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Suppose several different parallel-plate capacitors are

Chapter 24, Problem 2DQ

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QUESTION:

Suppose several different parallel-plate capacitors are charged up by a constant-voltage source. Thinking of the actual movement and position of the charges on an atomic level, why does it make sense that the capacitances are proportional to the surface areas of the plates? Why does it make sense that the capacitances are inversely proportional to the distance between the plates?

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QUESTION:

Suppose several different parallel-plate capacitors are charged up by a constant-voltage source. Thinking of the actual movement and position of the charges on an atomic level, why does it make sense that the capacitances are proportional to the surface areas of the plates? Why does it make sense that the capacitances are inversely proportional to the distance between the plates?

ANSWER:

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By definition, capacitance is the ability of a conductor to store energy in the form of electric charges. Mathematically, capacitance of a parallel plate capacitor is given as \(C=\frac{\epsilon_{0} A}{d}\). Therefore, capacitance is directly proportional to the area of a plate and d is the distance between the plates.

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