Q36: Two identical parallel-plate capacitors, each with capaci- tance C, are charged to potential difference DV and then disconnected from the battery. They are then connected to each other in parallel with plates of like sign connected. Finally, the plate separation in one of the capacitors is doubled.
(a) Find the total energy of the system of two capacitors before the plate separation isdoubled.
(b) Find the potential difference across each capacitor after the plate separation is doubled.
(c) Find the total energy of the system after the plate separation is doubled.
(d) Reconcile the difference in the answers to parts (a) and (c) with the law of conservation of energy.