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Physics LibreTexts

5.2: Plane Parallel Capacitor

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V.3.png

FIGURE V.3

We have a capacitor whose plates are each of area A, separation d, and the medium between the plates has permittivity ϵ. It is connected to a battery of EMF V, so the potential difference across the plates is V. The electric field between the plates is E=V/d, and therefore D=ϵV/d. The total D-flux arising from the positive plate is DA, and, by Gauss’s law, this must equal Q, the charge on the plate.

Thus Q=ϵAV/d and therefore the capacitance is

C=ϵAd

Verify that this is dimensionally correct, and note how the capacitance depends upon ϵ, A and d.

In Section 1.5 we gave the SI units of permittivity as C2N1 m2. Equation ??? shows that a more convenient SI unit for permittivity is F m1, or farads per metre.

Question: If the separation of the plates is not small, so that the electric field is not uniform, and the field lines bulge outwards at the edge, will the capacitance be less than or greater than ϵA/d?


This page titled 5.2: Plane Parallel Capacitor is shared under a CC BY-NC 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Jeremy Tatum via source content that was edited to the style and standards of the LibreTexts platform.

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