W05D2

Dielectrics and Conductors as

Shields

Today’s Reading Assignment:

Course Notes Sections 5.4, 5.6, 5.8-5.9
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 Announcements

Math Review Week 06 Tuesday 9-11 pm in 26-152

PS 5 due W05 Tuesday at 9 pm in boxes outside 32-

082 or 26-152

Add Date Week 05 Friday

W05D3 Reading Assignment: Friday Problem Solving

Capacitance and Dielectrics
Course Notes Sections 5.6, 5.8-5.9

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 Outline

Dielectrics

Electric Fields in Matter

Conductors as Shields

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Capacitors and Dielectrics

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 Dielectrics
A dielectric is a non-conductor or insulator
Examples: rubber, glass, waxed paper

When placed in a charged capacitor, the

dielectric reduces the potential difference
between the two plates

HOW???
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 Molecular View of Dielectrics
Polar Dielectrics :
Dielectrics with permanent electric dipole moments
Example: Water

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 Molecular View of Dielectrics
Non-Polar Dielectrics

Dielectrics with induced electric dipole moments

Example: CH4

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 Dielectric in Capacitor

Potential difference decreases because

dielectric polarization decreases Electric Field!
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 Dielectric Constant
Dielectric weakens original field by a factor k
E0
e = ke 0 E

Dielectric Constant
Dielectric constants
Vacuum 1.0
Paper 3.7
Pyrex Glass 5.6
Water 80 9
 Group Problem: Induced Surface Charge
Density
A dielectric material with constant k completely fills the space
between two conducting plates that have a surface charge
densities ±s as shown in the figure. Induced surface charge
densities ±s ind appear on the surfaces of the dielectric. Find an
expression for s ind in terms of k and s .

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 Demonstration:
Parallel Plate Capacitor
with Dielectric E5

http://tsgphysics.mit.edu/front/?page=demo.php&letnum=E%205&show=0

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 Dielectric in a Capacitor
Q0 = constant after battery is disconnected

Upon inserting a dielectric free charge on plates does

not change, potential decreases, capacitance increases

V0 Q Q0 Q0
V  C      C0
 V V0 /  V0
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 Dielectric in a Capacitor
V0 = constant when battery remains connected

Q  CV   C0V0
Upon inserting a dielectric free charge on plates increase

Q   Q0
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Gauss’s Law with Dielectrics
In both cases:

qfree,in

S
 E  dA 
0

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 Concept Questions:
Dielectric in a Capacitor

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 Concept Question: Dielectric
A parallel plate capacitor is charged to a total charge Q
and the battery removed. A slab of material with
dielectric constant k is inserted between the plates.
The charge stored in the capacitor
+ + + + + + + +

k
- - - - - - - -
1. Increases
2. Decreases
3. Stays the Same
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 Concept Question Answer: Dielectric
Answer: 3. Charge stays the same
+ + + + + + + +

k
- - - - - - - -

Since the capacitor is disconnected from a battery

there is no way for the amount of charge on it to
change.

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 Concept Question: Dielectric
A parallel plate capacitor is charged to a total charge Q
and the battery removed. A slab of material with
dielectric constant k in inserted between the
plates. The energy stored in the capacitor
+ + + + + + + +

k
- - - - - - - -
1. Increases
2. Decreases
3. Stays the Same
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 Concept Question Answer: Dielectric
Answer: 2. Energy stored decreases

The dielectric reduces the electric field and hence

reduces the amount of energy stored in the field.

The easiest way to think about this is that the

capacitance is increased while the charge remains
the same so
U  Q / 2C
2

Also from energy density:

2
 E
uE,0   0 E   0    uE ,0
1 2 1
2 2  
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 Concept Question: Dielectric
A parallel plate capacitor is charged to a total charge Q
and the battery removed. A slab of material with
dielectric constant k in inserted between the plates.
The force on the dielectric
+ + + + + + + +

k
- - - - - - - -

1. pulls in the dielectric

2. pushes out the dielectric
3. is zero
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 Concept Question Answer: Dielectric
Answer: 1. The dielectric is pulled in

We just saw that the energy is reduced by the

introduction of a dielectric. Since systems want to
reduce their energy, the dielectric will be sucked into
the capacitor.

Alternatively, since opposing charges are induced

on the dielectric surfaces close to the plates, the
attraction between these will lead to the attractive
force.

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Conductors as Shields

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 Concept Question:
Point Charge Inside Conductor

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Concept Question: Point Charge in Conductor

A point charge +Q is placed inside a

neutral, hollow, spherical conductor.
As the charge is moved around
inside, the surface charge density on
the outside

1. is initially uniform and does not change when the

charge is moved.
2. is initially uniform but does become non-uniform when
the charge is moved.
3. is initially non-uniform but does not change when the
charge is moved.
4. is initially non-uniform but does change when the
charge is moved. 24
 Concept Question Answer: Q in
Conductor

Answer: 1 is initially uniform and

does not change when the
charge is moved.

E = 0 in conductor  -Q on inner surface

Charge conserved  +Q on outer surface
E = 0 in conductor  No “communication”
between –Q & +Q  + Q uniformly distributed
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Concept Question: Point Charge in Conductor

A point charge +Q is placed

inside a neutral, hollow,
spherical conductor. As the
charge is moved around inside, +Q
the electric field outside

1. is zero and does not change

2. is non-zero but does not change
3. is zero when centered but changes
4. is non-zero and changes

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 Concept Question Answer: Q in
Conductor

Answer: 2. is non-zero but does

not change.

E = 0 in conductor  -Q on inner surface

Charge conserved  +Q on outer surface
E = 0 in conductor  No “communication”
between –Q & +Q  + Q remains uniformly
distributed so E stays unchanged 27
 Shielding By Conducting Shell:
Applet
Charge placed INSIDE induces balancing charge ON
INSIDE. Electric field outside is field of point charge.

http://web.mit.edu/viz/EM/visualizations/electrostatics/ChargingByInduction/shielding/shielding.htm
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 Shielding by Conducting Shell:
Applet
Charge placed OUTSIDE induces charge separation
ON OUTSIDE. Electric field is zero inside.

http://web.mit.edu/viz/EM/visualizations/electrostatics/ChargingByInduction/shielding/shielding.htm

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 Demonstration:

Faraday Cage D33

http://tsgphysics.mit.edu/front/?page=demo.php&letnum=D%2033&show=0

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 Experiment 1
Faraday Ice Cage

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