- #1
SMc21
- 10
- 0
So, we learned about electricity in Physics a few months ago. One thing from the unit is still bugging me that I don't understand: The Millikan Oil Drop Experiment and the idea of charged parallel plates.
Apparently, you can "apply a voltage" to charged parallel plates to create a field between them. I don't get it, though: Isn't voltage a property of the field, and not the other way around?
Also, by varying the distance between the plates while keeping voltage constant, you can apparently alter the field strength. But isn't field strength dependent on charge? The only thing I can think of is that the amount of charge on each plate is changing, but that raises more questions: Where does the charge come from or go to when distance is altered?
Any help is greatly appreciated.
Apparently, you can "apply a voltage" to charged parallel plates to create a field between them. I don't get it, though: Isn't voltage a property of the field, and not the other way around?
Also, by varying the distance between the plates while keeping voltage constant, you can apparently alter the field strength. But isn't field strength dependent on charge? The only thing I can think of is that the amount of charge on each plate is changing, but that raises more questions: Where does the charge come from or go to when distance is altered?
Any help is greatly appreciated.