Question

A parallel-plate capacitor which has plates with area 2.40×10⁻² m² separated by 2.00 mm of Teflon is charged to a potential difference of 14.0 V using a DC source. Use Gauss's law to calculate the electric field if the voltage source is disconnected and the Teflon is removed.

Answer 1

The electric field between the plates of a parallel-plate capacitor can be calculated using Gauss's law. The electric field between the plates before the Teflon is inserted can be calculated using the formula E = V/d. After the Teflon is removed, the electric field between the plates will remain the same.

Step-by-step explanation:

The electric field between the plates of a parallel-plate capacitor can be calculated using Gauss's law. Gauss's law states that the electric flux through any closed surface is equal to the enclosed charge divided by the permittivity of the medium.

Since the plates of the capacitor are parallel, the electric field between them is uniform. The electric field between the plates before the Teflon is inserted can be calculated using the formula E = V/d, where E is the electric field, V is the potential difference, and d is the separation between the plates.

After the Teflon is removed, the electric field between the plates will remain the same, as the removal of the Teflon does not affect the charge on the plates. Therefore, the electric field between the plates will be 14.0 V / 2.00 mm = 7.00 V/m.