If the distance between the plates of a capacitor is halved, what happens to the

Practice Questions

Q1
If the distance between the plates of a capacitor is halved, what happens to the capacitance? (2019)
  1. It doubles
  2. It halves
  3. It remains the same
  4. It quadruples

Questions & Step-by-Step Solutions

If the distance between the plates of a capacitor is halved, what happens to the capacitance? (2019)
  • Step 1: Understand that capacitance (C) is calculated using the formula C = εA/d, where ε is the permittivity of the material between the plates, A is the area of the plates, and d is the distance between the plates.
  • Step 2: Identify that if the distance (d) is halved, we can represent this as d/2.
  • Step 3: Substitute d/2 into the capacitance formula: C = εA/(d/2).
  • Step 4: Simplify the formula: C = εA/(d/2) = (2 * εA)/d.
  • Step 5: Notice that this new formula shows that the capacitance (C) has doubled because it is now 2 * (εA/d).
  • Step 6: Conclude that if the distance between the plates is halved, the capacitance doubles.
  • Capacitance – Capacitance is the ability of a capacitor to store charge, which is influenced by the area of the plates, the distance between them, and the dielectric material.
  • Relationship between distance and capacitance – Capacitance is inversely proportional to the distance between the plates; halving the distance increases capacitance.
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