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Question: The conductor from point A splits into three parallel branches, which then converge to point B. This...

The conductor from point A splits into three parallel branches, which then converge to point B. This configuration indicates that the three branches are connected in parallel between A and B. Therefore, the equivalent capacitance between A and B is the sum of the capacitances of the three individual branches. Due to the symmetry of the diagram, it is assumed that all three branches have the same capacitance, say CC. Thus, the equivalent capacitance Ceq=C+C+C=3CC_{eq} = C + C + C = 3C.

The diagram shows that the parallel conductors in each branch are separated by a distance dd. This suggests that each branch acts as a capacitive element, and its capacitance depends on the separation dd. For a parallel plate capacitor, the capacitance is given by C=ϵ0AdC = \frac{\epsilon_0 A}{d}, where ϵ0\epsilon_0 is the permittivity of free space and AA is the area of the plates. Assuming that each parallel branch can be modeled as a capacitor with an effective plate area AA and separation dd, the capacitance of each branch is C=ϵ0AdC = \frac{\epsilon_0 A}{d}.

Substituting this expression for CC into the equation for the equivalent capacitance, we get: Ceq=3C=3(ϵ0Ad)=3ϵ0AdC_{eq} = 3C = 3 \left(\frac{\epsilon_0 A}{d}\right) = \frac{3\epsilon_0 A}{d}

Answer

The equivalent capacitance between points A and B is 3ϵ0Ad\frac{3\epsilon_0 A}{d}, where AA is the effective area of the parallel conductors in each branch and dd is the separation between them.

Explanation

Solution

The conductor from point A splits into three parallel branches, which then converge to point B. This configuration indicates that the three branches are connected in parallel between A and B. Therefore, the equivalent capacitance between A and B is the sum of the capacitances of the three individual branches. Due to the symmetry of the diagram, it is assumed that all three branches have the same capacitance, say CC. Thus, the equivalent capacitance Ceq=C+C+C=3CC_{eq} = C + C + C = 3C.

The diagram shows that the parallel conductors in each branch are separated by a distance dd. This suggests that each branch acts as a capacitive element, and its capacitance depends on the separation dd. For a parallel plate capacitor, the capacitance is given by C=ϵ0AdC = \frac{\epsilon_0 A}{d}, where ϵ0\epsilon_0 is the permittivity of free space and AA is the area of the plates. Assuming that each parallel branch can be modeled as a capacitor with an effective plate area AA and separation dd, the capacitance of each branch is C=ϵ0AdC = \frac{\epsilon_0 A}{d}.

Substituting this expression for CC into the equation for the equivalent capacitance, we get: Ceq=3C=3(ϵ0Ad)=3ϵ0AdC_{eq} = 3C = 3 \left(\frac{\epsilon_0 A}{d}\right) = \frac{3\epsilon_0 A}{d}