26. Capacitors & Dielectrics

Small distances can be measured using a capacitor whose plate separation 𝓍 is variable. Consider an air-filled parallel-plate capacitor with fixed plate area A = 25 mm² separated by a variable distance 𝓍. Assume this capacitor is attached to a capacitance-measuring instrument which can measure capacitance C in the range 1.0 pF to 1000.0 pF with an accuracy of ∆C = 0.1 pF. If C is measured while 𝓍 is varied, over what range ( 𝓍_min ≤ 𝓍 ≤ 𝓍_max) can the plate-separation distance (in μm) be determined by this setup?

Small distances can be measured using a capacitor whose plate separation 𝓍 is variable. Consider an air-filled parallel-plate capacitor with fixed plate area A = 25 mm² separated by a variable distance 𝓍. Assume this capacitor is attached to a capacitance-measuring instrument which can measure capacitance C in the range 1.0 pF to 1000.0 pF with an accuracy of ∆C = 0.1 pF. Define ∆𝓍 to be the accuracy (magnitude) to which 𝓍 can be determined, and determine a formula for ∆𝓍.

Small distances can be measured using a capacitor whose plate separation 𝓍 is variable. Consider an air-filled parallel-plate capacitor with fixed plate area A = 25 mm² separated by a variable distance 𝓍. Assume this capacitor is attached to a capacitance-measuring instrument which can measure capacitance C in the range 1.0 pF to 1000.0 pF with an accuracy of ∆C = 0.1 pF. Determine the percent accuracy to which 𝓍_min and 𝓍_max can be measured.

A capacitor is made from two 1.1-cm-diameter coins separated by a 0.10-mm-thick piece of paper (K = 3.7). A 12-V battery is connected to the capacitor. How much charge is on each coin?

A parallel-plate capacitor has square plates 12 cm on a side separated by 0.10 mm of plastic with a dielectric constant of K = 3.8. The plates are connected to a battery, causing them to become oppositely charged. Since the oppositely charged plates attract each other, they exert a pressure on the dielectric. If this pressure is 40.0 Pa, what is the battery voltage?

A parallel-plate capacitor with plate area 2.0 cm² and air-gap separation 0.50 mm is connected to a 12-V battery, and fully charged. The battery is then disconnected. The plates are now pulled to a separation of 0.85 mm. What is the charge on the capacitor now?

A student wearing shoes with thin insulating soles is standing on a grounded metal floor when he puts his hand on the metal case of a high voltage supply. The voltage inside, 6.3 mm from his hand, is 25,000 V. The student’s hand and the voltage supply form a capacitor, considering the student as a conductor. Another capacitor is between the floor and the student (his feet). Using reasonable numbers for hand and foot areas, estimate the student’s voltage relative to the floor. Assume vinyl-soled shoes 1 cm thick.

In lightning storms, the potential difference between the Earth and the bottom of the thunderclouds can be as high as 35,000,000 V. The bottoms of thunderclouds are typically 1500 m above the Earth, and can have an area of 110 km². Modeling the Earth–cloud system as a huge capacitor, calculate the capacitance of the Earth–cloud system,