SUMMARY
The discussion centers on calculating the plate area of a parallel-plate capacitor that matches the capacitance of a spherical capacitor with a capacitance of 12.4 pF and a plate separation of 0.012 m. The formula used is C = (ε * A) / d, where ε is the permittivity of free space (8.85 x 10^-12 F/m). The correct calculation yields an area A of 0.0168 m², which converts to 168 cm², not 1.68 cm², highlighting the importance of accurate unit conversion in capacitor calculations.
PREREQUISITES
- Understanding of capacitor fundamentals and capacitance calculations
- Familiarity with the formula C = (ε * A) / d
- Knowledge of unit conversions between square meters and square centimeters
- Basic grasp of spherical and parallel-plate capacitor configurations
NEXT STEPS
- Study the derivation and applications of the capacitance formula C = (ε * A) / d
- Learn about the properties and applications of spherical capacitors
- Explore advanced topics in electrostatics, including energy stored in capacitors
- Investigate common mistakes in unit conversions in physics problems
USEFUL FOR
Students studying physics, particularly those focusing on electromagnetism and capacitor theory, as well as educators looking for examples of common calculation errors in capacitor problems.