Electric Field Strength Calculation Fun!
How can we calculate the electric field strength between two oppositely charged parallel conducting metal plates?
(a) What is the formula used to calculate the electric field strength in this scenario?
(b) What is the energy change that occurs as an electron moves between the plates?
Electric Field Strength Calculation and Energy Change
(a) To calculate the electric field strength between two oppositely charged parallel conducting metal plates, we can use the formula E = V/d. Where E is the electric field strength, V is the potential difference between the plates, and d is the distance between the plates.
(b) As an electron moves from the negative to the positive plate, its kinetic energy increases and its potential energy decreases. This energy change is an example of conservation of energy.
In the scenario where a uniform electric field is set up between two oppositely charged parallel conducting metal plates by connecting them to a 2000 V d.c. supply, the plates are 0.15 m apart.
To calculate the electric field strength between the plates, we can use the formula E = V/d, where V is the potential difference between the plates and d is the distance between them. In this case, V = 2000 V and d = 0.15 m, so the electric field strength is 2000 V / 0.15 m = 1.33 × 10^4 V/m.
As the electron moves from the negative to the positive plate, its kinetic energy increases and its potential energy decreases. This is an example of conservation of energy.