Question

"intermediate e&m"
Suppose you have enough linear dielectric material, of dielectric constant K, to half-fill a parallel-plate capacitor (see Figure 2).
a) By what fraction is the capacitance increased when you distribute the material as shown in Figure 2a?
b) By what fraction is the capacitance increased when you distribute the material as shown in Figure 2b?
(figures http://teacher.pas.rochester.edu/PHY217/Homework/HomeworkSet8/HomeworkSet8.html)

I frankly have no clue.. I know I need c=Q/V but thats it.

Answer 1

Can't find your figure, but if I had to guess it would have the dielectric material present as one or more slabs between the plates. You can treat this as two or more capacitors in series, some with air gaps, some with dielectric gaps.

Answer 2

wrong link sorry (at the bottom) Its two capacitor plates with dielectric filling up half the space between them, in two configurations,
http://teacher.pas.rochester.edu/PHY217/Homework/HomeworkSet8/HomeworkSet8.html

thanks for looking at the question though.

Answer 3

Ok, the first is three capacitors in series, two with air gaps, one with a dielectric. The second is two capacitors in parallel, one with an air gap, the other with a dielectric.