Rankers Physics
Topic: Capacitors
Subtopic: Parallel Plate Capacitor

The plates S and T of an uncharged parallel plate capacitor are connected across a battery. The battery is then disconnected and the charged plates are now connected in a system as shown in the figure. The system shown is in equilibrium. All the strings are insulating and massless. The magnitude of charge on one of the capacitor plates is: [Area of plates = A] Image related to
\[\sqrt{2mgA \epsilon_{0}}\]
\[\sqrt\frac{{4mgA \epsilon_{0}}}{k}\]
\[\sqrt{mgA \epsilon_{0}}\]
\[\sqrt\frac{{2mgA \epsilon_{0}}}{k}\]

Solution:

To solve this, let us analyze the situation and derive the required expression for the charge:


1. Setup of the System

  • The parallel plate capacitor is initially charged, and the battery is disconnected.
  • One plate of the capacitor is connected to a spring, and the other is attached to a mass mm.
  • The capacitor plates attract each other due to the opposite charges, generating an electrostatic force.

2. Equilibrium Condition

In equilibrium, the upward force due to the spring's tension balances the downward gravitational force acting on the mass mm:

T=mgT = mg

This tension TT is equal to the electrostatic force FelecF_{\text{elec}} between the plates of the capacitor:

Felec=Q22ϵ0AF_{\text{elec}} = \frac{Q^2}{2 \epsilon_0 A}


3. Force Balance

At equilibrium:

Felec=mgF_{\text{elec}} = mg

Substitute Felec=Q22ϵ0AF_{\text{elec}} = \frac{Q^2}{2 \epsilon_0 A}:

Q22ϵ0A=mg\frac{Q^2}{2 \epsilon_0 A} = mg


4. Solve for QQ

Rearranging for QQ:

Q2=2mgϵ0AQ^2 = 2 mg \epsilon_0 A

Taking the square root:

Q=2mgϵ0AQ = \sqrt{2 mg \epsilon_0 A}


Final Answer:

The magnitude of the charge on one of the capacitor plates is:

Q=2mgAϵ0Q = \sqrt{2mgA\epsilon_0}

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