Q)There are two parallel plate capacitors infinitely away from each other.One plate of each is grounded but the other plates dont touch each other.How are they connected:Series/parallel/none?

Fig. is something like this:

| |-- (not connected) --| |

(the outer plates are grounded)

The answer says they are connect in SERIES WITHOUT CONNECTION and if the WIRES TOUCH THEY WILL BE IN PARALLEL.

Doubt 1. How are they connected in “Series without connection”?

(According to me there should be a contact between the wires but they are still not connected,though the ‘0’ potential plates are attached to each other,but I cant understand how can they be called ‘in series without connection’ as in series there is same charge across capacitors)

To understand the connection of these two parallel plate capacitors, let’s break down the scenario step by step. You have two capacitors, each with one plate grounded, and the other plates are not touching. This setup can be a bit confusing, but it can be clarified by looking at the behavior of electric potential and charge distribution.

Understanding Capacitor Connections

Capacitors can be connected in series or parallel based on how they share voltage and charge. In a typical series connection, the same charge flows through each capacitor, while in a parallel connection, each capacitor experiences the same voltage across its terminals.

Analyzing the Given Configuration

In your case, we have two capacitors with the following characteristics:

• One plate of each capacitor is grounded (let's call them Plate A and Plate B).
• The other plates (let's call them Plate C and Plate D) are not connected to each other.

Since Plates A and B are grounded, they are at zero potential. This means that Plates C and D will have some potential difference between them due to the electric field created by the grounded plates. However, since Plates C and D are not physically connected, they cannot share charge directly.

Series Without Physical Connection

Now, let’s address the term “series without connection.” This phrase can be a bit misleading. Here’s what it means:

• Both capacitors are influenced by the same electric field created by the grounded plates.
• Since the grounded plates are at zero potential, the potential difference across Plates C and D will be the same as if they were in series.

In essence, while there is no direct electrical connection between the two capacitors, they behave as if they are in series because the potential difference across one affects the potential difference across the other. This is akin to having two light bulbs in series where the current flows through one and then the other, even if they are not physically connected by wires.

What Happens If the Wires Touch?

If the wires connecting Plates C and D were to touch, then the situation changes significantly:

• Now, both capacitors would be in a true parallel configuration.
• Each capacitor would share the same voltage across its plates, and charge could redistribute freely between them.

This change would allow the capacitors to operate under the principles of parallel connections, where they would each hold their own charge but experience the same voltage across their terminals.

Conclusion

In summary, the two capacitors are described as being in “series without connection” because they are influenced by the same potential difference due to their grounding, even though they are not physically connected. This unique situation highlights the fascinating behavior of capacitors and electric fields. If you have any more questions or need further clarification, feel free to ask!