What is the Electric Field Between Two Charged Plates?

[lobstrain]

Alright, here's the problem. You're told that there are two square metal plates with side length L and a distance d away from each other. One has charge +Q, the other -Q. Then they ask for the magnitude for the charge between the plates, not close to the edge.

Here's what I have so far: The electric field between them obviously isn't 0.

I've got sigma = (magnitude of charge)/area.
The electric field for one plate is E = sigma/(2 * epsilon).
Since the fields from both plates in between them point in the same direction, the total field would be E = sigma/epsilon.

This was going great until I realized the I still had an unused variable, distance d. I have no idea of what to do with it. I tried multiplying E by d, then dividing it by d, but I don't like the way those numbers look. Please help!

 

[Andrew Mason]

Separation distance d is immaterial to the electric field if d is small compared to L. Does the question go on to ask about the capacitance?

AM

 

[lobstrain]

Nope. Correct me if I'm wrong, but this is what I have pictured (since there is no picture to go with the problem):

| - ---> +
| - ---> +
| - ---> +
L - <-d-> +
| - ---> +
| - ---> +
| - ---> +

For the record, L = 0.82m and d = 0.022m

I'm not sure if that would be considered a significant difference, but they gave me a value, so I'm scared to ignore it.

 

[lobstrain]

bu-du-bump!

 

[dextercioby]

I'm sorry,but to me the problem does not make too much sense.What's inbetween the plates??Vacuum,a conductive medium,a dielectric,what??
Besides,how would u get the charge?

Daniel.

 

[lobstrain]

Ok, I'll put it verbatim.

Two square metal plates are placed parallel to each other, separated by a distance d = 2.20 cm. The plates have sides of length L = 0.820 m. One of the plates has charge Q = + 2.70 x 10^-3 C, while the other plate has charge -Q. What is the magnitude of the electric field between the plates, not close to the edge?

 

[lobstrain]

lalalabump

 

[Doc Al]

Better listen to Andrew and ignore that separation distance. Note that the equation you are using for the field:

"The electric field for one plate is E = sigma/(2 * epsilon)."​

is only accurate for distances that are small compared to L. Use it. That's what they want.

 

[dextercioby]

Ok, I'll put it verbatim.

Two square metal plates are placed parallel to each other, separated by a distance d = 2.20 cm. The plates have sides of length L = 0.820 m. One of the plates has charge Q = + 2.70 x 10^-3 C, while the other plate has charge -Q. What is the magnitude of the electric field between the plates, not close to the edge?

That's something totally different.Here's something from your first post: "Then they ask for the magnitude for the charge between the plates, not close to the edge. "...

Daniel.

 

[lobstrain]

Hahaha, I was doing it right the whole time. The only thing was that I kept putting 8.55 E -12 for epsilon instead of 8.85. Thanks guys!