Concepts Of Physics MCQ Edition [Volume 2]
- Exam
- Concepts Of Physics MCQ Edition [Volume 2]
- Subject
- Physics
- Chapter
- Capacitors
Concepts Of Physics MCQ Edition [Volume 2] · Physics · Capacitors
Consider the arrangement depicted in the figure. The capacitor...
Consider the arrangement depicted in the figure. The capacitor plates, each having a plate area , are rigidly clamped in the laboratory. A dielectric slab of mass is released from rest with a length initially inside the capacitor. Disregarding any effects of friction or gravity, determine the time period of the periodic motion executed by the slab.


Options
- A
- B
- C
- D
Correct answer
D.
Step-by-step solution
Let the width of the capacitor plates be . The area of each plate is , which gives .
When a length of the dielectric slab is inside the capacitor, the system can be considered as two capacitors in parallel: one with air and one with the dielectric.
The equivalent capacitance is:
The force exerted by the electric field on the dielectric slab is constant and is given by:
Since the force is constant, the acceleration of the slab is also constant:
The slab is released from rest with an initial length inside the capacitor. It will accelerate until it is completely inside the capacitor. The distance it moves during this acceleration phase is .
Using the equation of motion , the time taken to reach the fully inside position is:
Due to inertia, the slab will overshoot and start emerging from the other side. The electric force will now act in the opposite direction, decelerating the slab until it momentarily comes to rest after moving a distance outside. It will then be pulled back in.
The complete periodic motion consists of four such identical segments (accelerating inwards, decelerating outwards, accelerating inwards again, decelerating outwards to the initial position).
Therefore, the total time period of the oscillation is:
Answer:
When a length of the dielectric slab is inside the capacitor, the system can be considered as two capacitors in parallel: one with air and one with the dielectric.
The equivalent capacitance is:
The force exerted by the electric field on the dielectric slab is constant and is given by:
Since the force is constant, the acceleration of the slab is also constant:
The slab is released from rest with an initial length inside the capacitor. It will accelerate until it is completely inside the capacitor. The distance it moves during this acceleration phase is .
Using the equation of motion , the time taken to reach the fully inside position is:
Due to inertia, the slab will overshoot and start emerging from the other side. The electric force will now act in the opposite direction, decelerating the slab until it momentarily comes to rest after moving a distance outside. It will then be pulled back in.
The complete periodic motion consists of four such identical segments (accelerating inwards, decelerating outwards, accelerating inwards again, decelerating outwards to the initial position).
Therefore, the total time period of the oscillation is:
Answer: