Can a capacitor still function without both plates?

In summary, if the opposite and equal charge was not induced on the 2nd conductor in a parallel plate capacitor when connected to a battery, there would be an open circuit. This means that the circuit would not be complete and there would be no flow of electricity. However, this situation is not possible as the capacitor would still function as a very small capacitor due to the movement of charges.
  • #1
kartikwat
49
0
What would have been if the opposite and equal charge wouldn't have been induce on 2nd conductor in parallel plate capacitor when connected to a battery
 
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  • #2
Then you would have an open circuit.
 
  • #3
Open circuit means
 
  • #4
kartikwat said:
Open circuit means

From Google Search --- which you should learn how to use.

o·pen cir·cuit
noun
noun: open circuit; plural noun: open circuits

an electrical circuit that is not complete.
 
  • #5
kartikwat said:
What would have been if the opposite and equal charge wouldn't have been induce on 2nd conductor in parallel plate capacitor when connected to a battery

This can't really happen. Let's imagine that we remove the 2nd plate from the capacitor and leave the 1st plate behind. We will also leave the conductor that used to connect to the 2nd plate disconnected. In this case you will still have a capacitor, as charges will move onto/off of the plate AND the end of the disconnected conductor until the field between them completely opposes the applied voltage. But since the conductor is much smaller than a plate, the capacitance is very, very small. So small that for all purposes you might as well not even consider it a capacitor. Just consider it an open in the circuit.
 

1. What is a parallel plate capacitor?

A parallel plate capacitor is a type of electrical component that stores electrical energy by creating an electric field between two parallel conductive plates. It consists of two plates of equal size and opposite charge separated by a small distance, usually with a dielectric material in between.

2. How does a parallel plate capacitor work?

When a voltage is applied to a parallel plate capacitor, the plates become charged with equal and opposite charges, creating an electric field between them. This field stores energy in the capacitor, and the amount of energy stored is directly proportional to the voltage applied and the distance between the plates.

3. What is the capacitance of a parallel plate capacitor?

The capacitance of a parallel plate capacitor is a measure of its ability to store electrical energy. It is determined by the area of the plates, the distance between them, and the type of material between the plates (dielectric constant). The equation for capacitance is C = εA/d, where ε is the permittivity of the material, A is the area of the plates, and d is the distance between them.

4. What are some applications of parallel plate capacitors?

Parallel plate capacitors have various applications in electronics, such as in power supplies, filtering circuits, and memory storage devices. They are also used in sensors and transducers, as well as in high-frequency circuits for tuning and filtering.

5. How do you calculate the energy stored in a parallel plate capacitor?

The energy stored in a parallel plate capacitor can be calculated using the equation E = 1/2CV^2, where C is the capacitance and V is the applied voltage. This equation shows that the energy stored is directly proportional to the capacitance and the square of the voltage. Thus, increasing either of these values will result in a higher energy storage capacity.

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