All AP Physics 2 Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #1 : Capacitors And Electric Fields
A parallel-plate capacitor is connected to a constant voltage source. If the distance between the plates of this capacitor is and the capacitor holds a charge of , what is the value of the electric field between the plates of this capacitor?
An electric field does not exist between the plates of a parallel-plate capacitor
To solve this problem, we first need to solve for the voltage across the capacitor. For this, we'll need the formula for capacitance:
Solving for the voltage:
Now that we have the voltage, we can make use of the following equation to solve for the electric field:
Example Question #301 : Electricity And Magnetism
A set of parallel plate capacitors with a surface area of has a total amount of charge equal to . What is the electric field between the plates?
The equation for the electric field between two parallel plate capacitors is:
Sigma is the charge density of the plates, which is equal to:
We are given the area and total charge, so we use them to find the charge density.
Now that we have the charge density, divide it by the vacuum permittivity to find the electric field.
Example Question #2 : Capacitors And Electric Fields
Imagine a capacitor with a magnitude of charge Q on either plate. This capacitor has area A, separation distance D, and is not connected to a battery of voltage V. If some external agent pulls the capacitor apart such that D doubles, did the electric field, E, stored in the capacitor increase, decrease or stay the same?
Increases
Stays constant
Decreases
We need to know
Stays constant
Relevant equations:
Considering we are dealing with regions of charge instead of a point charge (or a charge that is at least spherical symmetric), it would be wise to consider using the definition of the electric field here:
We are only considering magnitude so the direction of the electric field is not of concern. Considering a battery is not connected, we can't claim the V is constant. So we use the second equation to substitute for V in the above equation:
Substitute C from the first equation:
We see here that D actually cancels. This would not have been obvious without the previous substitution. Final result:
These 3 quantities are static in this situation so E does not change.
Example Question #1 : Capacitors And Electric Fields
Imagine a capacitor with a magnitude of charge Q on either plate. This capacitor has area A, separation distance D, and is connected to a battery of voltage V. If some external agent pulls the capacitor apart such that D doubles, did the electric field, E, stored in the capacitor increase, decrease or stay the same?
Decreases by exactly
Stays constant
Decreases by exactly
Increases by exactly
Decreases by exactly
Relevant equations:
Considering we are dealing with regions of charge instead of a point charge (or a charge that is at least spherical symmetric), it would be wise to consider using the definition of the electric field here:
The battery maintains a constant V so we can directly relate E and D. Since D is doubled, E will be halved.
Example Question #5 : Capacitors And Electric Fields
If , each plate of the capacitor has surface area , and the plates are apart, determine the electric field between the plates.
The voltage rise through the source must be the same as the drop through the capacitor.
The voltage drop across the capacitor is the equal to the electric field multiplied by the distance.
Combine these equations and solve for the electric field:
Convert mm to m and plug in values:
Example Question #951 : Ap Physics 2
If , each plate of the capacitor has surface area , and the plates are apart, determine the excess charge on the positive plate.
The voltage rise through the source must be the same as the drop through the capacitor.
The voltage drop across the capacitor is the equal to the electric field multiplied by the distance.
Combine equations and solve for the electric field:
Convert mm to m and plugging in values:
Use the electric field in a capacitor equation:
Combine equations:
Converting to and plug in values:
Example Question #31 : Circuit Components
Consider the given diagram. If , each plate of the capacitor has surface area , and the plates at apart, determine the electric field between the plates.
The voltage rise through the source must be the same as the drop through the capacitor.
The voltage drop across the capacitor is the equal to the electric field multiplied by the distance.
Combine equations and solve for the electric field:
Convert mm to m and plug in values:
Example Question #1 : Capacitors And Electric Fields
In the given circuit, the capacitor is made of two parallel circular plates of radius that are apart. If is equal to , determine the electric field between the plates.
None of these
Since it is the only element in the circuit besides the source, the voltage drop across the capacitor must be equal to the voltage gain in the capacitor.
Definition of voltage:
Combine equations:
Solve for
Convert to meters and plug in values:
Example Question #9 : Capacitors And Electric Fields
A parallel plate capacitor with a separation of and surface area is in series with a battery. How will the electric field in the capacitor change if the separation is doubled?
Tripled
Doubled
Quadrupled
It will stay the same
Halved
Halved
The voltage drop through the capacitor needs to be equal to the voltage of the battery.
The voltage drop of a parallel plate capacitor is equal to the internal electric field times the distance between them.
Combing equations and solving for
From this, it can be seen that doubling the separation will halve the electric field.
Example Question #10 : Capacitors And Electric Fields
A parallel plate capacitor with a separation of and surface area is in series with a battery. How will the electric field in the capacitor change if a second battery is added in series?
No change
Impossible to determine
Doubled
Halved
Tripled
Doubled
The voltage drop through the capacitor needs to be equal to the voltage of the battery.
The voltage drop of a parallel plate capacitor is equal to the internal electric field times the distance between them.
Combing equations and solving for
From this, it can be seen that doubling the voltage of the battery will doubled the electric field inside the capacitor.