Electric Field Of Two Oppositely Charged Infinite Sheets



Two infinite plane sheets are placed parallel to each other, separated by a distance d. The lower sheet has a uniform positive surface charge density $\sigma$, and the upper sheet has a uniform negative surface charge density $- \sigma$ with the same magnitude. Find the electric field between the two sheets, above the upper sheet, and below the lower sheet.

From Electric field of a uniformly charged disk, electric field of an infinite sheet is:

$$E_{1} = E_{2} = \frac{\sigma}{2 \epsilon_{0}}$$

infinite sheets

From the diagram above, we can see that the field between the two sheets are added together to give $E = \frac{\sigma}{\epsilon_{0}}$. The electric field at the sides cancels.

If you are not satisfied with this explanation, you can use Gauss’ law to come to the same conclusion.

Next: Electric Potential Energy

Previous: Electric Field Of Uniformly Charged Disk

Back To Electromagnetism

Back To University Year 1 Physics Notes



Mini Physics

As the Administrator of Mini Physics, I possess a BSc. (Hons) in Physics. I am committed to ensuring the accuracy and quality of the content on this site. If you encounter any inaccuracies or have suggestions for enhancements, I encourage you to contact us. Your support and feedback are invaluable to us. If you appreciate the resources available on this site, kindly consider recommending Mini Physics to your friends. Together, we can foster a community passionate about Physics and continuous learning.



Leave a Comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.