*53. Review Conceptual Example 10 before attempting this problem. An empty capacitor is connected to a 12.0-V battery and charged up. The capacitor is then disconnected from the battery, and a slab of dielectric material (k = 2.8) is inserted between the plates. Find the amount by which the potential difference across the plates changes. Specify whether the change is an increase or a decrease.

If a dielectric is added to a capacitor the capacitance changes by

So we can consider

And

Now with battery disconnected, there is no source of charge so

Solve for V_dielectric

- sign tells us it is a decrease!

, a decrease in voltage across capacitor

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This page last updated on June 11, 2018