Five conducting parallel plates of area A separated by d are arranged as shown. Plates 2 and 4 are connected. A cell of emf E is connected between A and B. Charge flowing through the cell is:
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Question

Five conducting parallel plates of area A separated by d are arranged as shown. Plates 2 and 4 are connected. A cell of emf E is connected between A and B. Charge flowing through the cell is:

G1 Physics · Accepted Answer

Each adjacent plate pair has capacitance C₀=ε₀A/d. With plates 2 and 4 shorted, reduce the resulting network between terminals A and B. The equivalent is 2C₀/3, so charge supplied by the cell is Q=Cₑq E=2ε₀AE/(3d). Correct answer: B.