1.

Show that the force on each plate of a parallel plate capacitor has a magnitude equal to (1//2) QE, where Q is the charge on the capacitor , and E is the magnitude of electric field between the plates . Explain the origin of the factor 1//2.

Answer»

Solution :If F is the force on each plates of parallel plate CAPACITOR, then work done in increasing the seperation between the plates by `Delta x = f Delta x`
This must be the increase in potential energy of the capacitor
Now the increase the volume of capacitor is `= A Delta x`
If U = energy DENSITY = energy stroed/volume then the increase in potential energy `= U.A Delta X`
`:. f Delta X = U. A Delta X`
`f = U.A = ((1)/(2) epsilon_(0) epsilon^(2)) A = (1)/(2) (epsilon_(0) A epsilon) epsilon`
`F = (1)/(2) (epsilon_(0) A (V)/(d)) epsilon [ :' C = (epsilon_(0) A)/(d)]`
`F = (1)/(2) (CV) E = (1)/(2) QE`
The origin of factor 1/2 in force can be explained by the fact that inside the conductor field is zero and outside the conductor, the field is E. Therefore the AVERAGE value of the field (i.e E/2) contributes to the force.


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