Worksheet 25
Worksheet 25
Worksheet 25
(c) Insulating handles will be used to pull the plates slightly apart while the battery
remains attached. Do these quantities increase, decrease or stay the same?
• capacitor potential difference ∆Vcap
• E-field strength E5
• capacitor charge q
• capacitance C ≡ Q/∆Vcap
1
SP212 Worksheet 25
Exercise 2: We have parallel, conducting plates of area A with charge ±q, separated
by distance d.
+q + + + + + + + + + + + + +
d
−q − − − − − − − − − − − − −
(a) In the right-hand figure draw arrows showing the direction of the electric field.
Assume the plates are large compared to d so that we can pretend they are infinite.
(b) Draw a Gaussian surface to find the electric field magnitude.
~ · dA
~ leaving this surface, in terms of the field
H
(c) What is the net flux Φ = E
magnitude E?
(d) Now that we know the flux, write the charge q in terms of E, A, and d.
(e) What is the potential difference V (formerly known as ∆V ) between the plates,
in terms of E?
(f) Putting it all together: in terms of E, A, and d, what is the capacitance C ≡ q/V ?
(g) What are the units of 0 in terms of farads and length units?
2
SP212 Worksheet 25
C3
batt C1 C2 batt
C4
(A) (B)
C1 C3
batt
batt C4
C2 (a) (b)
3
SP212 Worksheet 25
Exercise 5: (Sample Problem 25.02, numbers changed) Find (a) the equivalent capac-
itance of the three-capacitor arrangement and (b) the charge q3 on the 3 µF capacitor.
3 µF 1 µF
10 V
6 µF
4
SP212 Worksheet 25
(b) The dielectric is removed and the capacitor, again with q0 , and V0 , is disconnected
from the battery without being discharged. Now the dielectric is reinserted. What
are the new C, V , and q?
(c) In situations (a) and (b) does the electric field strength in the capacitor increase,
decrease, or stay the same?