Question

A parallel-plate capacitor has plates with area 2.10×10−2 m2 separated by 1.50 mm of Teflon. A parallel-plate capacitor has plates with area 2.10×10−2 m2 separated by 1.50 mm of Teflon. Use Gauss's law to calculate the electric field if the voltage source is disconnected and the Teflon is removed.

Answer 1

When the voltage source is disconnected and the Teflon is removed from a parallel-plate capacitor, the electric field is zero.

Step-by-step explanation:

The electric field in a parallel-plate capacitor can be calculated using Gauss's law. Gauss's law states that the electric flux through a closed surface is equal to the charge enclosed by the surface divided by the permittivity of free space. In the case of a parallel-plate capacitor with the voltage source disconnected and the dielectric removed, the charge enclosed by the surface is zero, so the electric field is also zero.Without the voltage source and the presence of Teflon, the parallel-plate capacitor is devoid of any charge. As per Gauss's law, absence of enclosed charge results in zero electric flux through capacitor's surface, leading to a null electric field within capacitor.