Displacement current refers to which phenomenon?

Displacement current refers to which phenomenon?

• A. The changing electric field between the plates of a discharging capacitor
• B. The actual movement of charges through a capacitor's dielectric
• C. The magnetic field that surrounds a changing current
• D. The static electric field between plates

Answer: (A)

Displacement current refers to the changing electric field between the plates of a capacitor. When current flows in the wires, charges accumulate on each plate, but no charges move through the dielectric gap itself. Yet the magnetic effects seen around the circuit continue through the gap. Maxwell introduced a term proportional to the rate of change of the electric flux between the plates, so that this changing field behaves as if a current were present. This term, the displacement current, produces the same magnetic influence as a real current does, ensuring continuity of the fields in the whole circuit even where no charges actually move. The actual movement of charges through the dielectric doesn’t occur in an ideal capacitor, and a static electric field wouldn’t account for the changing magnetic effects observed during charging or discharging. The key idea is the changing electric field between the plates acting like a current in terms of its magnetic consequences.

Displacement current refers to the changing electric field between the plates of a capacitor. When current flows in the wires, charges accumulate on each plate, but no charges move through the dielectric gap itself. Yet the magnetic effects seen around the circuit continue through the gap. Maxwell introduced a term proportional to the rate of change of the electric flux between the plates, so that this changing field behaves as if a current were present. This term, the displacement current, produces the same magnetic influence as a real current does, ensuring continuity of the fields in the whole circuit even where no charges actually move. The actual movement of charges through the dielectric doesn’t occur in an ideal capacitor, and a static electric field wouldn’t account for the changing magnetic effects observed during charging or discharging. The key idea is the changing electric field between the plates acting like a current in terms of its magnetic consequences.