Why electric field between two plates ##\frac {σ} {ε_0}## ?

Join the discussion
Ask a follow-up here, or get your own question answered by working scientists, mathematicians and engineers — people, not an autocomplete.
Real named experts · corrections over time · the nuance an AI answer skips
8 replies · 1K views
Arman777
Insights Author
Gold Member
Messages
2,163
Reaction score
191
Why electric field between two plates ##\frac {σ} {ε_0}## ? Where is that came from ?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Arman777 said:
Why electric field between two plates ##\frac {σ} {ε_0}## ? Where is that came from ?
Gauss' law.
 
cnh1995 said:
Gauss' law.

ohh we didnt learn it.But we will..I guess I should wait then
 
cnh1995 said:
Gauss' law.
Arman777 said:
ohh we didnt learn it.But we will..I guess I should wait then
In a recent thread you said you're using (or will be using) Giancoli's book. Gauss's Law is in chapter 22 and capacitors are in chapter 24, according to the table of contents which are listed here. (click on the Table of Contents link).
 
When using two plates, they are normally placed very close to each other. The distance of separation is extremely small compared to the size of the plates. This is essentially the concept of an "infinite sheet." An infinite sheet is an infinitely large, charged sheet. Technically, the electric field due to an infinite sheet is: http://tinypic.com/r/hss6jn/9 http://imageshack.com/a/img924/8000/MPvupe.png (application of Coulomb's law). R is the measure of a dimension of the sheet, and its proportional to the area of the sheet. x is the distance from the sheet to a point. Since the sheet is infinitely large, R is infinitely large and is therefore much greater than x, so 1/ (√(r^2 / x^2) +1) becomes extremely small, to the point where it no longer has an impact on the magnitude of the electric field. Since x does not have an effect on the magnitude of the electric field, the electric field has the same magnitude at every point. The electric field then becomes: E = σ/(2ε_o). The electric field between two plates is twice the magnitude, and that's where your equation comes from.