We can effectively increase the capacitance of a charged parallel-plate capacitor by decreasing the separation distance between the plates until
A) the potential reaches zero.
B) the plates touch.
C) the charge (on one of the plates) reaches zero.
D) the dielectric breakdown of the air occurs.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Decreasing the separation distance between the plates of a charged parallel-plate capacitor increases the capacitance because the electric field strength between the plates increases, which allows the capacitor to store more energy. However, if the separation is decreased too much, it can lead to the dielectric breakdown of the air (or whatever material is between the plates), where the air becomes conductive, leading to a discharge or spark between the plates. This is the limiting factor in how much the separation can be decreased to increase capacitance.

We Can Effectively Increase the Capacitance of a Charged Parallel-Plate