Final answer:
The potential difference across the plates of a capacitor is calculated using the formula V = Q/C, and the area of the plates can be deduced from rearranging the capacitor formula to A = C * d / ε₀, where C is the capacitance, d is the separation, and ε₀ is the vacuum permittivity.
Step-by-step explanation:
The student's question relates to a parallel-plate air capacitor, which is a concept in electrical physics. Specifically, they are asking how to find the potential difference between the plates of a capacitor when the charge and capacitance are known, as well as how to determine the area of the plates given the charge and potential difference.
To find the potential difference (V), you would use the formula V = Q/C, where Q is the charge on the plates and C is the capacitance. In the example, the capacitance (C) is 252 pF (picoFarads) and the charge (Q) is 0.160 μC (microCoulombs), which can be converted into common units and then used to calculate V.
As for determining the area of the plates (A) given the charge (Q) and potential difference (V), you would rearrange the capacitor formula (C = ε₀(A/d)) where ε₀ is the vacuum permittivity, A is the area of the plate, and d is the distance between the plates. Solving for A, the area equation becomes A = C * d / ε₀. You'd use the given values for C and d along with the known value of ε₀ to calculate A.