Work done on capacitors and more

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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on calculating the effects of inserting a conducting plate into a parallel-plate capacitor circuit. The initial capacitance is defined as C = ε₀A/d, and upon inserting a plate of thickness d/3, the final capacitance becomes 3C/2. The increase in charge stored is CE/2, and the increase in energy stored is CE²/4. The work done by the battery during the insertion is CE²/2, while the work done by the force applied to the conducting plate is -CE²/4.

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  • Understanding of capacitor fundamentals, including capacitance and energy storage.
  • Familiarity with the equations C = Q/V and U = q²/2C.
  • Knowledge of electric fields and charge distribution in conductors.
  • Basic circuit analysis involving series and parallel configurations of capacitors.
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Homework Statement



Hello, guys! Here I am again asking for your help...This is question number 2 from http://www.studyjapan.go.jp/en/toj/pdf/007.pdf"
2) Consider the circuit shown in Fig. 5, consisting of a battery of voltage E, a switch S, and a parallel-plate capacitor with capacitance C. The capacitor consists of two parallel conducting plates of equal area A separated by a distance d. After the switch S is closed and the capacitor is fully charged, a conducting plate of thickness d/3 and area A is inserted slowly between the plates of the capacitor. The inserted conducting plate is kept parallel to the conducting plates of the capacitor. Select answers to the questions from (a) to (z) below, and write the symbol of the answer in the box.
(1) Find the capacitance of the capacitor after the conducting plate is inserted.
(2) How much is the increase in the charge stored in the capacitor caused by inserting the conducting plate?
(3) How much is the increase in the energy stored in the capacitor caused by inserting the conducting plate?
(4) How much work is done by the battery during the insertion of the conducting plate?
(5) How much work is done by the force applied to the conducting plate during its insertion?
Next, the switch S is opened, and the conducting plate is removed slowly. How much work is done by the force applied to the conducting plate to remove it?

Homework Equations



C=Q/V
U=q²/2C
C=\epsilon0A/d

The Attempt at a Solution



Actually, I haven't done much 'cause I don't know what to do. Any ideas?
Sorry about not posting anything at the "attempt" section, but I really don't know how to start...I tried, I swear! Actually, I tried a lot ><
Thanks for the help, guys!
 
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when we insert a conductor in between due to field -ve charge comes on one side and +ve charge on the other and since its a conductor Electric field inside is zero so charge comes on to surface,so its just like two new capacitors with distance between palates is d/3 each..
potential drops as E/2,E/2 to each then u can find the charge on plates with new capacitance values for each.
so the we get the additional charge the battery should provide,so the work done by battery is additional charge*E...
to find work done by u find the change i potential nergy before and after placing conductor
 
Ohh, I got it!
(1) Initial capacitance: 0A/d
When we introduce the conductor, each of the "two capacitors" will have capacitance = 3\epsilon0A/d. Since I can assume the "two capacitors" are arranged in series, Final capacitance = Capacitance/2. So, final capacitance will be 3\epsilon0A/2d=3C/2.
(2)Initial charge = CE
Final charge = 3CE/2
Increase in charge = 3CE/2-CE=CE/2
(3)Initial energy = CE²/2
Final energy = 3CE²/4
Increase in energy = 3CE²/4-CE²/2=CE²/4
(4)bharath423 said that the work done by the battery will be Additional charge*E=CE²/2
(5)The work done by the force will be =-Increase in energy=-CE²/4
(6)The work done by the force will be, once again, =-Increase in energy.
Energy now=3CE²/4
But here's my doubt...when I remove the conductor, will the voltage E change?
Thanks a lot for the help! ^^
 

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