Physics homework problem - design a capacitor

[mondroid]

Physics homework problem -- design a capacitor

Homework Statement

An engineer needs to design a capacitor with a capacitance of 1*10^-6F using a material with a dielectric constant 260. If the dielectric strength of the material is 8*10⁶ N/C, and the maximum voltage that the capacitor is allowed to handle is 160 volts, what must be the area of the plates?

Homework Equations

Q=CV, C=A/(4πkd)

The Attempt at a Solution

A=4πkdC; everything is known except the distance between plates

V=Ed, d=V/E; V is given

E=kq/r², r=d

d=kq/V

A=4πk²CQ/V

I got A = .113m² but I'm not sure If I'm doing it right or not. Could some check it for me please. I did not use the dielectric constant and dielectric strength values.

Thank you

 

[Simon Bridge]

I did not use the dielectric constant and dielectric strength values.

Then you are doing it wrong.

What is important about the maximum voltage?
It is the voltage, above which, the capacitor does something special...

 

[butleRonius]

Dielectric strength can also be written as\frac{V}{m}, and Max Voltage on a capacitor is dielectric strength * distance between the plates.

Hope this helps.