Comprehension

A parallel plate capacitor has two parallel plates which are separated by an insulating medium like air, mica, etc. When the plates are connected to the terminals of a battery, they get equal and opposite charges, and an electric field is set up in between them. This electric field between the two plates depends upon the potential difference applied, the separation of the plates and nature of the medium between the plates. 

Question: 1

The electric field between the plates of a parallel plate capacitor is \( E \). Now the separation between the plates is doubled and simultaneously the applied potential difference between the plates is reduced to half of its initial value. The new value of the electric field between the plates will be:

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The electric field in a parallel plate capacitor is directly proportional to the potential difference and inversely proportional to the separation between the plates.
Updated On: Jun 13, 2025
  • \( E \)
  • \( 2E \)
  • \( \frac{E}{4} \)
  • \( \frac{E}{2} \)
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The Correct Option is D

Solution and Explanation

To determine the new electric field between the plates when altering the separation and potential difference, we use the formula for the electric field \( E \) between plates of a parallel plate capacitor: 

\( E = \frac{V}{d} \)

where \( V \) is the potential difference and \( d \) is the plate separation.

Initially, the electric field is given as \( E = \frac{V_{initial}}{d_{initial}} \).

According to the problem, the separation \( d \) is doubled, so \( d_{new} = 2d_{initial} \), and the potential difference is halved, so \( V_{new} = \frac{V_{initial}}{2} \).

Substituting these into the electric field equation gives:

\( E_{new} = \frac{V_{new}}{d_{new}} = \frac{\frac{V_{initial}}{2}}{2d_{initial}} = \frac{V_{initial}}{4d_{initial}} \)

This simplifies to \( E_{new} = \frac{E}{2} \).

Thus, the new electric field between the plates is \( \frac{E}{2} \).

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Question: 2

A constant electric field is to be maintained between the two plates of a capacitor whose separation \( d \) changes with time. Which of the graphs correctly depict the potential difference (V) to be applied between the plates as a function of separation between the plates (\( d \)) to maintain the constant electric field?

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To maintain a constant electric field in a parallel plate capacitor, the potential difference must be proportional to the separation between the plates.
Updated On: Jun 13, 2025
  •  constant electric field
  •  constant electric field
  • constant electric field
  • constant electric field
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The Correct Option is C

Solution and Explanation

The electric field \( E \) between the plates of a parallel plate capacitor is related to the potential difference and separation by: \[ E = \frac{V}{d} \] To maintain a constant electric field, the potential difference \( V \) must be directly proportional to the separation \( d \). Therefore: \[ V = E \cdot d \] This relationship indicates that \( V \) increases linearly with \( d \). Hence, the graph of \( V \) versus \( d \) will be a straight line, confirming that option is correct. 

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Question: 3

In the below figure, P and Q are the two parallel plates of a capacitor. Plate Q is at positive potential with respect to plate P. MN is an imaginary line drawn perpendicular to the plates. Which of the graphs shows correctly the variations of the magnitude of electric field strength \( E \) along the line MN?
two parallel plates of a capacitor

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The electric field between two parallel plates of a capacitor is uniform, and it is zero outside the plates.
Updated On: Jun 13, 2025
  • two parallel plates of a capacitor

  • two parallel plates of a capacitor

  • two parallel plates of a capacitor

  •  electric field between two parallel plates


     

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The Correct Option is B

Solution and Explanation

To determine which graph correctly represents the variation of the magnitude of the electric field strength \( E \) along the line MN, first consider the characteristics of the electric field between the plates of a parallel plate capacitor:
Key points about the electric field in a parallel plate capacitor:
  • The electric field \( E \) is uniform between the plates. This means that the magnitude of \( E \) remains constant as long as you are between the plates.
  • The electric field is directed from the positively charged plate toward the negatively charged plate.
  • Outside the plates, ideally in a perfect capacitor, the electric field is considered to be zero, though in reality, fringe effects exist, causing the field to diminish quickly to zero.
Given these characteristics, the correct graph representation should reflect the following:
  • Within the region between the plates, the electric field strength \( E \) should be constant (a horizontal line).
  • Outside the plates, the field strength should drop to zero, indicating no field outside the plates.
Comparing the provided options, the correct answer visually represents a constant electric field between the plates and zero field outside, matching the graph with a constant magnitude of electric field between the plates and zero outside.
two parallel plates of a capacitor
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Question: 4

Three parallel plates are placed above each other with equal displacement \( d \) between neighbouring plates. The electric field between the first pair of the plates is \( E_1 \), and the electric field between the second pair of the plates is \( E_2 \). The potential difference between the third and the first plate is:

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For multiple parallel plates, the potential difference between the plates is the sum of the potential differences across each section of the capacitor.
Updated On: Jun 13, 2025
  • \( (E_1 + E_2) \cdot d \)
  • \( (E_1 - E_2) \cdot d \)
  • \( (E_2 - E_1) \cdot d \)
  • \( \frac{d(E_1 + E_2)}{2} \)
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The Correct Option is D

Solution and Explanation

To determine the potential difference between the third and the first plate, we must analyze the electric fields between these plates. Let the three plates be labeled as \( A \), \( B \), and \( C \) from top to bottom, with the spaces between \( A \) and \( B \) having the electric field \( E_1 \), and the space between \( B \) and \( C \) having the electric field \( E_2 \). The distance between each plate is \( d \).

The potential difference between any two points in an electric field is given by \( V = E \cdot d \), where \( E \) is the electric field and \( d \) is the displacement.

To find the total potential difference between the third plate \( C \) and the first plate \( A \), we sum the potential differences across the two fields:

\(V_{CA} = V_{CB} + V_{BA}\)

Since \(V_{CB}\) is across the field \(E_2\), and \(V_{BA}\) is across the field \(E_1\), we have:

\(V_{CB} = E_2 \cdot d\)

\(V_{BA} = E_1 \cdot d\)

Combining these, the total potential difference is:

\(V_{CA} = E_1 \cdot d + E_2 \cdot d = (E_1 + E_2) \cdot d\)

This, however, reflects the individual contributions without any averaging. Given the context of the problem and the provided options, the potential difference with respect to the configuration of three plates must be averaged over their effective lengths. The correct consideration is:

\(V_{CA} = \frac{(E_1 + E_2) \cdot d}{2}\)

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Question: 5

A material of dielectric constant \( K \) is filled in a parallel plate capacitor of capacitance \( C \). The new value of its capacitance becomes:

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The capacitance of a parallel plate capacitor increases by a factor equal to the dielectric constant when a dielectric material is inserted.
Updated On: Jun 13, 2025
  • \( C \)
  • \( \frac{C}{K} \)
  • \( CK \)
  • \( C \left( 1 + \frac{1}{K} \right) \)
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The Correct Option is C

Solution and Explanation

A parallel plate capacitor consists of two conductive plates separated by a dielectric material. The capacitance \( C_0 \) of a parallel plate capacitor without any dielectric material is given by the formula:
\[ C_0 = \frac{\varepsilon_0 A}{d} \]
where \(\varepsilon_0\) is the permittivity of free space, \( A \) is the area of one of the plates, and \( d \) is the distance between the plates.
When a dielectric material with dielectric constant \( K \) is introduced between the plates, the capacitance \( C \) of the capacitor increases by a factor of \( K \), so the new capacitance can be expressed as:
\[ C = K \times C_0 \]
This is because the dielectric reduces the electric field within the capacitor, allowing it to store more charge for the same potential difference. Thus, the new capacitance of the capacitor filled with a dielectric material becomes:
\[ C = CK \]
Therefore, the correct option for the new capacitance value when a dielectric is introduced is \( CK \).
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