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Q.29 Physics ⭐ 360° Option Elimination Active
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NEET 2021 Physics Question 29 Solution

Topic: Electromagnetic Waves · Official NTA Booklet Code M1
NEET 2021 Physics Question 29: Displacement Current Across an AC Capacitor: Mathematical Formulation

Question

A capacitor of capacitance 'C', is connected across an ac source of voltage V, given by V = V₀ sin ωt. The displacement current between the plates of the capacitor, would then be given by:

✓
Verified Against NTA Final Answer Key
Option (1) : I_d = V_0 ω C cos(ωt)
📚 Electromagnetic Waves Easy
📋 Given Parameters & Problem Setup
Capacitance C
Applied AC Voltage V = V_0 sin(ωt)
⚡

The 30-Second Exam Hall Shortcut: ⚡ Displacement Current = Conduction Current: I_d = dq/dt

⏱️ Save ~20 seconds

By Maxwell's continuity theorem, displacement current inside the dielectric gap equals the conduction current in the connecting wires: Id=Ic=dqdt=CdVdt=Cddt[V0sin⁡(ωt)]=V0ωCcos⁡(ωt)I_d = I_c = \frac{dq}{dt} = C \frac{dV}{dt} = C \frac{d}{dt}[V_0 \sin(\omega t)] = V_0 \omega C \cos(\omega t)! Instant 10-second derivative matching Option (1)!

1 Charge on capacitor plates at any instant: q(t)=CV(t)=CV0sin⁡(ωt)q(t) = C V(t) = C V_0 \sin(\omega t).
2 By Maxwell-Ampere law, displacement current between plates equals conduction current: Id=dqdtI_d = \frac{dq}{dt}.
3 Differentiate with respect to time: ddt[V0sin⁡(ωt)]=V0ωcos⁡(ωt)\frac{d}{dt}[V_0 \sin(\omega t)] = V_0 \omega \cos(\omega t).
4 Thus, Id=V0ωCcos⁡(ωt)I_d = V_0 \omega C \cos(\omega t).
5 Match Option (1).
🛡️
Why You Can 100% Trust This Shortcut: Canonical Maxwell-Ampere circuital law and charge-current continuity equation.
📐

Step-by-Step Rigorous Workflow & Mathematical Proof

Step 1

Definition of Displacement Current

Maxwell defined displacement current IdI_d in terms of the rate of change of electric flux ΦE\Phi_E between the capacitor plates:

Id=ε0dΦEdtI_d = \varepsilon_0 \frac{d\Phi_E}{dt}
Step 2

Expressing Electric Flux in Terms of Charge and Voltage

For a parallel plate capacitor of area AA and separation dd, the uniform electric field is E=V/dE = V/d. The electric flux is ΦE=EA=(V/d)A=V(A/d)\Phi_E = E A = (V/d)A = V (A/d):

ε0ΦE=ε0(Ad)V=CV=q\varepsilon_0 \Phi_E = \varepsilon_0 \left(\frac{A}{d}\right) V = C V = q
Step 3

Evaluating the Time Derivative

Substitute V(t)=V0sin⁡(ωt)V(t) = V_0 \sin(\omega t) into the displacement current expression:

Id=ddt(CV)=CdVdt=Cddt[V0sin⁡(ωt)]=V0ωCcos⁡(ωt)I_d = \frac{d}{dt}(C V) = C \frac{dV}{dt} = C \frac{d}{dt}\left[V_0 \sin(\omega t)\right] = V_0 \omega C \cos(\omega t)
⭐

360° Option Elimination Engine Key Feature

Diagnose every choice: Know exactly why the right option works and why distractors fail.

4-Option Deep Scan
1 1
✓ 100% Correct
Verdict & Scientific Reason:

Exact mathematical derivative: Id=CdVdt=V0ωCcos⁡(ωt)I_d = C \frac{dV}{dt} = V_0 \omega C \cos(\omega t).

💡
Why this is airtight: None; textbook calculus and electromagnetic derivation.
2 2
✗ Incorrect
Verdict & Scientific Reason:

Divides by ωC\omega C instead of multiplying (reactance is XC=1/ωCX_C = 1/\omega C, so current amplitude is V0/XC=V0ωCV_0 / X_C = V_0 \omega C).

⚠️
Student Fallacy (Why candidates pick this trap): Writing I0=V0XCI_0 = V_0 X_C with XC=1/ωCX_C = 1/\omega C placed in the denominator incorrectly.
3 3
✗ Incorrect
Verdict & Scientific Reason:

Contains inverted impedance and fails to take the time derivative of sine into cosine.

⚠️
Student Fallacy (Why candidates pick this trap): Forgetting that current leads voltage by 90∘90^\circ (cosine function).
4 4
✗ Incorrect
Verdict & Scientific Reason:

Fails to differentiate sin⁡(ωt)\sin(\omega t) to cos⁡(ωt)\cos(\omega t) (phase is off by 90∘90^\circ).

⚠️
Student Fallacy (Why candidates pick this trap): Neglecting the derivative of the sinusoidal voltage waveform.
⚠️

NTA Trap Alert: Sine vs. Cosine Differentiation Trap

Students who remember the current amplitude I0=V0ωCI_0 = V_0 \omega C sometimes pick Option (4) V0ωCsin⁡(ωt)V_0 \omega C \sin(\omega t), forgetting that differentiation of sin⁡(ωt)\sin(\omega t) produces cos⁡(ωt)\cos(\omega t) (representing the 90∘90^\circ phase lead of capacitor current).

🛡️ How to avoid the -1 mark: Differentiate with respect to time: ddt[sin⁡(ωt)]=ωcos⁡(ωt)\frac{d}{dt}[\sin(\omega t)] = \omega \cos(\omega t).
📖

Core NEET Syllabus Standard

NCERT Physics · Electromagnetic Waves Standard Benchmark
Core Scientific Principle Tested:

"Displacement current between plates is identical to the conduction current in external leads: Id=ε0dΦEdt=CdVdtI_d = \varepsilon_0 \frac{d\Phi_E}{dt} = C \frac{dV}{dt}."

Syllabus Focus: Displacement Current
✓ Core NEET UG Syllabus Anchor Syllabus & Academic Standards ↗

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