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Electrostatics

The plates of a parallel plate capacitor are given charges +4Q and -2Q. The capacitor is then connected across an uncharged capacitor of same capacitance as first one (=C). Find the final potential between the plates of the first capacitor.

Profile image of Siddhant Madan
16 Years agoGrade
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1 Answer

Profile image of Chetan Mandayam Nayakar
16 Years ago

Once equilibrium is reached, the +4Q charge is divided into +2Q each. Similarly, -2Q is divided into -Q each. Both of the previous two arguments are based on the symmetry of the situation. Final potential difference = (+2Q-(-Q))/2C=3Q/2C.