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Electric Potential in Parallel Capacitors

This self-learning module covers equipotential surfaces, electric fields, and capacitors, aiming to help students infer electric field vectors, calculate electric fields from potential functions, and understand capacitor behavior. It includes pretests, lesson content, sample problems, and activities to reinforce learning. The module emphasizes the relationship between electric potential and electric fields, as well as the principles of capacitance.

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104 views11 pages

Electric Potential in Parallel Capacitors

This self-learning module covers equipotential surfaces, electric fields, and capacitors, aiming to help students infer electric field vectors, calculate electric fields from potential functions, and understand capacitor behavior. It includes pretests, lesson content, sample problems, and activities to reinforce learning. The module emphasizes the relationship between electric potential and electric fields, as well as the principles of capacitance.

Uploaded by

Thea
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

General

Physics 2 12
Quarter 3
Self-Learning Module 5
Equipotential Surfaces and
Electric Field
Capacitors
EXPECTATIONS

At the end of this module, you are expected to:

A. infer the direction and strength of electric field vector, nature of the electric field
sources, and electrostatic potential surfaces given the equipotential lines;
B. calculate the electric field in the region given a mathematical function
describing its potential in a region of space; and
C. deduce the effects of simple capacitors (e.g., parallel plate, spherical,
cylindrical) on the capacitance, charge, and potential difference when the size,
potential difference, or charge is changed.

PRETEST

Directions: Choose the letter of the correct answer.

1. Electric field
A. is always perpendicular to the equipotential surface
B. is always tangent to an equipotential surface
C. always bisects an equipotential surface
D. makes an angle to an equipotential that depends on the charge
2. A positive charge moves to the right as shown. Its kinetic
energy
A. Decreases
B. Increases
C. Remains constant
D. Zero
3. Which direction does the electric potential increase
the most?
A. A
B. C
C. D
D. E
4. A capacitor is a device used to .
A. store electrical energy
B. store magnetic energy
C. vary the resistance
D. dissipate energy
5. What is the value of capacitance of a capacitor which has a voltage of 5V and
has a 10C of charge?
A. 2F
B. 4F
C. 6F
D. 8F

RECAP
Directions: Circle the correct figure in column B which is being described in
Column A.
1. Electric field of a
positive charge

2. Electric field of a
negative charge

3. Electric field of two


positive charges

4. Electric field of a
positive and negative
charge

5. Uniform electric field


LESSON

This is a duck-billed platypus. Duck-billed platypus is


an aquatic freshwater animal. Do you know how does it
get its food? It hunts its food (like shrimps, worms and
insects) by using its electro receptors in its bill to detect
a minute electric potentials produced by the muscles of
its prey.
[Link]
ck-billed_platypus_(Ornithorhynchus_anatinus)_from_the_rivers_of_Australia_%40mcrmuseum_-
NaturesLibrary_(20477381429).jpg&psig=AOvVaw3PbJeLcSQuJI_i0WqceoTF&ust=1613108627430000&
source=images&cd=vfe&ved=0CAIQjRxqFwoTCMjh6IeR4e4CFQAAAAAdAAAAABAD

Equipotential Surfaces and Their Relation to Electric Field

Figure 2: The electric field Using the equation for electric potential 𝑉 = 𝑈⁄𝑄, this
and equipotential lines
leads us to an electric potential difference
between two metal plates
𝛥𝑈
𝛥𝑉 =
𝑄
Substituting 𝛥𝑈 𝑡𝑜 − 𝑄𝐸𝑑

This gives 𝛥𝑉 = − 𝐸𝑑

Rearranging the equation


𝛥𝑉
𝐸=−
𝑑
The magnitude of the electric field is largest in regions
[Link]
where V is changing rapidly (and ΔV is large).
[Link]/courses-images- Conversely, the electric
archive-read-only/wp-
content/uploads/sites/222/2014/12/20 field is zero in regions Figure 3: Direction of electric
105721/Figure_20_02_01a.jpg
field
where V is constant. Notice that because of the
negative sign in the equation, the electric field is
directed from regions of high potential to regions of
low potential.

This relation involves the component of the electric


field in the direction parallel to the displacement d.
The electric field is a vector, so if we want to find E
in a particular direction, we must consider how the
potential V changes along that direction.
A positive test charge placed near a negative charge would have low potential energy.
To instill anything with potential energy, we have to do work by moving it over a
distance. Work must be done to push a positive charge against the arrows of an
electric field (either towards another positive charge, or away from a negative
charge). If you try to pull a negative charge away from a positive charge--against an
electric field--you have to do work.

