Which factor would increase the charge on a capacitor in a series circuit?

• A. Increasing the voltage of the power supply
• B. Increasing the area of the plates
• C. Decreasing the separation between the plates
• D. Removing dielectric material

Answer: (A)

Increasing the voltage of the power supply directly increases the charge stored on a capacitor in a series circuit according to the relationship defined by the equation Q = C × V, where Q is the charge, C is the capacitance, and V is the voltage. In a series circuit, the capacitance remains constant, but if the voltage applied across the capacitor is increased, the charge it can hold will also increase proportionally.

When the voltage rises, it provides a greater potential difference across the capacitor's plates, allowing more positive and negative charge to accumulate on each plate, thereby increasing the overall charge stored in the system. This principle is key in understanding how capacitors function in electrical circuits, as charge storage is fundamentally linked to the applied voltage.

Other factors such as the area of the plates, the separation between them, or the presence of dielectric materials do affect capacitance, but in a series circuit where capacitance is defined by those physical characteristics, it's the applied voltage that directly correlates with the charge stored.