Final answer:
The electric field strength (E) inside a parallel-plate capacitor cannot be determined without the potential difference (voltage, V) across the plates. The question's information is insufficient and more data is needed. The units of V/m and N/C for electric field strength are equivalent, as 1 V/m is the electric field resulting from 1 volt over a distance of 1 meter and E = F/q shows that the electric field can also be expressed in N/C.
Step-by-step explanation:
Electric Field Strength Inside a Parallel-Plate Capacitor
To calculate the electric field strength inside a parallel-plate capacitor, we use the following formula:
E = V/d
where E is the electric field strength, V is the potential difference (voltage) across the plates, and d is the separation between the plates.
However, the given question does not provide the potential difference value we need to calculate E. With just the plate separation, we can't determine the electric field strength.
To demonstrate that the units of V/m and N/C for electric field strength are equivalent, we can consider that 1 V/m is the electric field produced by 1 volt acting over a distance of 1 meter. Similarly, since the force on a charge (in newtons) exerted by an electric field (in volts per meter) is given by F = qE, where q is the charge in coulombs and E is the electric field in volts per meter, rearranging the formula to E = F/q gives us the electric field in newtons per coulomb (N/C) -- hence proving the equivalence of units.
Note: To provide a specific answer to the student's question about the electric field strength, the value for the potential difference across the capacitor plates would be required.