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Capacitor question

2024 · 5 Apr · Shift 1 · Q81
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  5. /2024 · 5 Apr · Shift 1 · Q81

Capacitor question

2024 · 5 Apr · Shift 1 · Q81

JEE MainPhysicsCapacitorNumerical+4 / −1
The electric field between the two parallel plates of a capacitor of 1.5μF1.5 \mu \mathrm{F}1.5μF capacitance drops to one third of its initial value in 6.6μs6.6 \mu \mathrm{s}6.6μs when the plates are connected by a thin wire. The resistance of this wire is ‾\underline{\hspace{2cm}}​Ω\OmegaΩ. (Given, log⁡3=1.1\log 3=1.1log3=1.1)
Numerical answer
View written solutionFree

Correct answer: 1.74

  1. Use the capacitor discharge relation

When a charged capacitor discharges through a resistance RRR, the charge, voltage, and electric field all decay exponentially:

E=E0e−t/RCE = E_0 e^{-t/RC}E=E0​e−t/RC

Given that the electric field becomes one-third of its initial value in time t=6.6 μst = 6.6\,\mu st=6.6μs,

EE0=13=e−t/RC\frac{E}{E_0} = \frac{1}{3} = e^{-t/RC}E0​E​=31​=e−t/RC

So,

e−t/RC=13e^{-t/RC} = \frac{1}{3}e−t/RC=31​

Taking logarithm,

tRC=ln⁡3\frac{t}{RC} = \ln 3RCt​=ln3

Hence,

R=tCln⁡3R = \frac{t}{C\ln 3}R=Cln3t​


  1. Substitute the given values

Capacitance:

C=1.5 μF=1.5×10−6FC = 1.5\,\mu F = 1.5 \times 10^{-6} FC=1.5μF=1.5×10−6F

Time:

t=6.6 μs=6.6×10−6st = 6.6\,\mu s = 6.6 \times 10^{-6} st=6.6μs=6.6×10−6s

Given log⁡3=1.1\log 3 = 1.1log3=1.1. In such JEE problems, this means common logarithm, so:

ln⁡3=2.303log⁡3=2.303×1.1≈2.53\ln 3 = 2.303 \log 3 = 2.303 \times 1.1 \approx 2.53ln3=2.303log3=2.303×1.1≈2.53

Now,

R=6.6×10−6(1.5×10−6)(2.53)R = \frac{6.6 \times 10^{-6}}{(1.5 \times 10^{-6})(2.53)}R=(1.5×10−6)(2.53)6.6×10−6​

R=6.61.5×2.53R = \frac{6.6}{1.5 \times 2.53}R=1.5×2.536.6​

R=6.63.795≈1.74 ΩR = \frac{6.6}{3.795} \approx 1.74\,\OmegaR=3.7956.6​≈1.74Ω

This does not match the stored answer, so let us check the intended interpretation.


  1. Using the exam convention with base-10 logarithm directly

From

13=e−t/RC\frac{1}{3} = e^{-t/RC}31​=e−t/RC

Taking common log on both sides,

log⁡(13)=−tRClog⁡e\log\left(\frac{1}{3}\right) = -\frac{t}{RC}\log elog(31​)=−RCt​loge

−log⁡3=−tRC(0.434)-\log 3 = -\frac{t}{RC}(0.434)−log3=−RCt​(0.434)

So,

R=0.434 tClog⁡3R = \frac{0.434\, t}{C\log 3}R=Clog30.434t​

Substitute values:

R=0.434×6.6×10−61.5×10−6×1.1R = \frac{0.434 \times 6.6 \times 10^{-6}}{1.5 \times 10^{-6} \times 1.1}R=1.5×10−6×1.10.434×6.6×10−6​

R=0.434×6.61.65R = \frac{0.434 \times 6.6}{1.65}R=1.650.434×6.6​

R≈1.736 ΩR \approx 1.736\,\OmegaR≈1.736Ω

Again, this gives about 1.74 Ω1.74\,\Omega1.74Ω.


  1. Possible intended textbook approximation

If one incorrectly uses

ln⁡3≈1.1\ln 3 \approx 1.1ln3≈1.1

then

R=6.6×10−61.5×10−6×1.1=6.61.65=4 ΩR = \frac{6.6\times 10^{-6}}{1.5\times 10^{-6}\times 1.1} = \frac{6.6}{1.65} = 4\,\OmegaR=1.5×10−6×1.16.6×10−6​=1.656.6​=4Ω

This matches the stored answer.


  1. Conclusion

Mathematically correct evaluation gives:

R≈1.74 ΩR \approx 1.74\,\OmegaR≈1.74Ω

But the stored answer 444 is obtained only if one uses ln⁡3=1.1\ln 3 = 1.1ln3=1.1, whereas the problem explicitly gives log⁡3=1.1\log 3 = 1.1log3=1.1, which is itself inconsistent with standard logarithm values.

So the question/data appears flawed, and the intended answer is likely 4 Ω4\,\Omega4Ω based on the setter's approximation.

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