If the length, width, and separation between the plates of a parallel plate capacitor are doubled, then its capacitance becomes:
Correct answer: A. Double
- A. Double
- B. Half
- C. Four-times
- D. Eight-times
Explanation
The capacitance of a parallel plate capacitor is given by C = A/D Where ε is the permittivity of the dielectric, A is the area of the plates, and D is the distance between them. As D is in the denominator, capacitance is inversely proportional to the distance between plates, or separation. As A is in the numerator, it is directly proportional to C, where A = width x length. It then follows that if the length, width, and separation between the plates of a parallel plate capacitor are doubled, then its capacitance will also double.
This question appeared on the UHS MDCAT 2016 paper, which you can sit online with every answer explained.
Report an error
The more specific you are, the faster it gets fixed. A source beats an opinion.
Prefer email? [email protected]
About Capacitors
Capacitors store electric charge and energy in an electric field between conductors. Work includes capacitance, the relation Q = CV, dielectric materials, charging and discharging, energy formulas, and combinations of capacitors in series and parallel. Electric potential difference is needed to understand why charge and stored energy change.
Practise Electrostatics
831 free Electrostatics MCQs from Physics, each with the correct answer and an explanation. Unlimited attempts, no account needed.
Discussion
Stuck on an option, or know a faster way to get there? Ask or explain it here.
No comments yet. Be the first to explain this one.
Exams that ask Physics questions like this
Physics is on 16 papers prepared for on TestUstad, and all of them draw the same bank, so this question is worth knowing for every one of them.
More Capacitors questions
Resistance in RC circuit of time constant 2 seconds is 1000 Ohms. What is value Of C in the circuit?
A capacitor stores charge Q at potential difference ΔV. What happens if the voltage applied to the capacitor by a battery is doubled to 2 ΔV?
While studying charging and discharging of a capacitor, Rc = Resistance x Capacitance is known as?
Which one of the following must be decreased in order to increase the capacitance of a capacitor?
Two capacitors of capacitance 2µF each are connected in series to a power supply of 6 volt. The voltage across each capacitor is :
The ratio of the capacitance of the capacitor having a dielectric to the capacitance of a capacitor having free space in the dielectric is: