Final answer:
The amount of capacitance of a capacitor is determined by the area of its plates, the distance between the plates, and the type of dielectric material used as an insulator between the plates.
Step-by-step explanation:
The three physical factors that determine the amount of capacitance of a capacitor are:
- Area (A) of the plates: Larger plate areas provide greater capacitance because there's more surface for storing charge.
- Distance (d) between the plates: A smaller distance between the plates increases capacitance due to enhanced attraction of the opposite charges on the plates.
- Dielectric material: The type of insulating material between the plates, known as a dielectric, affects the capacitance. Different materials affect the electric field and thus change the capacitance value.
Capacitance (C) is defined as the amount of charge (Q) stored per unit of voltage (V), and these factors are essential in designing capacitors with specific capacities.