Charge on Capacitor: Equal Charge Explained

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the phenomenon of charge distribution on capacitors, particularly focusing on why equal and opposite charges develop on the plates of a parallel plate capacitor when connected to a battery. Participants explore the implications of this behavior in various configurations, including a scenario with four plates.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant questions why equal and opposite charges develop on the plates of a capacitor when connected to a battery, suggesting it is related to the establishment of an electric field that cancels out the battery's field.
  • Another participant proposes a scenario involving four plates connected to a battery and asks whether the charge distribution would be Q, -Q, Q, -Q, and seeks an explanation based on the uniqueness theorem for electric fields.
  • A different participant asserts that charge travels down a potential gradient and that in an open circuit, it stops at the plate, creating an electric field.
  • One participant shares a link to a resource that may provide further insights into the topic, indicating that the discussion is of interest to them.
  • Another participant expresses gratitude for the shared resource and mentions obtaining a proof related to charge deposition on the wire under steady-state conditions.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express varying degrees of understanding and interpretations of the charge distribution on capacitors, with no consensus reached on the specific mechanisms or implications of the scenarios discussed.

Contextual Notes

Some participants reference theoretical concepts such as the uniqueness theorem for electric fields, but the discussion does not resolve the assumptions or conditions under which these theories apply.

pardesi
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why is there equal charge on both the capacitor when one end of one and the other end the other is connected to a battery
 
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pardesi said:
why is there equal charge on both the capacitor when one end of one and the other end the other is connected to a battery

I don't understand what you're trying to ask. Please reword.
 
hes asking why equal but opposite charges develop on opposite sides of a parellel plate capacitor and the answer is because they have to setup an E field that cancels out the field of the battery
 
well here i am not using any speciality of the 'capacitor'...i just use 4 plates connect two of them to a battery and place two of the other after connecting them by a perfectly conducting wire in between the two plates...will the charge distribution be [tex]Q,-Q,Q,-Q[/tex] respectively ...if yes why


i am trying to proceed on the lines of uniqueness theorem for electric fields...
 
i told you why, because charge travels down a potential gradient and since a cap is an open circuit it will stop at the plate and create a field.
 
pardesi said:
well here i am not using any speciality of the 'capacitor'...i just use 4 plates connect two of them to a battery and place two of the other after connecting them by a perfectly conducting wire in between the two plates...will the charge distribution be [tex]Q,-Q,Q,-Q[/tex] respectively ...if yes whyi am trying to proceed on the lines of uniqueness theorem for electric fields...

This is a very interesting question. You will find this discussion of interest:
http://www.usna.edu/Users/physics/mungan/Scholarship/Capacitors.html
 
Last edited by a moderator:
hey thanks for that wonderfuls site.
i got a proof on the line that the there is no charge deposition on the wire and assuming steady state
 

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