The space between the plates of a capacitor is filled by a material of dielectric constant K. The capacitance of the capacitor:

Correct answer: A. Increases by a factor of K

  • A. Increases by a factor of K
  • B. Decreases by a factor of K
  • C. Increases by a factor of K²
  • D. Decreases by a factor of K²

Explanation

Introducing a dielectric material with constant K between the plates of a capacitor increases its ability to store charge. The capacitance is directly multiplied by this factor, so the new capacitance becomes K times the original capacitance.

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About Electrostatics

Electrostatics describes forces between charges through Coulomb's law, electric fields and field intensity, then uses electric potential to measure energy per unit charge. Capacitors store charge and electrical energy, with capacitance depending on geometry and dielectric material, not simply on the amount of charge present.

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