The parallel-plate air capacitor in Fig. P24.76 consists | StudySoup

Textbook Solutions for Sears and Zemansky's University Physics with Modern Physics

Chapter 24 Problem 24.76

Question

The parallel-plate air capacitor in Fig. P24.76 consists of two horizontal conducting plates of equal area \(A\). The bottom plate rests on a fixed support, and the top plate is suspended by four springs with spring constant \(k\), positioned at each of the four corners of the top plate as shown in the figure. When uncharged, the plates are separated by a distance \(z_0\). A battery is connected to the plates and produces a potential difference \(V\) between them. This causes the plate separation to decrease to \(z\). Neglect any fringing effects.

(a) Show that the electrostatic force between the charged plates has a magnitude \(\epsilon_0 A V^2 / 2 z^2\). (Hint: See Exercise 24.27.)

(b) Obtain an expression that relates the plate separation \(z\) to the potential difference \(V\). The resulting equation will be cubic in \(z\).

(c) Given the values \(A=0.300 \mathrm{~m}^2, z_0=1.20 \mathrm{~mm}\), \(k=25.0 \mathrm{~N} / \mathrm{m}\), and \(V=120 \mathrm{~V}\), find the two values of \(z\) for which the top plate will be in equilibrium. (Hint: You can solve the cubic equation by plugging a trial value of \(z\) into the equation and then adjusting your guess until the equation is satisfied to three significant figures. Locating the roots of the cubic equation graphically can help you pick starting values of \(z\) for this trial-and-error procedure. One root of the cubic equation has a nonphysical negative value.)

(d) For each of the two values of \(z\) found in part (c), is the equilibrium stable or unstable? For stable equilibrium a small displacement of the object will give rise to a net force tending to return the object to the equilibrium position. For unstable equilibrium a small displacement gives rise to a net force that takes the object farther away from equilibrium.

Solution

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The first step in solving 24 problem number 76 trying to solve the problem we have to refer to the textbook question: The parallel-plate air capacitor in Fig. P24.76 consists of two horizontal conducting plates of equal area \(A\). The bottom plate rests on a fixed support, and the top plate is suspended by four springs with spring constant \(k\), positioned at each of the four corners of the top plate as shown in the figure. When uncharged, the plates are separated by a distance \(z_0\). A battery is connected to the plates and produces a potential difference \(V\) between them. This causes the plate separation to decrease to \(z\). Neglect any fringing effects.(a) Show that the electrostatic force between the charged plates has a magnitude \(\epsilon_0 A V^2 / 2 z^2\). (Hint: See Exercise 24.27.)(b) Obtain an expression that relates the plate separation \(z\) to the potential difference \(V\). The resulting equation will be cubic in \(z\).(c) Given the values \(A=0.300 \mathrm{~m}^2, z_0=1.20 \mathrm{~mm}\), \(k=25.0 \mathrm{~N} / \mathrm{m}\), and \(V=120 \mathrm{~V}\), find the two values of \(z\) for which the top plate will be in equilibrium. (Hint: You can solve the cubic equation by plugging a trial value of \(z\) into the equation and then adjusting your guess until the equation is satisfied to three significant figures. Locating the roots of the cubic equation graphically can help you pick starting values of \(z\) for this trial-and-error procedure. One root of the cubic equation has a nonphysical negative value.)(d) For each of the two values of \(z\) found in part (c), is the equilibrium stable or unstable? For stable equilibrium a small displacement of the object will give rise to a net force tending to return the object to the equilibrium position. For unstable equilibrium a small displacement gives rise to a net force that takes the object farther away from equilibrium.
From the textbook chapter Capacitance and Dielectrics you will find a few key concepts needed to solve this.

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Title Sears and Zemansky's University Physics with Modern Physics 13 
Author Hugh D. Young; Roger A. Freedman; A. Lewis Ford
ISBN 9780321696861

The parallel-plate air capacitor in Fig. P24.76 consists

Chapter 24 textbook questions

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