Calculating Electric Field Strength Between Two Disks with 24 Volt Power Supply

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The discussion centers on calculating the electric field strength between two disks connected to a 24-volt power supply, with a separation of 24 cm. The user seeks clarification on the charge on the disks and how to measure the electric field strength at a specific point. It is noted that the carbon impregnated paper serves to model the electric field, and the user has measured various equipotential lines using a voltmeter. The formula E = V/d is suggested for calculating the electric field strength, emphasizing the importance of measuring the potential difference and the distance. Overall, the conversation highlights the complexities of determining electric field strength in this setup.
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Homework Statement


If I have a 24 volt power supply.The positive lead is attached to a disk and the negative lead is attached to another. The disks are separated by about 24 cm. The disks are on a sheet of carbon impregnated paper. Is the charge on the disk 24 volts?

I am trying to determine the electric field strength at a point directly in the middle of the two disks.

E= 2*8.99x10^9*q/r^2

but I am not sure what the charge is on the sphere.
 
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You've got me confused, or at least the question has! Am I correct in picturing the two disks sitting flat on carbon paper with 24 cm between their outer edges?
Under these circumstances, I don't think it is possible to determine the charges on the disks, if any. Where is the sphere?

How could their be a single point in the middle of both disks?
 
Thanks for responding.
Sorry for the confusion.
I am supposed to chart the electric field between two point charges.
And determine the excess charge on each sphere.

The carbon impregnated paper is used to model the electric field in a plane that passes through the center of two spheres. In this case, pennies.

So basically, I attached the positive lead from the power source 24v to one disc and the negative lead to the other.

I attached the negative lead of a voltmeter to the negative disc and used the positive to find the 4v,8v,12v,16v, and 20v equipotential lines on the paper. These locations I plotted on to a graph paper.

I need to calculate the electric field strenght at a point b which is the intersection of a straight line that runs through the center of the discs and the 12 v equipotential line.

I know the distance between the discs but I am not sure what the charges on the discs would be.
 
Oh, interesting! You can actually measure the potential anywhere and find the lines. E field lines are perpendicula to equipotential lines. Neat.

With all that information, you could use E = V/d to find the potential. Here "V" should be a delta V, the difference in potential between two points at the location you are interested in. Measure the potential difference and the distance between the two points - then you can calculate the Electric field strength.
 
Thank you, I appreciate your response. It helped.
 
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