Parallel plate capacitor

Overview

Permittivity and relative permittivity, dielectrics, and how a polar molecule responds to a field.

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

Questions from this subtopic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

1. 1

   In the formula for capacitance of a parallel plate capacitor, what does the symbol ε₀ represent?

   Model answer

   ε₀ represents the permittivity of free space.

2. 2

   In the equation C = ε₀εᵣA/d, what quantity does εᵣ denote?

   Model answer

   εᵣ denotes the relative permittivity of the dielectric material between the plates.

3. 3

   What does the symbol A represent in the parallel plate capacitor equation C = ε₀εᵣA/d?

   Model answer

   A represents the overlapping area of the plates.

4. 4

   In the capacitance formula C = ε₀εᵣA/d, what does d stand for?

   Model answer

   d stands for the separation between the plates.

5. 5

   State the formula for the capacitance of a parallel plate capacitor and identify each term.

   Model answer

   C = ε₀εᵣA/d, where C is capacitance, ε₀ is permittivity of free space, εᵣ is relative permittivity of the dielectric, A is plate area, and d is plate separation.

6. 6

   Calculate the capacitance when permittivity of free space = 8.85 × 10⁻¹² F m⁻¹, relative permittivity = 2.6, plate area = 0.026 m², plate separation = 0.0043 m.

   Model answer

   Capacitance = (8.85 × 10⁻¹² × 2.6 × 0.026) ÷ 0.0043 = 1.39 × 10⁻¹⁰ F.

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