The Floating Paper Bridge · AI Generator #GEN-56380CDA

Physics · electromagnetism

Problem

A physics student discovers that thin paper strips can be suspended horizontally between two charged metal plates, appearing to "float" in mid-air. To investigate this phenomenon, she sets up two horizontal parallel plates separated by a distance d=3.0  cmd = 3.0\;\text{cm}. The upper plate is connected to the positive terminal of a V=12  kVV = 12\;\text{kV} power supply, while the lower plate is grounded. She then places a thin strip of paper (mass m=0.15  gm = 0.15\;\text{g}, length L=8.0  cmL = 8.0\;\text{cm}) between the plates. The paper becomes polarized in the non-uniform electric field near the edge of the plates and experiences a net upward force that exactly balances its weight. If the paper strip is positioned where the electric field strength is E=4.2×105  N/CE = 4.2 \times 10^5\;\text{N/C}, what is the magnitude of the electric dipole moment induced in the paper strip?

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