The electrostatic force between the metal plates of an isolated parallel plate capacitor C having a charge Q and area A, is

1. independent of the distance between the plates.

2. proportional to the square root of the distance between the plates.

3. linearly proportional to the distance between the plates.

4. inversely proportional to the distance between the plates.

Doubtly Asked 30 Oct 2026 NEET UG 2018 Practice test neet Save WhatsApp Report

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Answer: 1. independent of the distance between the plates.

The field of one plate is $\dfrac{\sigma}{2\epsilon_0}$, and this acts on the charge $Q$ of the other plate.

$$F=Q\cdot\frac{Q}{2A\epsilon_0}=\frac{Q^2}{2\epsilon_0A}$$

The charge is fixed (isolated capacitor) and the expression has no distance term, so the force is independent of the separation.

Doubtly AI · 30 Oct 2026 AI-generated · not yet verified Report

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