What happens of charges on other side of plates of capacitor

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers on the behavior of charges in a capacitor when connected to a battery, specifically addressing the charges induced on opposite sides of the capacitor plates and their relevance to the electric field calculation between the plates. The scope includes conceptual understanding and technical reasoning related to capacitors in electrical circuits.

Discussion Character

  • Conceptual clarification
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant questions why the charges induced on the opposite sides of the capacitor plates are not considered in calculating the electric field between the plates.
  • Another participant asserts that those charges go to the battery and do not remain on the plates.
  • A different participant explains that as electrons are moved by the battery's emf to one plate, an equal number of electrons are repelled from the opposite plate, suggesting that these charges are indeed accounted for in electric field calculations.
  • Another participant elaborates on the physical structure of capacitors, noting that they often consist of multilayered or rolled metal foils, which can affect capacitance and the containment of the electrostatic field.
  • One participant describes the conventional current direction and how charges move from the battery to the capacitor, indicating that the charge delivered by the battery is considered in calculations.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the treatment of induced charges in electric field calculations, with some asserting that these charges are accounted for while others question this approach. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the implications of these induced charges.

Contextual Notes

There are limitations in the discussion regarding assumptions about charge movement, the definitions of electric field contributions, and the physical characteristics of capacitors that may influence the interpretations presented.

Dexter Neutron
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When a capacitor is connected to battery then positive charge is induced on one plate and a negative charge is induced on another plate.Now what happens to the charges that are induced on opposite sides of each plate i.e. on plate with positive charge a negative charge would be induced on opposite side and same for other plate.
Why these charges are not taken into account for calculating electric field between the plates?
 
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Those charges go to the battery. They don't stay on the plates.
 
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As each electron is moved by battery emf to one plate, another electron is repelled off the other plate. As already posted.
Dexter Neutron said:
Why these charges are not taken into account for calculating electric field between the plates?

They are. The field results from the charge [and voltage] : V/d = E and Q=CV
 
Last edited:
Dexter Neutron said:
When a capacitor is connected to battery then positive charge is induced on one plate and a negative charge is induced on another plate.Now what happens to the charges that are induced on opposite sides of each plate i.e. on plate with positive charge a negative charge would be induced on opposite side and same for other plate.
Why these charges are not taken into account for calculating electric field between the plates?
Although the capacitor icon may be two parallel plates, in practice these are metal foils and will be multilayered or rolled up into a cylinder so that the reverse side of one plate comes up against the other (but separated by an additional film of dielectric) so it now forms double the capacitance. In the case of a cylindrical form, the spiral edges of the foil are then crimped together so it more resembles a host of concentric cylinders rather than one endlessly-long spiral. This produces the same capacitance while minimizing its inductance and resistance, so making it much closer to the ideal than would otherwise be the case.

In addition, the cylindrical construction means that its electrostatic field can be wholly contained within the device and isn't going to induce interfering signals in nearby circuits.
 
when a parallel plate capacitor is connected to a closed ciruit and according to the conventional agreement of current direction, charges move from the negative terminal of the battery to the plate of the capacitor connected to it (as a result there would the excess electrons on this plate) then it repels equal amount of electrons from the plate connected to the positive terminal of the battery(the electrons move to the positive terminal of the battery) so in calculations the charge delivered the battery to the capacitor is considered. hope it helped
 

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