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Tutorial 3: Electric potential and capacitors Phys 102, Summer 2024, SFU
[15 min] A single parallel-plate capacitor with a plate separation d is connected across a battery that has a potential difference \Delta Vbatt. Without breaking any of the connections, insulating handles are used to increase the plate separation to 2d. Answer the following four questions. [Hint: think about which question you should answer first.]
a. Does the potential difference across the capacitor change as the separation increases? If so, by what factor? If not, why not?
b. Does the electric field strength change? If so, by what factor? If not, why not?
c. DoesthecapacitanceCchange?Ifso,bywhatfactor?Ifnot,whynot?
d. Does the charge Q on the capacitor change? If so, by what factor? If not, why not?