Parallel plate capacitor electric field problem

[megr_ftw]

1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data

Two circular disks spaced 0.50 mm apart form a parallel-plate capacitor. Transferring 1.8*10^9 electrons from one disk to the other causes the electric field strength to be 1.3* 10^5 N/C. What are the diameters of the disks?

2. Relevant equations

F=k(q1)(q2)/r^2
E_capacitor= Q/(epsilon_0)*A


3. The attempt at a solution

[kuruman]

Look at your second equation. What can you find from it?

[myxomatosii]

I'm doing the same problem.

All I can find from the second equation is that Q = Epsilon * A * E

Which doesn't really help because even if I break down A into pi * r^2 I still don't know r.. because if I knew r I would know d, which is what we're looking for.

I don't get how that helps.

[myxomatosii]

Well I have another equation I was solving for earlier.

r = sqrt(Q/pi*eta)

I suppose I could substitute that into the equation set equal to Q and solve for Q.



Then maybe I could plug that Q from Q=Epsilon*A*E into the r = sqrt(Q/pi*eta) equation to find r.


Hmm. I can't stand this because of the precision required for these stupid online assignments, I get zero credit or full credit, none in between. Rewarded none for the effort I've put forth the same as someone who did nothing.

Oh well, computers give grades.

[myxomatosii]

And now I end up with



Q=(Epsilon*E*Q) / eta



that makes no sense because if I go any further the Q's will cancel out *sigh*.. so I know I did something wrong.


Back to the drawing board.

[kuruman]

Look at your second equation.

You know Q, you know ε0 and you know E. Can you find A? Once you know A can you find the diameter?

[myxomatosii]

What is Q?

N electrons * Charge of electron?

I'm going back and re-reading the entire chapter leading up to this one in cased I missed something.

I'm completely lost when it comes to electricity and thats not like me.

[megr_ftw]

thanks for the help. now if only webassign would stop lagging all the time and I could see if my answer is correct or not...

[kuruman]

What is Q?

N electrons * Charge of electron?

I'm going back and re-reading the entire chapter leading up to this one in cased I missed something.

I'm completely lost when it comes to electricity and thats not like me.

Yes, Q is the total charge of the N electrons.