Surface charge, electric fields, and capacitance

AI Thread Summary
The discussion revolves around a homework problem involving electric fields and capacitance between charged conducting sheets. The first question asks for the electric field at a point between two plates when one plate is shrunk to a square. The second question explores the relationship between electric fields in a series configuration with oppositely charged sheets and dielectrics. The third question examines the electric field relationship in a parallel configuration with equal contact area. The final part seeks to determine the equivalent capacitance for both configurations. Participants express uncertainty about how to approach the problem, particularly regarding the impact of changing dimensions on the electric field.
lookingforhlp
Messages
11
Reaction score
0

Homework Statement


Two large conducting sheets are charged with a positive surface charge density. They stand vertically facing each other a distance d apart.

a.) suddenly, we shrink the left sheet to a square with sides equal to d, what is the field at the point along the central axis of the smaller sheet a point directly between the two plates?

b.) By shrinking both sheets to a square with sides equal to d, let each sheet have oppositely charged sufaces with two dielectrics (K1, K2). what is the relationship between E1 and E2 for a series configuration?

c.) Alternatively for b) what is the E-Field relationship for a parallel configuration when the sheet's contact area is shared equally?

d.) what is the equivalent capacitance in each case b) c)?



Homework Equations



C = (K*Epsilon*Area)/d

Efield at a point from a surface charge is = integral of kq/r^2 dq

dq = sigma dA

The Attempt at a Solution



I don't really know where to begin with this...I know in between two parallel plate capacitors the field is uniform and it will change with the change in one plate but the question does not explain what the original dimensions are...and when one shrinks that means the field won't be uniform...

But how do I figure out exactly what that is?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
I want to take this one step at a time so I want to address A.) first
 
I multiplied the values first without the error limit. Got 19.38. rounded it off to 2 significant figures since the given data has 2 significant figures. So = 19. For error I used the above formula. It comes out about 1.48. Now my question is. Should I write the answer as 19±1.5 (rounding 1.48 to 2 significant figures) OR should I write it as 19±1. So in short, should the error have same number of significant figures as the mean value or should it have the same number of decimal places as...
Thread 'Collision of a bullet on a rod-string system: query'
In this question, I have a question. I am NOT trying to solve it, but it is just a conceptual question. Consider the point on the rod, which connects the string and the rod. My question: just before and after the collision, is ANGULAR momentum CONSERVED about this point? Lets call the point which connects the string and rod as P. Why am I asking this? : it is clear from the scenario that the point of concern, which connects the string and the rod, moves in a circular path due to the string...
Thread 'A cylinder connected to a hanging mass'
Let's declare that for the cylinder, mass = M = 10 kg Radius = R = 4 m For the wall and the floor, Friction coeff = ##\mu## = 0.5 For the hanging mass, mass = m = 11 kg First, we divide the force according to their respective plane (x and y thing, correct me if I'm wrong) and according to which, cylinder or the hanging mass, they're working on. Force on the hanging mass $$mg - T = ma$$ Force(Cylinder) on y $$N_f + f_w - Mg = 0$$ Force(Cylinder) on x $$T + f_f - N_w = Ma$$ There's also...
Back
Top