A parallel -plate capacitor is connected to a battery that maintains a constant potential difference V between the plates. If the plates are pulled away from each other, increasing their separation does the magnitude of the charge on the plates (a) increase (b) decrease or (c ) remain the same ?

Explanation

Since the capacitance is given by `C=( epsilon_(0)A)/(d)`, increasing the separation, d, decreases the capacitance. With a smaller value of `C`, and a constant value for V, the charge `Q = CV` will decrease.