Two parallel plate capacitors are connected in parallel with each other and with

Question

Two parallel plate capacitors are connected in parallel with each other and with a battery of voltage V. The first capacitor (C1) has area A and separation distance d. The second (C2) has twice the area of C1, but only half the separation distance.

a.) If the electric field strength between the plates in C1 is E, then that between the plates in C2 is:

E/4 E  E/2 2E 4E

b.) If the capacitance of C1 is C then that of C2 is:

C/4 4C     C C/2 2C

c.) If the total charge on the top plate of C1 is +Q, that on the top plate of C2 is:

Q Q/2     Q/4 2Q 4Q

Explanation / Answer

a) Electric field strength is volts/m. Both capacitors have the same voltage but C2 has the smaller separation so it has the larger Electric field - its e) 2E

b) Its e) again! Twice the area doubles C and then half the distance doubles it again giving 4C as the capacitance of C2

c) a) this time. With 4 times the capacitance, C2 will hold 4 times the charge if its at the same voltage as C1 ( which it is.)

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