A parallel plate capacitor having air as the dielectric medium is charged by a potential difference of V volt. After disconnecting the battery, the distance between the plates of the capacitor is increased using an insulated handle. As a result, the potential difference between the plates _.

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Accepted Answer

(3) increases. Given: capacitor charged to V, battery disconnected, then the plate separation d increased. Idea: an isolated capacitor keeps its charge, so Q stays constant. C = (ε₀A)/d decreases as d increases. V = Q/C = (Qd)/(ε₀A), so V increases in proportion to d. (The field E = Q/(ε₀A) is unchanged; it simply acts across a longer gap.) So the potential difference increases.

A parallel plate capacitor having air as the dielectric medium is charged by a potential difference of V volt. After disconnecting the battery, the distance between the plates of the capacitor is increased using an insulated handle. As a result, the potential difference between the plates _____.

Step-by-step solution

Why the other options are wrong