Question

If a charge Q is given to the parallel plates of a capacitor and E is the electric field between the plates of the capacitor the force on each plate is 1/20E and if charge Q is placed between the plates experiences a force equal to QE. Give reasons to explain the above.

Answer 1

Answer:

Electrostatic Potential and Capacitance

where Q is the charge on the capacitor, and E is the magnitude of electric field between the plates. Explain the origin of the factor 1/2. lies in the fact that field is zero just outside the conductor and it is E inside. Hence, the average value E/2 contributes to the force.