Parallel plate capacitor electric charge

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around a problem involving a parallel plate capacitor, specifically focusing on calculating the electric charge on the plates when a dielectric slab is introduced. The problem provides specific values for voltage, dielectric constant, plate area, gap width, and permittivity of free space.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Problem interpretation

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the relationships between charge, capacitance, and voltage, as well as the equations governing capacitance with and without a dielectric. Some participants express confusion about unit conversions and the implications of changing parameters in the problem.

Discussion Status

The discussion includes attempts to clarify the relationships between the variables involved in the capacitor's behavior. One participant indicates they have resolved their confusion, while others continue to explore related concepts and unit conversions without reaching a consensus.

Contextual Notes

Participants are navigating the complexities of unit conversions, particularly between volts and coulombs, and the implications of using different dielectric constants. There is mention of a similar problem involving a vacuum, which adds to the context of the discussion.

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Consider an air filled parallel plate capacitor with plate area A and gap width d. The plate charge is Q. The total energy stored in the capacitor is given by U= Q^2 *d /2 E_o A. With the battery connected, fill the gap by a slab with the dielectric constant k. Given : E= 70 V, k= 3.8, d=0.8 mm and A = 25.6 cm^2, E_o = 8.85 x 10^-12 C^2/Nm^2, find the electric charge on the plate. Answer in units of C.
I really have no idea how to do this. I know that I have everything needed to find the total energy, but I don't really know how to get the charge from that. Can someone help?
 
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What is the equation relating Q, C and V? What is the equation relating C, epsilon, A and d?
 
I figured it out... thank you.
 
horribly similar is: given only area of each plate, a distance between the plates, and instead, k = 1 (due to a vacuum as opposed to a slab), and the voltage, how would one find surface charge density (in Coulombs/meter^2)? I think I'm only confusing myself by changing various units around (such as volts to Joules/Coulomb)

So the work I've done so far includes:
I've noticed this should be relatively easy; the formula for density is simply just magnitude of the electric field multiplied with the surface area.
First I converted surface area from cm^2 to meters^2, I'm simply stuck on changing the charge difference from volts to coulombs :(
 
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