- #1
Wavefunction
- 99
- 4
Homework Statement
parallel-plate capacitor consists of two fixed metal semicircles of radius [itex]R[/itex] and a
dielectric plate (susceptibility [itex]\varepsilon[/itex]). The plate is able to rotate without friction around the
axis centered at the point [itex]O[/itex] (axis [itex]O[/itex] is perpendicular to the picture). Plate's thickness is [itex]h[/itex] and the plate is filling all the space between capacitor plates. Constant potential difference [itex]V[/itex] is applied to the capacitor. Find the torque [itex]\tau[/itex] acting on the movable dielectric
plate when it is tilted by the angle [itex]\alpha[/itex] as shown on the picture.
Homework Equations
[itex]\mathbf{\tau}=\mathbf{p}\times\mathbf{E}[/itex]
The Attempt at a Solution
I'm not too sure where to begin on this one, but here's what I think is physically going on: Since the dielectric is not completely within the two capacitors, there is a fringe field which is not parallel to the polarization of the dielectric material which is thus creating a torque on the dielectric.