Re: Capacitor energy experiment

["Kilmer, Skip" <kilmers@GREENHILL.ORG>]

I got into this thread kinda late, I guess. Do I understand that two identical capacitors are supposed to have the same potential difference across them while having different charges? Since the charge on the plates is the source of the electric field between them, how is this possible?
skip 

-----Original Message-----
From: Rick Tarara [mailto:rtarara@SAINTMARYS.EDU]
Sent: Thursday, February 13, 2003 09:52
To: PHYS-L@lists.nau.edu
Subject: Re: Capacitor energy experiment


These changes would change the capacitance--C =
(permittivity)x(Area)/(separation).  I think the original question stands if
the capacitance of each capacitor is fixed at 1 F, regardless of the
construction of the capacitor.

Rick

*********************************************************
Richard W. Tarara
Professor of Physics
Saint Mary's College
Notre Dame, Indiana
rtarara@saintmarys.edu
********************************************************
Free Physics Educational Software (Win & Mac)
www.saintmarys.edu/~rtarara/software.html
********************************************************
----- Original Message -----
From: "Kilmer, Skip" <kilmers@GREENHILL.ORG>

> A stronger electric field due to closer plate spacing or a good dielectric
insulator would do it. A larger plate surface would too.
> sk



> -----Original Message-----
> From: Michael Burns-Kaurin [mailto:mburns-k@SPELMAN.EDU]
> Sent: Thursday, February 13, 2003 08:55
> To: PHYS-L@lists.nau.edu
> Subject: Re: Capacitor energy experiment
>
>
> I will try asking Bob's question in a different way.  Suppose I have two 1
> F capacitors, each with potential difference 1 V.  What physical
difference
> between the capacitors makes one of them "store" 1 J while the other
> "stores" 0.5 J?
>
> Michael Burns-Kaurin
> Spelman College