What Is the Potential at the Surface of a Charged Conductor Plate?

In summary: This means the potential at the conductor plate which contains the charge will be the same as the potential at any other point on the conductor, since it is the combined result of all the charges on the conductor. The distance between the charges in a conductor and the conductor itself is not relevant when determining potential, as it is the distance between the charges themselves that affects potential. In summary, the potential at the conductor plate containing a charge will be the same as the potential at any other point on the conductor, as it is determined by the combined result of all the charges. The distance between the charges in a conductor and the conductor itself is not relevant in determining potential.
  • #1
manjuvenamma
102
0
In explaining capacitance, it is said that a conductor plate when given a charge Q develops voltage V. There is potential at every point around a chrage and it is inversely proportional to the distance. But what will be the potential at the conductor plate which is having the charge itself. That is gives me a thought. What is the potential at the charge it self? Is it infinite because it is 1/0.
 
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  • #2
charges don't act on themselves.
 
  • #3
I think that is a very interesting question. In classical electromagnetism charges are considered infinitely small infallible point charges, cleverly avoiding this problem. In the case of potential, as the previous poster said charges don't work on themselves. On the other hand, if you consider the electric field around an electron as you get closer and closer, will it get infinitely large and how will you measure it?
 
  • #4
How can then we talk about potential of the conductor plate which contains the charge? What is the distance between the charges in a conductor and the conductor itself? Sorry, if I am missing some point and asking silly questions.
 
  • #5
manjuvenamma said:
How can then we talk about potential of the conductor plate which contains the charge?

the potential felt by one charge is due to all the *other* charges, but not the charge itself.
 

FAQ: What Is the Potential at the Surface of a Charged Conductor Plate?

How does a capacitor store energy?

A capacitor stores energy by creating an electric field between two conductive plates, with an insulating material (dielectric) in between. When a voltage is applied to the capacitor, one plate becomes positively charged while the other becomes negatively charged, thus creating an electric potential energy between the plates.

What is the working principle of a capacitor?

The working principle of a capacitor is based on the ability of the dielectric material to store energy in an electric field. When a voltage is applied to the capacitor, the electric field is established between the plates, which results in the storage of charge and energy.

How does a capacitor discharge?

A capacitor discharges when there is a path for the stored energy to flow from one plate to the other. This can happen when a circuit is completed, allowing the electric charge to flow through the capacitor and back into the circuit.

What is the role of dielectric in a capacitor?

The dielectric material in a capacitor serves as an insulator between the two conductive plates, allowing the electric field to build up and store energy. Different types of dielectric materials have different properties, which can affect the capacitance and performance of the capacitor.

How does the capacitance of a capacitor affect its working principle?

The capacitance of a capacitor is a measure of its ability to store charge and energy. A higher capacitance means that the capacitor can store more charge and energy for a given voltage. This affects the working principle as a larger capacitance results in a stronger electric field and a higher amount of stored energy.

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