Asymmetrical charged parallel plates capacitor

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Discussion Overview

The discussion focuses on the behavior of a parallel plates capacitor with asymmetrical charges, specifically addressing the potential difference between the plates and the effects of grounding one of the plates. Participants explore concepts related to charge distribution, induction, and the implications of grounding on charge accumulation.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Technical explanation, Conceptual clarification, Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant questions the potential difference in a capacitor where one plate has 1 C of charge and the other is neutral, and asks about the effect of grounding the neutral plate.
  • Another participant raises a similar question about the behavior of a charged conductor near an uncharged conductor and the implications of grounding the uncharged conductor.
  • A third participant suggests using the mean of the absolute values of both charges to calculate the potential difference, referencing the formula V = Q/C.
  • A later reply provides a link to an external source that describes the situation in detail and suggests sketching the plates with thickness to understand the charge distribution better.
  • The same reply notes that grounding the bottom plate would eliminate the positive charge on its lower surface.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express varying viewpoints on how to approach the calculations and implications of grounding, indicating that multiple competing views remain without a consensus on the best method to determine the potential difference.

Contextual Notes

Participants do not fully resolve the assumptions regarding charge distribution, grounding effects, or the specific calculations for potential difference, leaving these aspects open for further discussion.

abdo799
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If i have a parallel plates capacitor , where the plates have different charges , eg, one plate has 1 C of charge and the other is neutral , what's the potential difference? what if i grounded the neutral plate , will it gain 1 C of charge?
 
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What normally happens when a charged conductor is brought close to an uncharged conductor... and then you Earth the uncharged conductor?
 
Simon Bridge said:
What normally happens when a charged conductor is brought close to an uncharged conductor... and then you Earth the uncharged conductor?

yea, just like charging by induction , but about the charge i use to find out the V using CV=Q , should i use the mean of the sum of the absolute values of both charges?
 
There's a fairly decent description here:
http://physics.stackexchange.com/questions/101116/capacitor-with-different-charges-on-each-plate

If you sketch out the situation - careful to draw the plates as having a thickness - you should see how to deal with it.
The "top" plate has a single row of +++++ across the lower surface, there's a gap, and the bottom plate has a row of ------- (minuses) along the top and ++++++ along the bottom. What does that look like to you?

If you ground the bottom plate, you get rid of the ++++ on the bottom.
 
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