A battery charges a parallel-plate capacitor fully and then is removed. The plates are then slowly pulled apart. What happens to the potential difference between the plates as they are being
Separated?
A) It increases.
B) It remains constant.
C) It decreases.
D) It cannot be determined from the information given.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

When the plates of a capacitor are pulled apart, the capacitance decreases because capacitance is inversely proportional to the distance between the plates. Since the charge remains constant (the battery is removed, so no charge can flow in or out), the potential difference must increase to maintain the relationship Q = CV, where Q is charge, C is capacitance, and V is potential difference.

A Battery Charges a Parallel-Plate Capacitor Fully and Then Is