Determing the Potential Difference Ratio

[Shinwasha]

Homework Statement

Two parallel-plate capacitors have the same plate area.
Capacitor 1 has a plate separation half that of capacitor 2, and the quantity of charge you place on capacitor 1 is six times the quantity you place on capacitor 2.
How do the two Potentials differences of the capacitors compare V1/V2?

Homework Equations

C=Q/V

The Attempt at a Solution

The one way I was looking at this is that I know that as the as the distance increases the potential difference increases. I was figuring that since no actually numbers were given it would be conceptual passed. I also assumed that C would be the same though I am not sure how distance affects capacitance. V1 = 6q/C and V2= q/C. This is what I'm stuck[/B]

 

[Doc Al]

I also assumed that C would be the same though I am not sure how distance affects capacitance.

Don't assume that! Look it up! (The capacitance of a parallel plate capacitor depends on area and separation distance.)

 

[Shinwasha]

Don't assume that! Look it up! (The capacitance of a parallel plate capacitor depends on area and separation distance.)

which I'm given no values for. All that is given is that the distance for 1 is half that of the 2nd one. The area is never given. That's why I'm having difficulty. I just hate when given things with no values. Numbers I can deal with.

 

[SammyS]

Homework Statement

Two parallel-plate capacitors have the same plate area.
Capacitor 1 has a plate separation half that of capacitor 2, and the quantity of charge you place on capacitor 1 is six times the quantity you place on capacitor 2.
How do the two Potentials differences of the capacitors compare V1/V2?

Homework Equations

C=Q/V

The Attempt at a Solution

The one way I was looking at this is that I know that as the as the distance increases the potential difference increases. I was figuring that since no actually numbers were given it would be conceptual passed. I also assumed that C would be the same though I am not sure how distance affects capacitance. V1 = 6q/C and V2= q/C. This is what I'm stuck[/B]

which I'm given no values for. All that is given is that the distance for 1 is half that of the 2nd one. The area is never given. That's why I'm having difficulty. I just hate when given things with no values. Numbers I can deal with.

What do you know about (parallel plate) capacitors in general?

How is capacitance related to area and plate separation?

What's the relationship among Q, C, and V ?

 

[Shinwasha]

What do you know about (parallel plate) capacitors in general?

How is capacitance related to area and plate separation?

What's the relationship among Q, C, and V ?

I know q is the charge that is place, and the v is the potential difference between two points. C is the availability for something to hold a charge. q is in coulombs, v is well... volts and c is Farads. I know that C*V=Q. Based of this I know that C*V_1 = 6Q and that C*V_2 = Q. I don't know how capacitance is related to area or plate seperation, as my instructor just copies formulas from the book, and the book does a horrible job going over this. But based of those I can get 6Q/C = v_1 and Q/C=v_2. Here is where I don't know what to do in terms of the separation, but the area is not given.

 

[SammyS]

I know q is the charge that is place, and the v is the potential difference between two points. C is the availability for something to hold a charge. q is in coulombs, v is well... volts and c is Farads. I know that C*V=Q. Based of this I know that C*V_1 = 6Q and that C*V_2 = Q. I don't know how capacitance is related to area or plate separation, as my instructor just copies formulas from the book, and the book does a horrible job going over this. But based off those I can get 6Q/C = v_1 and Q/C=v_2. Here is where I don't know what to do in terms of the separation, but the area is not given.

As Doc Al said, C₁ ≠ C₂ .

The capacitance is inversely proportional to plate separation. (This consistent with what you stated about potential difference increasing with separation in the OP.) Therefore, C₁ = 2C₂ .

BTW: Regarding plate area; Capacitance is directly proportional to plate area.

 

[Shinwasha]

As Doc Al said, C₁ ≠ C₂ .

The capacitance is inversely proportional to plate separation. (This consistent with what you stated about potential difference increasing with separation in the OP.) Therefore, C₁ = 2C₂ .

BTW: Regarding plate area; Capacitance is directly proportional to plate area.

Thank you for the information and the help. I'm writing this into my notes so I can study it up. First question I asked on here, and I like how it worked. Let's me actually try and work through the problem, while getting help. Going to be useful when I get into Quantum Mechanics. I got the answer.

 

[SammyS]

Thank you for the information and the help. I'm writing this into my notes so I can study it up. First question I asked on here, and I like how it worked. Let's me actually try and work through the problem, while getting help. Going to be useful when I get into Quantum Mechanics. I got the answer.

I should have said it earlier,

Welcome to PF !