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A capacitor consists of two charged disks of radius 4.5 m separated by a distanc

ID: 2137534 • Letter: A

Question

A capacitor consists of two charged disks of radius 4.5 m separated by a distance s = 2 mm (see the figure). The magnitude of the charge on each disk is 34

A capacitor consists of two charged disks of radius 4.5 m separated by a distance s = 2 mm (see the figure). The magnitude of the charge on each disk is 34 mu C. Consider points A, B, C, and D inside the capacitor, as shown in the diagram. The distance s1 = 1.3 mm, and the distance s2 = 0.5 mm. (Assume the +x axis is to the right, the +y axis is up, and the +z axis is out.) What is the electric field inside the capacitor? First, calculate the potential difference VB - VA. What s (delta)l along this path? What is VB - VA? Next, calculate the potential difference VC - VB. What is (delta)l along this path? What is VC - VB? Finally, calculate the potential difference VA - VC. What s (delta)l along this path? What is VA - VC?

Explanation / Answer

a) E =Q/A*epsilon


= 34 *10^-6/(3.14*4.5^2*8.85*10^-12) = 6.04 *10^4 N/C


(b)The potential difference between points B and A is

VB - VA= E * s1

Here,s1=1.3 mm = 1.3 * 10-3m

or VB - VA= 6.04 *10^4 * 1.3 *10-3

or VB - VA= 78.52 V ---------(1)

c)The potential difference between points C and Bis

VC - VB= E * s2

Here,s2= 0.5 mm = 0.5 *10-3m

VC - VB= 6.04 *10^4 * 0.5 * 10-3= 30.2 V----------(2)

d) Adding equations (1) and (2),we get

VC - VA= 78.2 +30.2 = 108.4 V

()The distance between points C and A is

?L = [(1.3)^2 +(0.5)^2]^1/2 = 1.39 mm = 1.39 * 10-3m

Therefore,we get

?Lcos? = 1.39 * 10-3 * cos(45o)= 1.39 * 10-3 * 0.7072 = 0.98 * 10-3 m

Therefore,the value of ?V along the diagonal path from Ato C is

VC - VA= E?Lcos?

or VC - VA= 6.04 *10^4 * 0.98* 10-3

or VC - VA=58.8 V