Well this one has a straightforward association between the electric field between the plates, the potential difference and the distance. V=Ed
http://online.cctt.org/physicslab/content/PhyAPB/lessonnotes/parallelplates/parallel_plates.asp
If your book doesn't have any theory on this then just go to the above site or better yet you can search hyperphysics for more info.
Well like you were thinking the capacitor is discharging through the resistors. However, it won't be discharging through R1. It will only discharge through R2 and R3. This is because the path along R3 is the path of least resistance. The open switch is like having an infinite impedance so current will not flow down a path of infinite impedance...instead it will flow through the path marked by R2 and R3. This means R2 and R3 are in series, which makes an equivalent resistance of 8 ohms. This is why you get 11 microseconds.