A consequence of Gauss’s Law is that, from an infinite charged plane, the electric field is constant, independent of distance, and given by<\/p>\n
E = \u03c3\/2εο<\/sub><\/p>\n where<\/p>\n \u03c3 = the charge density of the plane in N\/m2<\/sup><\/p>\n εο<\/sub> = 8.854187817 x 10-12<\/sup>, the permittivity of free space.<\/p>\n In a real capacitor, if the plates are much higher and broader than their separation, then at a point between them, collinear with their centres, the effect is probably comparable to two infinite planes of charge. In that case, the field, regardless of position along that centre line, is given by<\/p>\n Enet<\/sub> = E2<\/sub> – E1<\/sub><\/p>\n Now, a different premise: we imagine point P between two charged particles, q1<\/sub> and q2<\/sub>, such that q1<\/sub>, P, and q2<\/sub> are all collinear. In this situation the field at point P depends on its position between q1<\/sub> and q2<\/sub> and is given by <\/p>\n Enet<\/sub> = E2<\/sub> – E1<\/sub> = kq2<\/sub>\/r2<\/sub>2<\/sup> – kq1<\/sub>\/r1<\/sub>2<\/sup><\/p>\n where<\/p>\n k = 1\/(4\u03c0*εο<\/sub>) = 9.0 x 109<\/sup><\/p>\n r1<\/sub> = the distance from P to q1<\/sub><\/p>\n r2<\/sub> = the distance from P to q2<\/sub><\/p>\n Source:<\/p>\n Serway, Raymond A. Physics for Scientists and Engineers<\/u> with modern physics, 2nd ed. Toronto: Saunders College Publishing, 1986.<\/p>\n