Force between capacitor plates

In summary, introducing a dielectric between the capacitor plates will result in a decrease in the force between them. This is because the dielectric reduces the electric field between the plates, leading to a decrease in the force. However, if the answer given in the textbook is different, it is possible that there is more to the question or there is a typo in the answer. The actual circuit and how the capacitor is connected or charged may also affect the force between the plates.
  • #1
Prateek Kumar Jain
8
2
What will happen to the force between the capacitor plates (Will increase or decrease or remain constant) if we introduce a dielectric between them?

As per the answer given the physics textbook , the force will remain same? But as per my understanding the force should decrease since electrical field between the plates reduces.
 
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  • #2
The surface charge on a plate is given by the normal ##D=\epsilon E## field. The force is the charge times the ##E## field. For the same amount of charge, the ##E## field is reduced since ##\epsilon>1## so the force will go down.
 
  • #3
Prateek Kumar Jain said:
As per the answer given the physics textbook , the force will remain same?
I can suggest that either the answer you have found is 'in the back of the book' and is wrong due to a simple typo or, if there is a worked example, there may be more to the question than you have stated.
For instance, what is the actual circuit? Is the Capacitor attached to a voltage source or was it charged and then disconnected?
 

Related to Force between capacitor plates

1. What is the force between capacitor plates?

The force between capacitor plates is the electrostatic force that exists between two charged plates in a capacitor. It is caused by the attraction between opposite charges on the plates and is directly proportional to the magnitude of the charges and inversely proportional to the distance between the plates.

2. How is the force between capacitor plates calculated?

The force between capacitor plates can be calculated using the formula F = Q1Q2/4πε0d², where Q1 and Q2 are the charges on the plates, ε0 is the permittivity of free space, and d is the distance between the plates.

3. What factors affect the force between capacitor plates?

The force between capacitor plates is affected by the magnitude of the charges on the plates, the distance between the plates, and the dielectric material between the plates. The force increases with increasing charge and decreases with increasing distance. The type of dielectric material also affects the force, with some materials increasing or decreasing the force compared to a vacuum.

4. How does the force between capacitor plates change when the plates are moved closer together?

The force between capacitor plates increases when the plates are moved closer together. This is because the distance between the charges decreases, increasing the strength of the electrostatic force.

5. Can the force between capacitor plates be repulsive?

Yes, the force between capacitor plates can be repulsive if the charges on the plates have the same sign. In this case, the electrostatic force will push the plates away from each other. However, this is not commonly seen in practical applications as capacitors are usually designed with opposite charges on the plates to maximize the force between them.

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