Question

Which of the following will increase the capacitance of a parallel-plate capacitor?

Check all that apply.

Increasing the area of the plates will increase the capacitance of a parallel-plate capacitor.
Decreasing the area of the plates will increase the capacitance of a parallel-plate capacitor.
Decreasing the separation between the plates will increase the capacitance of a parallel-plate capacitor.
Increasing the separation between the plates will increase the capacitance of a parallel-plate capacitor.

Answer 1

It is NOT C. It is directly proportional, so the capacitance decreases as the distance increases.

Step-by-step explanation:

Answer 2

Increasing the area of the plates will increase the capacitance of a parallel-plate capacitor.

Decreasing the separation between the plates will increase the capacitance of a parallel-plate capacitor.

Step-by-step explanation:

The capacitance of a parallel-plate capacitor is given by

`C=(\epsilon_0 A)/(d)`

where

`\epsilon_0` is the vacuum permittivity

A is the area of the plates

d is the separation between the plates

We notice that:

- The capacitance is directly proportional to A, the area of the plates

- The capacitance is inversely proportional to d, the separation between the plates

Therefore, the correct statements are:

Increasing the area of the plates will increase the capacitance of a parallel-plate capacitor.

Decreasing the separation between the plates will increase the capacitance of a parallel-plate capacitor.