A capacitor consists of a set of two parallel plates of area A separated by a distance d. This capacitor is connected to a battery that maintains a constant potential difference between the plates. If the separation between the plates is doubled, the magnitude of the charge on the plates will

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Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The magnitude of the charge on the plates is directly proportional to the potential difference across the plates and inversely proportional to the separation between the plates, as given by the formula Q = CV, where Q is the charge, C is the capacitance, and V is the potential difference. If the separation is doubled, the capacitance is halved, as C = εA/d, where ε is the permittivity of the material between the plates. Therefore, the charge on the plates is also halved, according to the formula Q = CV.

A Capacitor Consists of a Set of Two Parallel Plates