For any charge located in an electric field, its electric potential energy depends on the
type (positive or negative), amount of charge, and its position in the field. Electric
potential energy is measured in units of joules (J).

An equipotential surface is a surface on which electric potential is the same everywhere.


Consider Figure below, which shows an isolated positive point charge and its electric
field lines. Electric field lines radiate out from a positive charge and terminate on
negative charges. While we use blue arrows to represent the magnitude and direction
of the electric field, we use green lines to represent places where the electric potential is
constant. These are called equipotential lines in two dimensions, or equipotential surfaces
in three dimensions. The term equipotential is also used as a noun, referring to an
equipotential line or surface.

Figure 4: Equipotential surfaces

[Link]

It is important to note that equipotential lines are always perpendicular to electric field
lines. No work is required to move a charge along an equipotential, since ΔV =
0. Thus the work is

𝑊 = − 𝛥𝑈 = −𝑞𝛥𝑉 = 0

Sample Problem
1. A uniform electric field of 500 N/C is established between two oppositely
charged metal plates. A particle with a charge of + 0.003 C is moved from the
bottom (negatively charged) plate to the top plate. (Imagine that the string is
tied to the charged that is pulling it upward.) The distance between the plates
is 5 cm.
a. What is the change in the potential energy of the charge?
b. What is the change in electric potential from the bottom to the top
plate?

I. Given: 𝐸 = 500 𝑁⁄𝐶 III. Solution:


𝑄 = + 0.003 𝐶 a. 𝛥𝑈 = 𝑞𝐸𝑑
𝑑 = 5 𝑐𝑚 = 0 𝛥𝑈 = (0.003 𝐶)(500 𝑁⁄𝐶)(0.05 𝑚)
a. 𝛥𝑈 = ? 𝛥𝑈 = 0.075 𝐽
b. 𝛥V = ?
II. Formula:
b. 𝛥𝑉 = 𝛥𝑈⁄𝑄
𝛥𝑈 = 𝑞𝐸𝑑
𝛥𝑈 𝛥𝑉 = 0.075 𝐽
𝛥𝑉 = 0.003 𝐶
𝑄
𝛥𝑉 = 25 𝑉

Capacitors

In general, a capacitor consists of two- conductor


of any shape placed near one another without
touching. It is common practice to fill the region
between conductors or plates with an electrically
insulating material called a dielectric.

A capacitor stores electric charge. Each capacitor


plate carries a charge of the same magnitude, one
positive and the other negative. The ability of a [Link]
/Capacitors_%287189597135%[Link]
capacitor to store a charge on its conductive
plates is its capacitance value.

The magnitude of the charge Q on each plate of a capacitor is directly proportional


to the magnitude V of the potential difference between the plates:
𝑄
𝐶=
𝛥𝑉
where C is the capacitance.

SI unit of capacitance: Coulomb/Volt (C/V) = Farad (F)

The magnitude of the field between plates is:


𝑄
𝐸=
𝜖0𝐴

The magnitude of the potential difference between the two plates is:
𝛥𝑉 = 𝐸𝑑

Combining the two equations, we find:


𝑄𝑑
𝛥𝑉 = 𝐸𝑑 =
𝜖0𝐴
Table 1: Parallel Plate capacitor, Spherical capacitor and Cylindrical capacitor and their formulas

Parallel – plate
Spherical capacitor Cylindrical capacitor
capacitor

ϵ0𝐴 𝑘(𝑟1)(𝑟2) 2𝜋𝜀0L


𝐶= 𝐶=
𝑑 𝐶 = 4𝜋𝜀0 𝑅2
𝑟 −2 𝑟 1 ln ( ⁄𝑅 )
1

[Link] [Link]
[Link] ns/3/3f/Spherical_Capacitor.svg 1024/q:85/https%3A%2F%[Link]
6cd71b29f250a9e5c28df3
[Link]%3A443%2Fcheatsheet%[Link]

Sample Problem:

A parallel plate capacitor has a square plate of side 6.0 cm and separated by a distance
of 2 mm. (a) Calculate the capacitance of this capacitor. (b) If a 15 V battery is
connected to the capacitor, what is the charge stored in any of the plates? (The value
of 𝜀0 = 8.85 𝑥 10 −12 𝑁𝑚2/𝐶 2)

