Physics Help Forum electric field between two plates

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 Sep 23rd 2009, 05:31 PM #1 Member   Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 54 electric field between two plates Two 10 cm x 10cm square plates that are charged with ±12 nC and are 6 mm apart. What is the magnitude of the electric field between the two plates? I need help setting up this problem because I honestly have no idea where to start and didn't see any similar problems in my physics book. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
 Sep 24th 2009, 02:37 AM #2 Physics Team   Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 1,425 This is a pretty standard problem and has standard formula. $\displaystyle E\ =\ \frac{\sigma}{\epsilon_0}$ . where E is the electric field between the plates and $\displaystyle \sigma$ is the charge density or charge / unit area . Remember all lengths should be in metres, areas in$\displaystyle m^2$ and charge in coulombs. Google a bit and you will find plenty of stuff.
 Sep 24th 2009, 05:30 PM #3 Member   Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 54 I didn't really see anything when I googled the problem, that's why I asked about it. So I just use the formula? how do I find the charge density?
Sep 24th 2009, 06:11 PM   #4
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Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 815
 Originally Posted by tag16 how do I find the charge density?
You are given the area of the plates and their total charge.
You want to know the amount of charge there is in a unit area. physicsquest said that you have to express charges in coulomb and unit area in $\displaystyle m^2$.

Yes, just use the formula physicsquest gave you.
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