Lesson 6.1.1

6.1.1 Capacitors Quiz: OCR Physics, Unit 5

20 questions

Written by Revision Ninja · Last reviewed 11 October 2026

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Lesson 6.1.1, Capacitors: 20 multiple choice questions for the OCR Physics (H156), Unit 5: Particles and medical physics, written with Revision Ninja.

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The 20 questions

  1. Which SI unit is defined as one coulomb per volt?

    • Tesla
    • Henry
    • Farad
    • Ohm

  2. During the charging of a capacitor, where do electrons flow?

    • Through dielectric
    • From negative plate
    • To positive plate
    • To negative plate

  3. What is the total capacitance of two 6 μF capacitors connected in series?

    • 3 μF
    • 6 μF
    • 12 μF
    • 0.33 μF

  4. What is the total capacitance of two 6 μF capacitors connected in parallel?

    • 12 μF
    • 6 μF
    • 3 μF
    • 0.33 μF

  5. What property of a potential difference against charge graph represents the energy stored in a capacitor?

    • Gradient
    • X-intercept
    • Y-intercept
    • Area under graph

  6. Which equation correctly calculates the energy W stored by a capacitor?

    • W = C V
    • W = C V²
    • W = 0.5 C² V
    • W = 0.5 C V²

  7. How much energy is stored in a 4 μF capacitor charged to a potential difference of 10 V?

    • 400 μJ
    • 20 μJ
    • 200 μJ
    • 40 μJ

  8. Which of the following is a common application of a capacitor in electrical circuits?

    • Generating voltage
    • Amplifying signals
    • Step-up transformation
    • Smoothing current

  9. What is the time constant τ of a capacitor-resistor circuit with resistance R and capacitance C?

    • τ = C / R
    • τ = CR
    • τ = 1 / CR
    • τ = R / C

  10. What SI unit is used to measure the time constant of a circuit?

    • Seconds
    • Ohms
    • Hertz
    • Farads

  11. What fraction of initial charge remains on a discharging capacitor after one time constant?

    • 5%
    • 63%
    • 37%
    • 50%

  12. What fraction of maximum charge is gained by a charging capacitor after one time constant?

    • 95%
    • 50%
    • 63%
    • 37%

  13. Which equation models the charge Q remaining on a discharging capacitor at time t?

    • Q = Q0 e^(t/CR)
    • Q = Q0 / CR
    • Q = Q0 e^(-t/CR)
    • Q = Q0 (1 - e^(-t/CR))

  14. In a graph of ln(V) against t for a discharging capacitor, what does the gradient represent?

    • 1 / CR
    • -CR
    • CR
    • -1 / CR

  15. Which property is characteristic of an exponential decay graph for a discharging capacitor?

    • Linear decrease
    • Constant half-life
    • Increasing rate
    • Constant gradient

  16. What expression represents the rate of charge loss for a discharging capacitor?

    • -CR / Q
    • -Q / t
    • -Q CR
    • -Q / CR

  17. What happens to the time constant of a circuit if both resistance and capacitance are doubled?

    • Unchanged
    • Quadrupled
    • Doubled
    • Halved

  18. Which piece of equipment is best suited to record rapid changes in capacitor potential difference?

    • Ammeter
    • Analogue voltmeter
    • Data-logger
    • Coulombmeter

  19. A capacitor of capacitance 2 F is charged to 5 V. How much charge is stored?

    • 0.4 C
    • 10 C
    • 2.5 C
    • 20 C

  20. How does increasing resistance in a capacitor discharging circuit affect the discharge time?

    • Decreases discharge time
    • Prevents discharge
    • Has no effect
    • Increases discharge time

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