Consider two infinitely large plane parallel conducting plates as shown below. The plates are uniformly charged with a surface charge density + and -2 . The force experienced by a point charge +q placed at the mid point between two plates will be: [figure]
- 3 q4 0
- 3 q2 0
- q4 0
- q2 0
Answer
(2) 3 q2 0
Solution
Field of a large plane sheet of charge density σ: E = 2 0 (independent of distance).
Between the plates, the field of + points away from it and the field of -2 points towards it, i.e. both point the same way (towards the -2 plate):
E = 2 0 + 2 2 0 = 3 2 0
(Same result with charge redistribution on the conductors: inner faces carry + 3 2 and - 3 2, giving E = 3 2 0.)
F = qE = 3 q2 0, directed towards the -2 plate.
Answer: (2)