The discussion clarifies that the electric field between two infinite parallel conducting plates is uniform and constant in magnitude, regardless of the position of a test charge within that field. Participants confirmed that while individual forces from each plate may vary with distance, the overall electric field remains unchanged. This uniformity is a fundamental characteristic of idealized infinite plates, which ensures that the electric field strength does not depend on the distance from the plates.
PREREQUISITESStudents of physics, educators teaching electrostatics, and professionals in electrical engineering seeking to understand the behavior of electric fields in parallel plate configurations.
sunchips said:I heard that two flat conducting parallel plates have the property that electric field at any point between them, is uniform, and of constant magnitude. I was wondering how this was possible. For example, a test charge closer to the positive plate conpared with a test charge closer to the negative plate should have different force magnitudes acting on them shouldn't they? Thanks!
smallphi said:When you move your test charge closer to one of the plates the total forces on the charge from each plate change. One of the forces gets stronger the other weaker but the sum remains the same.