To calculate the electric force between two charged plates, find the electric field (E = V/d) and then use Coulomb’s Law (F = q * E) to determine the force.
Calculating the Electric Force Between Two Charged Plates
The electric force between two charged plates can be determined using the concept of electric field and Coulomb’s Law. The electric field between the plates can be calculated by dividing the voltage difference between the plates by the distance separating them. To find the electric force acting on a charge placed within the field, we can use the formula for the electric force, which is the product of the charge and the electric field.
Electric Field Between the Plates
To calculate the electric field between the charged plates, first determine the voltage difference (V) between the plates and the distance (d) that separates them. The electric field (E) is given by:
E = V / d
This formula assumes that the plates are large and parallel, resulting in a uniform electric field between them.
Calculating the Electric Force
Once the electric field is known, the electric force (F) acting on a charge (q) placed within the field can be calculated using Coulomb’s Law:
F = q * E
This equation determines the force experienced by the charge due to the electric field between the plates. The direction of the force will be parallel to the electric field, and it will depend on the sign of the charge: positive charges are attracted to negatively charged plates, and vice versa.
Example
Suppose we have two charged plates with a voltage difference of 100 V, separated by a distance of 0.02 m. We want to find the electric force acting on a charge of 1 x 10-6 C placed between the plates.
- First, calculate the electric field between the plates:
- Next, calculate the electric force on the charge:
E = V / d
E = 100 V / 0.02 m
E = 5000 N/C
F = q * E
F = (1 x 10-6 C) * (5000 N/C)
F = 0.005 N
In this example, the electric force acting on the charge is 0.005 N, directed parallel to the electric field and dependent on the charge’s sign.
