The discussion centers on the skin effect in capacitor plates, specifically addressing how surface charge depth varies with DC and AC potentials. It is established that for a charged capacitor with a DC potential, the surface charge depth is minimal, typically only a few angstroms. In contrast, the depth of electron displacement remains consistent regardless of whether the capacitor is connected to a DC or AC source, as it is fundamentally linked to voltage and capacitance. Additionally, dynamic changes in capacitance due to physical movement do not result in deeper penetration of the electric field into the conductor.
PREREQUISITESElectrical engineers, physicists, and students studying electromagnetism and capacitor design will benefit from this discussion, particularly those interested in the behavior of electric fields in capacitors under varying conditions.
Well , is the surface current that you talk about parallel to the plate surface or perpendicular? Because @Ivan Nikiforov claims and shows even with an animation that there is only perpendicular movement of electrons due to the change in plate location. You left out that distinction but that is an important one, which causes some misunderstanding to me.Baluncore said:A small positive patch, close to a large negative plate, will draw electrons out of the large plate surface. Since C = Q / V, the charge drawn out will be Q = C⋅V ; That is, for a fixed voltage, charge is proportional to the capacitance.
If the positive patch is then moved around on the plate, the mound of electrons on the plate surface will be dragged about, following the moving patch. A momentary surface current of electrons will flow, where the edge of the small moving patch, covers or uncovers the larger plate.