Equivalent Capacitance of Five Plates with Uniform Area and Spacing

[Krushnaraj Pandya]

Homework Statement

Five plates with same area are placed as in figure. Distance between any 2 consecutive plates is d. Find equivalent capacitance(ab). (Note-Answer is given as 5C/3, in terms of C so I suppose C is capacitance of a +ve and -ve plate separated by d). The lower letter is A, it is marked positive and upper letter is B marked negative.

Homework Equations

All related.

The Attempt at a Solution

numbering 1 to 5 from top to bottom. I can see 1 capacitor due to negative 2 and positive 3 and none else since 1 and 4 are uncharged so answer should be C...unless charges get induced. In that case there are 4 capacitors and answer should be 4C. I'd be grateful for some help.

 

[e-pie]

Your picture is not clear. Please post another one.

 

[Krushnaraj Pandya]

Your picture is not clear. Please post another one.

I only have a inbuilt webcam...please pardon the poor quality. I'll post another one however, I've provided all information and the general outline of the figure should be enough...

 

[CWatters]

Try drawing an equivalent circuit. It should have four capacitors on it, one per gap.

The top plate and forth plate are connected together. I recommend labeling that connection node C.

 

[Krushnaraj Pandya]

Try drawing an equivalent circuit. It should have four capacitors on it, one per gap.

The top plate and forth plate are connected together. I recommend labeling that connection node C.

Got it! That was very neat. Thank you very much for your help.