Electric Field between Parallel Plates

In summary, to find the electric field between two parallel plates with equal but opposite charges of magnitude 8.84 x 10^-8 C, separated by 0.01 m, you can use the equation E=kQ/d^2 and take into account the area of the plates to calculate the charge surface density. Gauss's law and symmetry can also be used to simplify the calculation.
  • #1
9giddjl
35
0
Electric Field hard question :(

Homework Statement



What is the electric field between two parralel plats, each of area 1 m^2 which are separated by a distance of 0.01 m, if each plate is charged equally but oppositely with a charge of magnitude 8.84 x 10^-8 C?

Homework Equations


E= kQ/ d^2


The Attempt at a Solution


i tried to find the electric field at each plat using E= kQ/ d^2. Because it says in the question 'find the electric field between the two parralel plates, does this mean the midpoint?
i don't really get what to do with the area either?
Any Help would be greatly appreciated
THANKYOU :^)
 
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  • #2


The electric field between two parallel plates, when their separation is much smaller than their size, is uniform (as long as you stay away from the edges)
and has a magnitude equal to the charge density divided by the permissivity of the medium.

The area is given to you so that you calculate the charge surface density. I think you can find plenty of information on this topic in any good electrostatics textbook.
 
  • #3


Make use of Gauss law and symmetry here.
 

1. What is an electric field?

The electric field is a physical quantity that describes the force experienced by a charged particle in the presence of other charged particles. It is a vector quantity, meaning it has both magnitude and direction.

2. How is the strength of an electric field measured?

The strength of an electric field is measured in units of volts per meter (V/m). This measurement is also known as electric field intensity.

3. What is the difference between an electric field and an electric potential?

An electric field is a physical quantity that describes the force experienced by a charged particle, while electric potential is a scalar quantity that describes the energy per unit charge at a specific point in an electric field.

4. How does distance affect the strength of an electric field?

The strength of an electric field is inversely proportional to the square of the distance from the source of the field. This means that as distance increases, the strength of the electric field decreases.

5. What are some real-life applications of electric fields?

Electric fields have many practical applications, such as powering electronic devices, charging batteries, and creating electric motors. They are also used in medical devices, such as MRI machines, and in industrial processes like electroplating.

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