- #1
yoghurt54
- 19
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Homework Statement
Two large conducting plates are separated by a distance 'L', and are connected together by a wire. A point charge 'q' is placed a distance 'x' from one of the plates. Show that the proportion of the charge induced on each plate is 'x/L' and '(L-x)/L'.
(Hint: pretend the point charge is instead a sheet charge of magnitude 'q' and distance 'x' from one of the plates)
Homework Equations
None provided. I suppose the field of a sheet charge is required, which is
'E=q/2[tex]\epsilon[/tex]A'
The Attempt at a Solution
I'm not sure where to start. I'm guessing the hint to use a sheet charge is because the field lines from a point charge to a plate are always tangents to the plate.
Since the plates are connected together by a wire, the potential of both plates is the same and so the potential difference is zero.
How do I calculate the potential of each plate (I keep getting stuck at this part)? Do the induced charges also have a potential (I think so).
I believe the sum of the charge on each plate 'qL' + 'qR' = 0 in order for the plates to be at equal potentials.
Please help! I've been stuck on this for 9 months or so.