An isolated large-plate capacitor (not connected to anything)
originally has a potential difference of 930 volts with an air gap
of 2 mm. Then a plastic slab 1 mm thick, with dielectric constant
5.5, is inserted into the middle of the air gap as shown in the
figure. As shown in the diagram, location 1 is at the left plate of
the capacitor, location 2 is at the left edge of the plastic slab,
location 3 is at the right edge of the slab, and location 4 is at
the right plate of the capacitor. All of these locations are near
the center of the capacitor. Calculate the following potential
differences.
V1 - V2 = V
V2 - V3 = V
V3 - V4 = V
V1 - V4 = V
According to the given problem,
Assuming radius of the plates is much
larger than the distance between the plates, end effects are
negligible and there is a uniform electrical field for each section
of the capacitor.
E = ΔV / Δs
The electrical field in the capacitor without plastic slab
is:
E₀ = 930V / 2×10⁻³m = 4.65×10⁵Vm⁻¹
After inserting of the slab the electrical field inside the air
gaps is the same. Within the slab it decreases to
E = E₀/ε = 4.65×10⁵Vm⁻¹/5.5 = 0.85×10⁵Vm⁻¹
Multiply electrical field by the distance to calculate the
potential difference:
ΔV = E·Δs
Hence:
V₁-V₂ = 4.65×10⁵Vm⁻¹ · 0.5×10⁻³m = 232.5V
V₂-V₃ = 0.85×10⁵Vm⁻¹ · 1×10⁻³m = 85V
V₃-V₄ = 4.65×10⁵Vm⁻¹ · 0.5×10⁻³m = 232.5V
=>
V₁-V₄ = (V₁-V₂) + (V₂-V₃) + (V₃-V₄)
= 232.5V + 85V + 232.5V = 550V
I hope you understood the problem, If yes rate me!! or else comment for a better solution.
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