Varying Separation Distance of Capacitor Plates

Varying Separation Distance of Capacitor Plates#

A parallel-plate capacitor is made of two square plates with side length 10.0 \(\textrm{ cm}\) that are 1.00 \(\textrm{ mm}\) apart. The capacitor is connected to a 60 \(\textrm{ V}\) battery. With the battery still connected, the plates are pulled apart to a separation distance of 2.75 \(\textrm{ mm}\).

Part 1#

What is the energy stored in the capacitor before the plates are pulled apart?

Answer Section#

Please enter a numeric value.

Part 2#

What is the energy stored in the capacitor after the plates are pulled apart?

Answer Section#

Please enter a numeric value.

Part 3#

Which best describes why the energy decreases even though work is done separating the plates?

Answer Section#

  • It is lost to the surroundings in the laboratory

  • Charge is transferred to the battery

  • It is transferred into heat energy

Attribution#

Problem is from the OpenStax University Physics Volume 2 textbook, licensed under the CC-BY 4.0 license.
Image representing the Creative Commons 4.0 BY license.