Final answer:
The capacitance of a parallel plate capacitor is influenced by the area of the plates, the distance between the plates, and the dielectric constant when a material is placed between the plates.
Step-by-step explanation:
The capacitance of a parallel plate capacitor is affected by three primary quantities: 1) the area of the plates (A), 2) the distance between the plates (d), and 3) the dielectric constant of the material between the plates. Each of these factors plays a significant role in determining the capacity of the capacitor to store charge.
The capacitance (C) of a parallel plate capacitor when the space between the plates is filled with air or free space can be represented by the formula C = ε0A/d, where ε0 is the permittivity of free space, and its value in SI units is approximately 8.85 × 10-12 farads per meter (F/m). A larger area of the plates will increase the capacitance because there is more space to store charge. Conversely, decreasing the distance (d) between the plates will also increase capacitance due to the closer proximity of opposite charges, enhancing their mutual attraction. Finally, when a dielectric material is placed between the plates, it changes the effective permittivity (ε) of the space between the plates, therefore altering the capacitance.