A capacitor is first connected to a 6 volt battery and then to a 12 volt battery. How would its capacitance change when connected to the higher voltage? a) It would increase. b) It would decrease. c) It would stay the same. d) There is no way to tell from the information given.

Correct sentence a) It would increase.

Explanation:

The capacity in farad (F) is directly proportional to the amount of electric charge that a capacitor can store for different values of voltage applied and stored between its plates. Mathematically this relationship can be represented by the following formula:

C = Q V

From where:

C = Capacity (or capacitance), in farad (F).

Q = Amount of electric charge stored, in coulomb.

V = Potential difference, in volt, between the plates.

Therefore, by doubling the voltage of the battery connected to the capacitor (voltage difference on the capacitor plates), its capacitance will double.