Two large, horizontal, parallel conducting plates are separated by and maintained at…
PHYSICS · Multi-part · CBSE · Physics · Electrostatic Potential and Capacitance · Electrostatic Potential and Capacitance
Problem
Two large, horizontal, parallel conducting plates are separated by 0.040m and maintained at a constant potential difference. The region between the plates is filled with air so that the electric field can be considered uniform. A +2.0μC particle is to be moved from the lower plate to the upper plate along three different paths, each beginning and ending directly on the plates: Path I is a straight vertical segment, Path II follows two perpendicular segments (first horizontal, then vertical), and Path III is a smooth curved arc.
(a) Given that the magnitude of the uniform electric field between the plates is 6.0×102NC−1 directed downward, calculate the electric potential difference between the plates and state which plate is at the higher potential.
(b) Determine the amount of work an external agent must do to move the charge slowly along Path I.
(c) Without performing additional calculations, state and justify the amount of external work required for Paths II and III.
(d) Suppose frictional forces became significant for Path III only. Explain qualitatively how, if at all, the required external work would change and why.