Question

How do capacitors affect voltage?

Answer 1

1. Recognize that the capacitor is being charged when an electric field forms between the two plates as a result of the potential difference and charges on the plates.
2. If $C$ is the capacitor's capacitance and $Q$ is the current caused by potential difference $V$, then the following equation follows: $Q=CV$.
3. The capacitor serves as a battery and discharges the electric field it contains when the potential difference is later removed and it is connected to another circuit; this process is known as discharging.
4. The charge caused by the potential difference is directly proportional to the charge in any specific capacitor, so it is obvious that an increase in voltage would result in an increase in the capacitor's current.

Note: The dielectric material, the space between the plates, and the surface area of the plates all affect a capacitor's capacitance. Both charge transfer caused by potential and charge induction is responsible for the charges on the capacitor.