The capacitance of a capacitor does not depend upon

Options

A. the medium between the plates
B. the size of the plates
C. the charges on the plates
D. the separation between the plates

Answer

To determine what the capacitance of a capacitor does not depend on, let's analyze the factors that influence capacitance.

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Understanding Capacitance**:
The capacitance \( C \) of a capacitor is defined as the ratio of the charge \( Q \) on one plate to the potential difference \( V \) across the plates:
\[ C = \frac{Q}{V} \]

2. **Factors Affecting Capacitance**:
The capacitance of a parallel plate capacitor can be expressed as:
\[ C = \frac{\varepsilon A}{d} \]
where:
- \( \varepsilon \) is the permittivity of the medium between the plates (which includes the permittivity of free space \( \varepsilon_0 \) and the relative permittivity \( \varepsilon_r \)),
- \( A \) is the area of one of the plates,
- \( d \) is the separation between the plates.

3. **Analyzing Each Factor**:
- **Medium Between the Plates**: The permittivity \( \varepsilon \) depends on the medium. Changing the medium (like air, vacuum, or dielectric materials) will change the capacitance. Thus, capacitance does depend on the medium.
- **Size of the Plates (Area \( A \))**: A larger plate area increases capacitance. Therefore, capacitance does depend on the size of the plates.
- **Charge on the Plates \( Q \)**: The charge \( Q \) does not appear in the formula for capacitance directly. Capacitance is defined independently of the charge on the plates. Hence, capacitance does not depend on the charge.
- **Separation Between the Plates \( d \)**: Increasing the distance \( d \) decreases capacitance. Therefore, capacitance does depend on the separation between the plates.

4. **Conclusion**:
Based on the analysis, the capacitance of a capacitor does not depend on the charge on the plates \( Q \).

### Final Answer:
The capacitance of a capacitor does not depend on the charge on the plates.