Question

The capacitor in Figure 19.68 is initially uncharged, then the circuit is connected. Which graph in Figure 19.66 best describes the magnitude of the fringe field of the capacitor at location A(inside the connecting wire) as a function of time?

Short answer

Figure (c) best depicts the fringe field at A.

Step-by-step solution

Given data

An uncharged capacitor is connected to a bulb and two batteries in series.

Charging of a capacitor

When an uncharged capacitor is connected to a battery, positive charges from the positive end of the battery flow to one plate of the capacitor and start accumulating there and negative charges from the negative end of the battery move to the other plate of the capacitor and start accumulating there.

Determination of the graph of the fringe field at A

As charge accumulates on the capacitor plates, the fringe field in the circuit increases. This continues till the fringe field completely cancels out the field due to the battery. At this point the charge flow stops and the fringe field remains at a constant value. This is best depicted by figure (c).