Question

What is the effect of increasing plate area \[A\] on capacitance, and why?

Options

• Capacitance has no effect, because plate area is not part of the capacitance

• Capacitance increases, because a larger plate area increases plate separation

• Capacitance increases, because a larger plate area allows more charge to be stored for the same potential difference

• Capacitance decreases, because a larger plate area reduces the charge stored

Answer 1

Capacitance is directly proportional to plate area: \[C\propto A\]. A larger plate area allows more charge to be stored for the same potential difference.