Calculate capacitance of a parallel plate but of made up of two media

In summary, the problem involves calculating the capacitance of a parallel plate capacitor with a quarter-filled mica and three-quarters filled with air. The total area of the capacitor is 10 cm2 and the distance between the plates is 2mm. The equation to use is C= εA/d.
  • #1
BeeDee10
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Homework Statement


Calculate capacitance of a parallel plate but of made up o two media!?
The parallel plate capacitor in the figure below is quarter-filled with mica (εr=6). Its remaining ¾ part is filled with air. The total area of the capacitor is 10 cm2 and the distance separating the plates is 2mm. Find the capacitance of this capacitor.
This is the figure: http://postimg.org/image/p2hdvdvld/
Please show steps.
Even my teacher couldn't solve this question correctly, she says we need to have the charge.


Homework Equations





The Attempt at a Solution

 
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  • #2
You can imagine the given situation like this: two capacitors with plate area 5 cm2 and having plates 1mm apart in series (one of which is filled with mica). Now these two are in parallel with cap. with area 5 cm2 and separation 2mm. You don't need to know charge. Just use the formula C= εA/d
 
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  • #3
Now, with that wonderful hint, we expect BeeDee10 to post a response which indicates some progress towards solving the problem -- before anyone else offers any help.
 

Related to Calculate capacitance of a parallel plate but of made up of two media

1. What is capacitance?

Capacitance is the ability of a system to store electrical charge. It is measured in Farads (F) and is calculated by dividing the charge (Q) by the voltage (V).

2. How do you calculate the capacitance of a parallel plate?

To calculate the capacitance of a parallel plate, you will need the plate area (A), the distance between the plates (d), and the permittivity of the medium between the plates (ε). The formula for capacitance is C = εA/d, where C is the capacitance in Farads.

3. What if the parallel plate is made up of two different media?

If the parallel plate is made up of two different media, you will need to use the equation C = (ε1ε2A)/d, where ε1 and ε2 are the permittivities of the two different media. This is because the capacitance will be affected by the permittivity of each medium.

4. How does the distance between the plates affect the capacitance?

The distance between the plates (d) is inversely proportional to the capacitance. This means that as the distance between the plates increases, the capacitance decreases. This is because the electric field strength decreases with distance, resulting in a smaller capacitance value.

5. Can the capacitance of a parallel plate be changed?

Yes, the capacitance of a parallel plate can be changed by altering the plate area, the distance between the plates, or the permittivity of the medium between the plates. It can also be changed by changing the voltage across the plates, as capacitance is directly proportional to voltage.

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