I. Given:
𝐴 = 6.0 𝑐𝑚 𝑥 6.0 𝑐𝑚
𝐴 = 3.6 𝑥 10−3 𝑚2 II. Formula:
𝑑 = 2 𝑚𝑚 = 2.0 𝑥 10−3 𝑚 𝜀0𝐴
𝑉 = 15 𝑉 𝐶=
𝑑
𝐶 =? 𝑄 = 𝐶𝑉
𝑄 =?

III. Solution:
𝜀0𝐴
𝐶= 𝑄 = 𝐶𝑉
𝑑
(8.85 𝑥 10−12𝑁𝑚2/𝐶2)(3.6 𝑥 10−3 𝑚2)
𝐶= 𝑄 = 1.593 𝑋 10 −11𝐹 (15𝑉)
2.0 𝑥 10−3𝑚

3.186 𝑥 10−14𝑁/𝐶2 𝑄 = 2.39 𝑥 10−10 𝐶


𝐶= 2.0 𝑥 10−3𝑚

𝐶 = 1.593 𝑥 10−11 𝐹 𝑄 = 23.9 𝑥 10−9 𝐶 = 23.9 𝑛𝐶


ACTIVITIES
Activity 1: Equipotential lines

Draw the equipotential lines on the following electric fields.

[Link] [Link]
rges_plus_minus.svg so_cariche_uguali.svg

[Link] [Link]
vg [Link]

Activity 2: Let’s Solve! Equipotential surfaces and their relation to the


electric field

1. Dry air will support a maximum electric field strength of about 2.0 x 10 8 V/m.
Above that value, the field creates enough ionization in the air to make the air
a conductor. This allows a discharge or spark that reduces the field. What,
then, is the maximum voltage between two parallel conducting plates
separated by 3.5 cm of dry air?
2. An equipotential surface that surrounds a + 3.0 μC point charge has a radius
of 2.0 cm. What is the potential of this surface?
3. A spark plug in an automobile engine consists of two metal conductors that
are separated by a distance of 0.5 mm. When an electric spark jumps between
them, the magnitude of the electric field is 4.0 x 10 7 V/m. What is the
magnitude of the potential difference 𝛥V between the conductors?

Activity 3: Solving is Fun! Capacitor


1. Calculate the voltage of a battery connected to a parallel plate capacitor with
a plate area of 3.0 cm2 and a plate separation of 5mm if the charge stored on
the plates is 6.0 pC.
2. A cylindrical capacitor has a length of 6 cm is made of two concentric rings
with an inner radius of 2.5 cm and an outer radius of 3.5 cm. How much charge
is present in this capacitor if it is connected to a 15 V battery?
3. A spherical capacitor has an inner sphere of radius 10 cm and an outer sphere
of radius 14 cm. The outer sphere is earthed and the inner sphere is given a
charge of 2.5 µC. The space between the concentric spheres is filled with a
liquid of dielectric constant 32. Determine the capacitance of the capacitor.

VALUING

An important application of electric fields


and equipotential lines involves the heart.
How do the electric signals maintain the
[Link] heart’s rhythm?
/heart-1672625 [Link]

WRAP-UP
Self-Assessment
Directions: Use the space provided to prepare a KWL chart. In the first column, write
things you already know about the center of mass. In the second column, write things
you want to know. In the last column, write the things you learned about the electric
potentials and capacitors.

K W L
What I Know What I Want to Know What I Learned
POSTTEST

Directions: Write the letter of the correct answer.


1. The electric field acts between two parallel plates. Which of the following
statements is not correct?
A. E is inversely proportional to distance.
B. The field is uniform.
C. A charge would experience a force VdQ.
D. Field lines are at right angles to the plates.
2. Which of the following statements concerning the work done when a small
charge is moved in the field is incorrect?
A. When it is moved from either P to Q or S to R, the
work done is the same in each case.
B. When it is moved from Q to R no work is done.
C. When it is moved around the path PQRS, the
overall work done is zero.
D. When it is moved around the path PQRS, the
overall work done is equal to twice the work done
in moving from P to Q.
3. An equipotential surface that surrounds a + 5.0 μC point charge has a
radius of 5.0 cm. What is the potential of this surface?
A. 9.0 x 103 V
B. 9.0 x 104 V
C. 9.0 x 105 V
D. 9.0 x 106 V
4. The electric potential inside a parallel-plate capacitor
A. is constant.
B. increases linearly from the negative to the positive plate.
C. decreases linearly from the negative to the positive plate.
D. decreases inversely with distance from the negative plate.
5. Initially a charged capacitor stores 2000 μJ energy. When the potential
difference decreases by 3.0 V, the energy stored by it becomes 600 μJ. What
is the capacitance of this capacitor?
A. 94 μF
B. 156 μF
C. 187 μF
D. 243 Μf
References
Nicholas J. Giordano. 2018. General Physics 2. Manila: REX Book Store Inc

