You have a parallel-plate capacitor, a battery, and a piece of dielectric materi

Question

You have a parallel-plate capacitor, a battery, and a piece of dielectric material that will fit between the plates of the capacitor. The capacitor is charged by connecting it to the battery, without the dielectric. and then disconnected from the battery. All questions that follow are relative to this initial state of the disconnected, charged capacitor. You may connect or disconnect the battery, change the separation between the plates of the capacitor, or add or remove the dielectric. In each case, be specific about whether the battery is connected or disconnected. You must use the dielectric at least once. (a) Name one way to increase the electric field in the capacitor. Explain briefly. (b) Name one way to decrease the potential difference between the plates. Explain briefly. (c) Name one way to increase the charge stored on the plates. Explain briefly. (d) Name one way to decrease the capacitance of the plates. Explain briefly.

Explanation / Answer

(a)

During the charging, by decreasing the area of plate, we can decrease electric field between the plates.

During the discharging, by keeping dielectric between the plates, we can decrease the electric filed. Because, the electric field in the dielectric opposes the original field.

(b)

During the charging, by increasing separation between the plates, we can decrease electric potential between the plates.

During the discharging, by keeping dielectric, we can decrease the electric potential between the plates.

(c)

By applying more potential difference between the plates, we can store more charge on the plates. Because, the charge stored in the capacitor is capacitance times the potential difference between the plates.

(d)

Capacitance only depends on the physical measurements of the capacitor. By decreasing area of the plates and increasing the distance between them, we can decrease capacitance.

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