Is there a magnetic field in a capacitor during leakage or discharge?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the presence of a magnetic field in a capacitor during leakage or discharge, exploring the implications of Maxwell's equations and the concept of displacement current. Participants examine theoretical aspects and practical scenarios related to capacitors in the context of changing electric fields and leakage currents.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant questions whether a magnetic field exists between the plates of a leaking or discharging capacitor.
  • Another participant references Maxwell's equations and asks about the contributions to the magnetic field.
  • A participant suggests that the changing electric field leads to a displacement current, but expresses confusion due to a previous answer from their teacher indicating zero magnetic field.
  • Some participants assert that displacement current arises from the changing electric field and leakage current, suggesting that it should be possible to calculate the magnetic field under certain assumptions.
  • There is a request for the calculations that led to the conclusion of zero magnetic field, indicating a lack of clarity on the teacher's reasoning.
  • Participants express uncertainty and seek further clarification on how to approach the problem of calculating displacement current and magnetic fields in this context.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus; there are competing views regarding the presence of a magnetic field and the implications of displacement current in the scenario described.

Contextual Notes

Participants note the need for assumptions regarding the uniformity of leakage and the dependence on the definitions of displacement current and magnetic fields, but these aspects remain unresolved.

Anurag00
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When capacitor is leaking ie, when charge is leaking or when it is discharging then will there be any magnetic field between the parallel plates of capcitor?
 
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Take a look at maxwell's equations. what are the 2 contributions to the magnetic field?
 
Well the electric field changes and so there will be an electric flux which varies accordingly and so due this there will be displacement current. But my physics teacher gave a question in which there was charge leakage in the parallel plate capacitor and gave information about the dimensions of capacitor and charge stored and about the rate of charge leak. But when i applied the maxwell theory then my teacher gave us the answers which gave zero to be the correct answer... Thats why i am confused.
 
So, there is displacement current because the electric field changes and there is the leakage current. you should be able to work out what the magnetic field should be. It seems your teacher also did this.
If you want to compute the magnetic field everywhere between the plates, you will have to assume the leakage is the same everywhere.
 
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willem2 said:
So, there is displacement current because the electric field changes and there is the leakage current. you should be able to work out what the magnetic field should be. It seems your teacher also did this.
If you want to compute the magnetic field everywhere between the plates, you will have to assume the leakage is the same everywhere.
But from here nothing comes to my mind. I am almost clueless from here.
 
Anurag00 said:
then my teacher gave us the answers which gave zero to be the correct answer...
Can you show us the calculation that your teacher did to conclude that it is zero?
 
Anurag00 said:
But from here nothing comes to my mind. I am almost clueless from here.

You must have seen an equation where this displacement current appears. You should be able to find everything what is needed to work out the displacement current, with what you already know about capacitors.
 
berkeman said:
Can you show us the calculation that your teacher did to conclude that it is zero?
He just gave the answer verbally, not the solution.
 
willem2 said:
You must have seen an equation where this displacement current appears. You should be able to find everything what is needed to work out the displacement current, with what you already know about capacitors.
Let me try again.
 

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