- #1
DDesulgon
- 26
- 6
Hello, I am starting to teach about plate capacitors and have a few questions. I am using this model: https://www.phywe.com/physics/elect...tric-field/plate-capacitor-d-260mm_1000_1931/
1) As I understand it, the left plate is electrically insulated, while the right plate is conductively connected to the housing? Does that mean the right plate should definitely be grounded? Is it then safe to touch the housing? This is an important question, especially because the right plate is quite difficult to move and you actually have to hold the housing in place to do so.
2) Is it realistic to assume that there could be any danger? The radius is 13 cm. Assuming a plate distance of a few millimeters, calculating the capacity and the discharge energy with E=1/2*C*U^2, the result is a few mJ (at voltages of several kV). However, discharge energies above 350 mJ are considered dangerous to touch. The power supply is also current-limited. Am I overlooking something here?
3) The charge flows off the plates very quickly. This can be observed very clearly with a static voltmeter. The manufacturer suggests that one possible cause is that only one of the plates is electrically insulated. What is the point of this? Isn't only one plate electrically insulated anyway, while the other is connected to the housing and grounded with a cable?
What measures could be taken to prevent the charges from flowing away so quickly?
Sorry if these are obvious questions—I have little experience with the device and want to be on the safe side.
And sorry again for the clumsy language, English is not my native language.
Thank you in advance!
1) As I understand it, the left plate is electrically insulated, while the right plate is conductively connected to the housing? Does that mean the right plate should definitely be grounded? Is it then safe to touch the housing? This is an important question, especially because the right plate is quite difficult to move and you actually have to hold the housing in place to do so.
2) Is it realistic to assume that there could be any danger? The radius is 13 cm. Assuming a plate distance of a few millimeters, calculating the capacity and the discharge energy with E=1/2*C*U^2, the result is a few mJ (at voltages of several kV). However, discharge energies above 350 mJ are considered dangerous to touch. The power supply is also current-limited. Am I overlooking something here?
3) The charge flows off the plates very quickly. This can be observed very clearly with a static voltmeter. The manufacturer suggests that one possible cause is that only one of the plates is electrically insulated. What is the point of this? Isn't only one plate electrically insulated anyway, while the other is connected to the housing and grounded with a cable?
What measures could be taken to prevent the charges from flowing away so quickly?
Sorry if these are obvious questions—I have little experience with the device and want to be on the safe side.
And sorry again for the clumsy language, English is not my native language.
Thank you in advance!