Increasing the plate area or decreasing the distance between plates results in

Increasing the plate area or decreasing the distance between plates results in

• A. It decreases
• B. It remains the same
• C. It increases
• D. It becomes zero

Answer: (C)

Capacitance of a parallel-plate capacitor depends on plate area and separation as C ∝ A/d. So increasing the plate area or decreasing the distance between the plates increases the capacitance. More area gives room for more charge at the same voltage, and bringing the plates closer makes it easier to store charge for a given voltage (the required potential difference drops). The result is a higher capacitance, not a decrease, constant value, or zero.

Capacitance of a parallel-plate capacitor depends on plate area and separation as C ∝ A/d. So increasing the plate area or decreasing the distance between the plates increases the capacitance. More area gives room for more charge at the same voltage, and bringing the plates closer makes it easier to store charge for a given voltage (the required potential difference drops). The result is a higher capacitance, not a decrease, constant value, or zero.