Rankers Physics
Topic: Capacitors
Subtopic: Capacitor With Dielectrics

A capacitor is charged by using a battery, which is then disconnected. A dielectric slab is then slided between the plates which results in :
reduction of charge on the plates and increase of potential difference across the plates
increase in the potential difference across the plates, reduction in stored energy but no change in the charge on the plates
decrease in the potential difference across the plates, reduction in stored energy, but no change in the charge on the plates
none of the above

Solution:

Let's break down the situation step by step:

Given:

  • A capacitor is charged using a battery and then disconnected (so no current can flow after disconnection).
  • A dielectric slab is inserted between the plates of the capacitor after disconnecting the battery.

Key concepts:

  • Capacitance with Dielectric: When a dielectric slab is inserted, the capacitance of the capacitor increases. The new capacitance
    CC'
     

    is related to the original capacitance CC 

    by the dielectric constant KK 

    C=KCC' = K \cdot Cwhere

    KKis the dielectric constant of the material.

  • Charge on the Plates: Since the capacitor is disconnected from the battery, no additional charge can flow onto the plates. Thus, the charge
    QQ
     

    remains the same, given by: 

    Q=CVQ = C \cdot Vwhere

    VVis the potential difference across the plates. Since the charge remains constant, the equation becomes:

     

    Q=CVQ = C' \cdot V'where

    VV'is the new potential difference across the plates.

  • Potential Difference: Since the capacitance increases and the charge stays constant, the potential difference
    VV'
     

    must decrease (because Q=CVQ = C' \cdot V' 

    and C>CC' > C 

    ).

  • Stored Energy: The energy stored in a capacitor is given by: 

    U=Q22CU = \frac{Q^2}{2C}Since the capacitance increases and the charge is constant, the stored energy

    UUdecreases, as it is inversely proportional to the capacitance.

Conclusion:

  • Decrease in potential difference: The potential difference across the plates decreases because the capacitance increases while the charge remains constant.
  • Reduction in stored energy: The energy stored in the capacitor decreases because the capacitance increases.
  • No change in charge: The charge on the plates remains the same since the capacitor is disconnected from the battery.

Thus, the correct answer is: "Decrease in the potential difference across the plates, reduction in stored energy, but no change in the charge on the plates."

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