A Parallel Plate Capacitor Is Charged to Voltage V and Then

question 7

Multiple Choice

A parallel plate capacitor is charged to voltage V and then disconnected from the battery. Leopold says that the voltage will decrease if the plates are pulled apart. Gerhardt says that the voltage will remain the same. Which one, if either, is correct, and why?

• A) Gerhardt, because the maximum voltage is determined by the battery.
• B) Gerhardt, because the charge per unit area on the plates does not change.
• C) Leopold, because charge is transferred from one plate to the other when the plates are separated.
• D) Leopold, because the force each plate exerts on the other decreases when the plates are pulled apart.
• E) Neither, because the voltage increases when the plates are pulled apart.

---

Definitions:

France

A country in Western Europe known for its cultural influence, history, and contributions to art, philosophy, and science, as well as its role in various global affairs.

Utopian Societies

Idealistic communities or societies aiming to create a perfect social, legal, and political system, often portrayed in literature and philosophy.

Charles Fourier

A French philosopher and social theorist known for his views on cooperative communities and the organization of society based on harmonious principles.

Nineteenth-Century

The period from 1801 to 1900, marked by widespread social, political, and industrial change around the world.