Jerry D. Wilson and Anthony J. Buffa. 2003. PHYSICS 4th Edition. Philippines:
Pearson Education South Asia PTE. LTD

John D. Cutnell and Kenneth W. Johnson. 2004. Physics 6th Edition. Philippines:
Golden Gate Printers

Giancoli, Douglas. PHYSICS Principles with Applications Sixth Edition. PDF file.
September 2, 2020. [Link](6th).pdf

OpenStax. “Physics.” Lumen. Accessed February 12, 2021.


[Link]

Jack. “Get Ready. Be Prepared. Understand the Big Ideas.” Practice Problems: Capacitance
Solutions. Accessed February 12, 2021. [Link]
[Link]/[Link]/practice-problems-capacitors/43-physics-2-unit-1/1437-practice-
problems-capacitance-solutions.

Libretexts. “8.2: Capacitors and Capacitance.” Physics LibreTexts. Libretexts, November 5,


[Link]://[Link]/Bookshelves/University_Physics/Book%3A_University
_Physics_(OpenStax)/Map%3A_University_Physics_II_-
_Thermodynamics_Electricity_and_Magnetism_(OpenStax)/08%3A_Capacitance/8.02
%3A_Capacitors_and_Capacitance.

Acknowledgment:
This module was collaborated and created by the
Division of Pasig City.

Common questions

Powered by AI

The electric field vector is always perpendicular to equipotential surfaces. This is because no work is needed to move a charge along an equipotential surface, thus ΔV = 0 and the electric field is such that it does not have a component along these surfaces. As a result, equipotential surfaces are always orthogonal to electric field lines.

In a uniform electric field between parallel plates, the potential difference ΔV and electric field strength E are related by the equation ΔV = Ed, where d is the separation between the plates. The electric field strength is uniform and constant throughout the region between the plates, causing the potential difference to vary linearly with distance.

If a positive charge is moved against the electric field lines away from a negative charge, its potential energy will increase. This is because work needs to be done against the electric field to increase the separation of the charges, thus increasing the potential energy stored in the system.

Work must be done to move a positive charge against the direction of an electric field because the electric field exerts a force on the charge that naturally moves it in the direction of the field. To move the charge against this force, an external work needs to be done to increase the potential energy of the charge.

No work is required to move a charge along an equipotential line because the electric potential is constant along these lines. Since potential difference ΔV is zero, no energy is expended in moving the charge, and thus the work done, calculated as W = -qΔV, is zero.

The perpendicular nature of equipotential surfaces to electric field lines signifies that no work is done when a charge moves along an equipotential surface, maintaining constant potential energy. This property simplifies the analysis of electric fields and potential energy, and it indicates that any movement perpendicular to the electric field lines does not change the kinetic or potential energy of a charge, facilitating energy conservation in electrostatic systems.

The capacitance of a capacitor is directly proportional to the area of its plates, given by C = ε₀A/d. Therefore, increasing the area of the plates increases the capacitance and hence the capacitor's ability to store charge, as there is more surface area for electric charges to accumulate.

When a charged capacitor discharges across a resistor, the electric potential energy stored in the capacitor is converted into thermal energy in the resistor. The charge flows through the resistor, producing heat due to the resistance, thus transforming stored electrostatic energy into heat energy.

The capacitance of a parallel-plate capacitor is inversely proportional to the distance between the plates, as given by the formula C = ε₀A/d, where ε₀ is the permittivity of free space, A is the area, and d is the distance. If the distance is halved, the capacitance will double, since C and d are inversely related.

Introducing a dielectric material between the plates of a capacitor increases its capacitance. The dielectric reduces the electric field within the capacitor for a given charge on the plates, allowing more charge to be stored for the same potential difference. This increase in capacitance is quantitatively expressed as C' = kC, where k is the dielectric constant greater than 1.

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