Changes to electric field between two parallel plates

[chartreuse]

Homework Statement

The electric field intensity at a point between two large parallel plates is 4.8 x 10^2 N/C.
What does the electric field become as a result of each of the following changes, considered separately:

a) when the amount of charge on each plate is tripled
b) when the plates are connected together by a conducting wire

for a, i think the electric field intensity would be tripled as well? i don't know which equation to look at to find the answer -- ε = kQ/r^2 doesn't seem right because there are two charges, one on each plate, and ε = V/d doesn't work because d doesn't come into play. i don't even have a guess for b). any explanation anyone could provide would be appreciated.

 

[Defennder]

a)How can you obtain the electric field given a highly symmetrical charge configuration?
b)What do you expect to happen when there is potential difference across a conducting wire?

 

[baba89]

I would like to clarify that the electric field intensity at a point between two parallel plates is not a constant value. It depends on the distribution of charges on the plates and the distance between them. Therefore, any changes to the electric field between the plates will also depend on these factors.

a) When the amount of charge on each plate is tripled, the electric field between the plates would also increase. This can be explained by the equation F = qE, where F is the force experienced by a charge q in an electric field E. Since the amount of charge has tripled, the force experienced by it will also triple, resulting in a higher electric field intensity.

b) When the plates are connected together by a conducting wire, the electric field between them would decrease to zero. This is because the conducting wire acts as a short circuit, allowing the charges to flow freely between the plates, equalizing the potential difference between them. As a result, there would be no potential difference between the plates, leading to zero electric field intensity.

In conclusion, any changes to the electric field between two parallel plates will depend on the distribution of charges and the presence of any conductors connecting the plates. It is important to consider these factors when analyzing changes in electric fields.