Fully filled capacitors with parallel dielectrics problem

3 replies · 2K views · last reply
Amaelle
Messages
318
Reaction score
55
consider that we have two dielectrics inside a capacitor as shown in the picture, let0s consider also that Q is the charge of the capacitor and d the distance between the two plates , the first dielectric occupy a surface of S/3 with a dielectric constant of er1 and the second a surface of 2S/3 with a dielectric constant of er2, the question is calculate the electric field inside the capacitor and the surface density of the induced charge (see the uploaded image)
During the calculation I faced the following doubts: I applied gauss theorem to the flux density in both areas of the dielectrics and I got:
Handwritten Gauss law equation: integral of D dot dS equals Q free, leading to e0 e1 E r1 = sigma.


σ is the surface density of the free charges =Q/S,

Equation E1 = σ/(ε0 εr1), written as plain text: E1 = σ/(ε0 ε_r1), for the electric field in the first dielectric of a capacitor.


doing the same with the second surface I got that
Handwritten equation: E2 = σ/(ε0 εr2), with E2 written as a subscripted symbol and the fraction showing sigma over epsilon-zero times epsilon-r2.


and because my two dielectric are in parallel so E1=E2

this gives me
Handwritten equation: sigma/(epsilon_0 * er1) = sigma/(epsilon_0 * er2) implies er1 = er2, with the equivalence written as a plain-text relation.


BUT this not true! so where did my logic fails??

Many thanks in advance!
Diagram of a parallel-plate capacitor cross-section with plate separation d; the gap is split into a green region labelled er1 of width S/3 and a yellow region labelled er2 of width 2S/3, sitting side by side.
Diagram of a parallel-plate capacitor cross-section with plate separation d; the gap is split into a green region labelled er1 of width S/3 and a yellow region labelled er2 of width 2S/3, sitting side by side.
Diagram of a parallel-plate capacitor cross-section with plate separation d; the gap is split into a green region labelled er1 of width S/3 and a yellow region labelled er2 of width 2S/3, sitting side by side.
 
Attachments
  • Diagram of a parallel-plate capacitor cross-section with plate separation d; the gap is split into a green region labelled er1 of width S/3 and a yellow region labelled er2 of width 2S/3, sitting side by side.
    dielectric.png
    3.4 KB · Views: 668
  • Handwritten Gauss law equation: integral of D dot dS equals Q free, leading to e0 e1 E r1 = sigma.
    QEAJg.gif
    869 bytes · Views: 481
  • Equation E1 = σ/(ε0 εr1), written as plain text: E1 = σ/(ε0 ε_r1), for the electric field in the first dielectric of a capacitor.
    8YAxA.gif
    491 bytes · Views: 452
  • Handwritten equation: E2 = σ/(ε0 εr2), with E2 written as a subscripted symbol and the fraction showing sigma over epsilon-zero times epsilon-r2.
    y48Zg.gif
    523 bytes · Views: 480
  • Handwritten equation: sigma/(epsilon_0 * er1) = sigma/(epsilon_0 * er2) implies er1 = er2, with the equivalence written as a plain-text relation.
    MHZ6c.gif
    834 bytes · Views: 457
Amaelle said:
BUT this not true! so where did my logic fails??
Charge density on the plates will not be uniform.
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: Amaelle
Thanks for your prompt reply, it makes sens but can you elborate more?
 
I just go why the charge density is different from dielectric to dielectric
many thanks !