Dielectrics TAKING IT FURTHER The total energy of 165 1] is 123 uJ less than the original enengy of 288 j.). When the dielectric is inserted, it is attracted by the charges on the plates, so it ‘must be restrained from accelerating into the gap. During this process 123} of work. (165 u) + 123 4] = 288 u)) is done on the dielectric by the forces of restraint. To remove the lclectric from the gap, +123 a} must be done on i, and this work is stored es potential energy inthe capacitors. PEER Running Out of Fuel You are flying from New Zealand to Hawaii when the electronic components ofthe Fuel gouge fon the instrument panel of the small plane you are in start to combust. Your companion becomes very concerned and asks you to try to find a solu tion for the problem. The gauge consists ofan. gap cylindrical capacitor in the fuel tank (Figure 24-25). The axis of this capacitor is vertical, anc fuel fills the gap up to the level of the fuel in the tank, Can you find a way make the gauge work? You had noticed the tank was half fll when the gauge broke. In addition, a handheld multimeter capable of measuring capacitance (Figure 24-26) s fon board, PICTURE The cylindrical capacitor can be mod led as a parallel combination of two capacitors, with the submerged portion as one of the eapaci= tors and the portion above the fuel as the other. The ratio of the length of the submerged portion to the entire length isthe desired reading. FIGURE 24-25 The cylinder isone ofthe plates of ‘he capacitor A coaxial ro i the other plate. The top ‘ofthe cylinders tobe capped with the two wites feeding theough the cap, This way’no fuel can ext the tank through te tp ofthe cylinder: One ofthe wites attaches 0 the cylinder and the second wine i attached to the rod. There need to be a small ole though the side ‘of the cylinder—near the top. This hale prevents pressure from building up asthe tank s filled 223 Context-Rich (Pau Stverman) FuamontlPhotegraphs) sowve 1, Disconnect the two wires from the fuel tank atthe instrument panel, connect them to the multimeter, and measure the capacitance so you know the reading C, , when the tank is C=C, half fll: 2. Model the capacitor asa parallel combination of two capacitors, Matimeter © fone submerged and one not, and make a schematic diagram 0 cr ‘of the combination, Label the capacitances C, and C,, where Cy is the capacitance of the submerged portion. Pier deee aise Loe reer 6, Just before the gauge burned the tank was haf full. Set C= C, and I= h/H and solve for C,: 7. Substitute for C, in the step 4 result, and then solve for hj. ‘You now havea formula to convert the readings of the meter C nto the faction of the fel remaining: Pe c-[istafey 2 : can [ita g+e,=26