Statement
12.1.13. [Insert the problem statement]
Solution
The capacitor has two parallel plates with opposite charges
These time-varying currents generate electromagnetic fields that propagate: the capacitor becomes a transmitting antenna.
Each plate emits electromagnetic waves. For a distant observer in the direction perpendicular to the plates (z-axis), the waves emitted by the front and back plates travel different paths. The path difference is the separation between the plates, d.
If the wavelength is
the phase difference between the two waves at the observation point is:
Constructive interference (intensity maximum):
It occurs when the waves arrive in phase:
These are the frequencies of the emission maxima.
The first maximum
Destructive interference (zero intensity):
It occurs when the waves arrive in opposite phase:
At these frequencies, the contributions from the two plates cancel out and the capacitor emits no energy (in that main direction). That is why the average intensity drops to zero.
As the frequency \nu increases from zero, the phase difference \Delta\phi grows. For very low frequencies,
and there is reinforcement. When reaching
the intensity goes to zero. Then, upon reaching
it becomes maximum again, and so on periodically. The intensity oscillates between high values and zeros, giving rise to the observed alternation.
Answer
[Insert a concise answer or boxed result]