Answer to Question #159895 in Electric Circuits for Tony

Question

What happens to the magnitude of the charge on each plate of a capacitor if the potential difference between the conductors is doubled?
(a) It becomes four times larger
(b) It becomes two times larger
(c) It is unchanged
(d) It becomes one-half as large.

Answer 1

The magnitude of the charge on each plate of a capacitor is given by the formula:

$$Q=C\Delta V.$$

As we can see from the formula, if the potential difference between the conductors is doubled the charge on each plate of a capacitor becomes two times larger.

Answer:

(b) It becomes two times larger.