Capacitors, potential difference, electric displacement

In summary, the conversation discusses a parallel-plate capacitor with a slab of dielectric occupying half of the gap and no free charge on the dielectric. The magnitude of the potential difference between the two plates is determined by using the equation V=(D/epsilom0*epsilomr)*d and finding the ratio of V2/Vd which is equal to the ratio of the relative permittivity of the dielectric and air. The solution involves finding Vd and V2 and adding them together.
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izzy93
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Question: Considering a parallel-plate capacitor that has a slab of dielectric with relative permittivity epsilomd = 5 and thickness d = 2 mm occupies half of the gap. The half is air with relative permittivity epsilom2=1

Denoting the electric field, and electric displacement in the dielectric by Ed, Dd, and in the air gap by E2,D2. There is no free charge on the dielectric.

If the electric displacement in the dielectric has magnitude Dd = 2.0 x 10^8 Cm^2 and is perpendicular to the plates, what is the magnitude V of the potential difference between the two plates of the capacitor?

Attempt at answer:

Using V=Ed and D=epsilom0*epsilomr*E

So V = (D/epsilom0*epsilomr)*d

Then taking the D-field to be the same in the dielectric and air gap as there is no free charge

so D2=Dd

Leads to V2/Vd = epsilomd/epsilom2 = 5

but how do I get the potential difference?

Any help would be much appreciated,

Thanks
 
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  • #2
Find Vd and V2 and add them.
 
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Related to Capacitors, potential difference, electric displacement

1. What is a capacitor?

A capacitor is an electronic component that stores electric charge. It is made up of two conductive plates separated by an insulating material, known as a dielectric. When a potential difference (voltage) is applied across the plates, one plate becomes positively charged and the other becomes negatively charged, creating an electric field between them.

2. How does a capacitor store charge?

A capacitor stores charge by accumulating electrons on one plate and removing them from the other plate. This creates a potential difference between the plates, which causes an electric field to form. The electric field stores the energy in the capacitor as electric potential energy.

3. What is potential difference?

Potential difference, also known as voltage, is the difference in electric potential energy between two points in an electric circuit. It is measured in volts (V) and represents the force that drives electric charges to flow from one point to another.

4. How is electric displacement related to capacitance?

Electric displacement is a measure of the strength of an electric field in a material. It is directly proportional to the electric field and inversely proportional to the permittivity of the material. Capacitance, on the other hand, is a measure of a capacitor's ability to store charge. It is directly proportional to the electric displacement and the area of the plates, and inversely proportional to the distance between them. Therefore, the greater the electric displacement, the higher the capacitance of a capacitor.

5. What are some common uses of capacitors?

Capacitors have a wide range of uses in electronic circuits. Some common applications include energy storage in power supplies, filtering and smoothing of signals, timing circuits, and as part of resonance circuits. They are also used in electronic devices such as cameras, computers, and mobile phones.

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