In a parallel-plate capacitor with air between plates, what happens to the capacitance if the plate separation distance is halved?
Answer and explanation
Correct answer: C. It is doubled
- Step 1: The capacitance of a parallel plate capacitor is .
- Step 2: Because capacitance is inversely proportional to plate separation (), halving () doubles the capacitance ().
Answer
It is doubled.
Why not the others: 'It is halved' assumes direct proportionality; 'Remains unchanged' is false; 'Increases four-fold' assumes inverse square dependency.
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