 marks): Calculate the separation of the metal plates in order to produce this capacitance. [3]
  8. Summer 2024, Unit 4, Q1(b) (3 marks): when it stores a charge of 20 nC on its plates. Determine whether or not the technician is correct. [3]
  9. Summer 2024, Unit 4, Q1(c) (3 marks): By discussing the pd and charge on each of the capacitors, explain why the capacitance of the two 230 pF capacitors connected in parallel is 460 pF. [3] 230pF 2
  10. Summer 2024, Unit 4, Q1(d) (1 mark): Draw a diagram to show how you could combine three capacitors of 230 pF to provide a capacitance of approximately 150 pF. [1]
  11. Summer 2024, Unit 4, Q2 (6 marks): Describe how you would carry out an experiment to investigate the discharging of a capacitor through a resistor to determine the time constant. [6 QER]
  12. Summer 2023, Unit 4, Q1(a)(i) (6 marks): Calculate the total capacitance of each of the following capacitor combinations. [6] 2 pF 4 pF 2 pF 4 pF 8 pF 2 pF 4 pF 8 pF 8 pF
  13. Summer 2023, Unit 4, Q1(a)(iii): (i) (ii) (iii)
  14. Summer 2023, Unit 4, Q1(b) (4 marks): Michael, a laboratory technician, must make a 2.7 μF capacitor using only two square sheets of aluminium of side 42.0 cm. Determine whether or not it is realist
  15. Summer 2023, Unit 4, Q1(c) (1 mark): State what happens to the capacitance of a parallel plate capacitor when a dielectric is placed between the plates. [1]
  16. Summer 2022, Unit 4, Q4(a) (2 marks): Calculate the capacitance of the capacitor shown. [2] 13.5cm 0.13mm
  17. Summer 2022, Unit 4, Q4(b)(i) (2 marks): Calculate the pd across the terminals of a 5.0 mF capacitor when it stores 1.00 J of energy. [2]
  18. Summer 2022, Unit 4, Q4(b)(ii) (2 marks): In the space provided, draw a diagram to show how you would combine three 5.0 mF capacitors to produce a capacitance of 7.5 mF. [2]
  19. Summer 2022, Unit 4, Q4(c)(i) (1 mark): State why a force must be exerted to separate the charged plates. [1]
  20. Summer 2022, Unit 4, Q4(c)(ii) (2 marks): Explain why the capacitor stores more energy when the separation of the plates is increased even though the charge remains constant. [2]
  21. Summer 2022, Unit 4, Q4(c)(iii) (2 marks): Show that the energy stored by the capacitor is given by: Q2d 1 energy stored = ε0A 2 where Q is the charge stored, d is the separation of the plates, ε0 is the
  22. Summer 2022, Unit 4, Q4(c)(iv) (2 marks): Q2 1 F = ε0A 2 Determine whether Bethan is correct to arrive at this conclusion. [2]
  23. Summer 2019, Unit 4, Q1(a)(i) (4 marks): For the air-spaced parallel plate capacitor shown, calculate the pd applied when it stores 25.5 μJ of energy. [4] 8.0cm 8.0cm 0.77mm
  24. Summer 2019, Unit 4, Q1(a)(ii) (2 marks): Explain why the capacitor stores energy when a pd is applied to the plates. [2]
  25. Summer 2019, Unit 4, Q1(a)(iii) (3 marks): A group of scientists claim that they have developed a new dielectric that enables the above capacitor to store a million times more charge and energy for a giv
  26. Summer 2019, Unit 4, Q1(b)(i) (1 mark): Confirm that the uncertainty in the charge is 1.1 mC (you may assume that the uncertainty in the 2.2 mF capacitor is negligible). [1]
  27. Summer 2019, Unit 4, Q1(b)(ii) (2 marks): Complete the table. [2]
  28. Summer 2019, Unit 4, Q1(b)(iii) (5 marks): Complete the graph by labelling the y-axis scale, plotting the remaining two points, adding error bars for charge and drawing a curve of best fit. [5] Charge /
  29. Summer 2019, Unit 4, Q1(b)(iv) (3 marks): Use the curve of best fit to obtain the time constant of the charging circuit (show your working and do not simply multiply the resistance by the capacitance).
  30. Summer 2019, Unit 4, Q1(b)(v) (2 marks): By drawing a suitable tangent, calculate the current in the circuit at 45 s. [2]
  31. Summer 2019, Unit 4, Q1(c) (5 marks): Use the graph on page 5 and your answers to (b)(iv) and (b)(v) to evaluate whether or not the data obtained in this experiment are in good agreement with the eq
  32. Summer 2018, Unit 4, Q1(a)(i) (3 marks): A laboratory technician has two square aluminium plates with sides of length 18.0 cm. Calculate the separation, d, of the plates that produces a capacitance of
  33. Summer 2018, Unit 4, Q1(a)(ii) (3 marks): Calculate the capacitance of the capacitor combination shown. [3] 2.0 nF 6.0 nF 2.0 nF
  34. Summer 2018, Unit 4, Q1(a)(iii) (3 marks): Show that the charge stored on a 2.0 nF capacitor in the following circuit is 18 nC. [3] 15 V 2.0 nF 6.0 nF 2.0 nF
  35. Summer 2018, Unit 4, Q1(a)(iv) (2 marks): Calculate the total energy stored by the capacitor combination. [2]
  36. Summer 2018, Unit 4, Q1(b)(i) (2 marks): Draw a circuit diagram of the apparatus that might have been used to obtain the data. [2]
  37. Summer 2018, Unit 4, Q1(b)(ii) (5 marks): Use the graphs to determine: • the emf of the power supply; • the resistance of the resistor; • the capacitance of the capacitor. [5]
  38. Summer 2017, Unit 4, Q1(a)(i) (3 marks): An 8.0 nF capacitor has square plates separated by 0.20 mm of air. Calculate the length (x) of the sides of the plates. [3] x 8.0 nF x 0.20 mm
  39. Summer 2017, Unit 4, Q1(a)(ii) (4 marks): Which of the following combinations of 8.0 nF capacitors has a capacitance of 12.0 nF? Justify your answer. [4] All individual capacitors shown are 8.0 nF. 1 2
  40. Summer 2017, Unit 4, Q1(a)(iii) (1 mark): State how the capacitance of the capacitor can be increased without changing its dimensions. [1]
  41. Summer 2017, Unit 4, Q1(a)(iv) (3 marks): Calculate the charge on the plates of the 8.0 nF capacitor when it stores an energy of 0.62 μJ. [3]
  42. Summer 2017, Unit 4, Q1(b)(i) (2 marks): A charged 8.0 nF capacitor is discharged through a large resistor. Calculate the resistance of the resistor if the time constant is 15.5 ms. [2] 8.0 nF R
  43. Summer 2017, Unit 4, Q1(b)(ii) (3 marks): Calculate the fraction of the initial charge remaining on the capacitor after 31.0 ms. [3]
  44. Summer 2017, Unit 4, Q1(c)(i) (2 marks): the charge on the plates of the capacitor against time; [2] Charge Q0 Q0 2 0 10 20 30 40 Time / ms
  45. Summer 2017, Unit 4, Q1(c)(ii) (2 marks): the current in the circuit against time. [2] Current I0 I0 2 0 10 20 30 40 Time / ms

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