This assignment is due before 9 AM, Friday, October 13^th, 2000.

• Puzzle solutions are due by 9:00 AM on Friday of each week.
• Puzzles are worth 5 points of extra credit each.
• Answers must be accompanied by valid reasoning. Just like the tests, the answer alone isn't enough!
• Each week, the first student to submit a correct answer will recieve the stylish 251 T-shirt.
• Previous winners get a "virtual t-shirt." No shirt, but a chance to win a prize with actual value at the end of the semester (often a book, or maybe software).
• Please enter your solution in the text area at the bottom of this page. DON'T FORGET TO GIVE YOUR NAME!

Consider the figures above. On the left, is a plain parallel plate capacitor (area = A, gap = d). On the right is a system consisting of the same capacitor with a metal plate inserted into the gap. Assume the thickness of the plate is d/2. How will the new capacitance compare with the old?

Don't forget to explain your answer as clearly as possible.

This site is made possible by funding from the National Science Foundation (DUE-9981111).