JEE MainPhysicsCapacitorMCQ+4 / −1
A parallel plate capacitor has plates of area A separated by distance 'd' between them. It is filled with a dielectric which has a dielectric constant that varies as k(x) = K(1 + x) where 'x' is the distance measured from one of the plates. If (ad) << 1, the total capacitance of the system is best given by the expression :- A
- B
- C
- D
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Correct answer: B
- Model the capacitor as a series combination of thin dielectric slabs
Since the dielectric constant varies with position, we divide the space between the plates into thin slabs of thickness .
For a slab at position , the permittivity is
The capacitance of a thin slab of thickness and area is
But these slabs are stacked along the field direction, so they are in series. Hence we add their inverses: d\left(\frac{1}{C}\right)=\frac{dx}{\varepsilon(x)A}=rac{dx}{\varepsilon_0 K A(1+\alpha x)}.
So,
- Evaluate the integral
Using we get
Therefore,
- Use the condition
For small , Thus,
Factor out from the denominator:
=\frac{\varepsilon_0 K A}{d}\cdot \frac{1}{1-\frac{\alpha d}{2}}.$$ Now use $$\frac{1}{1-x}\approx 1+x \quad (x\ll 1),$$ so $$C\approx \frac{\varepsilon_0 K A}{d}\left(1+\frac{\alpha d}{2}\right).$$ 4. **Match with the options** This matches: $$\boxed{\frac{A\varepsilon_0 K}{d}\left(1+\frac{\alpha d}{2}\right)}$$ which is **Option B**. 5. **Option check** - **A:** correction is of order $(\alpha d)^2$ only, not the leading first-order term. - **B:** correct first-order approximation. - **C:** wrong coefficient and misses first-order term. - **D:** overestimates the first-order correction; should be $\alpha d/2$, not $\alpha d$. Hence the correct answer is **B**.More from Capacitor
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