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Q.Derive an expression for the capacitance of a parallel plate capacitor.

Andhra Pradesh BieapBIEAP Intermediate Board 2024Subjective· 4mImportance★★★★★
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Using E=σ/ε0E = \sigma/\varepsilon_0 between the plates and V=EdV = Ed, the capacitance C=Q/VC = Q/V works out to C=ε0A/dC = \varepsilon_0 A/d.

Setup (NCERT/CBSE electrostatic-potential-and-capacitance):

A parallel plate capacitor has two large plane conducting plates, each of area AA, separated by a small distance dd, carrying charges +Q+Q and −Q-Q. Let σ=Q/A\sigma = Q/A be the surface charge density.

Step 1 — electric field between the plates:

Each plate produces a field σ/2ε0\sigma/2\varepsilon_0. Between the plates these fields add; outside they cancel. So the uniform field between the plates is:

E=σε0=Qε0AE = \frac{\sigma}{\varepsilon_0} = \frac{Q}{\varepsilon_0 A}

Step 2 — potential difference between the plates:

Since the field is uniform, the potential difference is:

V=E d=Q dε0AV = E\,d = \frac{Q\,d}{\varepsilon_0 A}

Step 3 — capacitance:

By definition C=QVC = \dfrac{Q}{V}:

C=QQdε0A=ε0AdC = \frac{Q}{\dfrac{Q d}{\varepsilon_0 A}} = \frac{\varepsilon_0 A}{d}

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