Answer :
Final answer:
The electric field between two parallel conducting plates with charges of +20nC and -20nC, separated by 0.100 mm, is 9.04 × 106 N/C, directed from the positive plate to the negative plate.
Explanation:
Calculation of Electric Field Between Parallel Plates
To calculate the electric field between two parallel conducting plates, we use the formula E = σ/ε0, where σ is the surface charge density, and ε0 is the permittivity of free space (ε0 = 8.85 × 10−12 C2/N·m2). In this case, each plate has dimensions 5.00 cm by 5.00 cm and they are charged +20nC and -20nC respectively.
The area A of each plate is (5.00 cm × 5.00 cm) converted to square meters. The surface charge density σ can be found by σ = Q/A, where Q is the charge on the plates. Finally, using the formula for the electric field, we get the magnitude E.
The charge density σ is given by:
σ = 20 × 10−9 C / (0.05 m × 0.05 m)
= 8 × 10−6 C/m2.
Thus, the electric field E is:
E = σ/ε0 = (8 × 10−6 C/m2) / (8.85 × 10−12 C2/N·m2)
= 9.04 × 106 N/C.
The direction of the electric field is from the positively charged plate to the negatively charged plate.
